The Distinguished Professional Practice Contributions Award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions throughout their career to the practice of I-O psychology.
The award is given to an individual engaged in the practice of I-O psychology who has developed, refined, and implemented practices, procedures, or methods that have had a major, demonstrable impact on people at work, organizations, and the practice of I-O psychology. The contributions should have advanced practice by increasing the effectiveness of I-O psychologists working in business, industry, government, and other organizational settings.
The recipient of the award is given a plaque and a cash prize of $1,500. In addition, the recipient is invited to give an address, related to the contribution and its impact, at the subsequent SIOP conference.
Administrative Procedures
- At least five members of the SIOP Awards Subcommittee will review and evaluate each nomination package and recommend an award winner(s) to the SIOP Executive Board. Two or more nominees may be recommended if their contributions are similarly distinguished.
- The Executive Board may either endorse or reject the recommendations of the Awards Subcommittee but may not substitute a nominee of its own.
- In the absence of a nominee who is deemed deserving of the award by both the Awards Subcommittee and the Executive Board, the award may be withheld.
Composition of the Subcommittee
- Subcommittee members must be SIOP Fellow members who primarily self-identify as practitioners (current or retired), or previous recipients of this award, or have more than 10 years of work experience as a practitioner.
- Diversity of all types is encouraged, including non-U.S. based members.
Criteria for Eligibility
Nominees will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Breadth or depth of impact of the nominee’s contributions on people at work, organizations, and/or the practice of I-O psychology. Breadth of impact could be demonstrated by, for example, adoption of the practice, procedure, or method in other organizations Depth of impact could be demonstrated by, for example, major change within an organization, or, creation or leadership of an enduring organization that provides I-O services and sets high standards for excellence.
- Extent to which there is sound evidence to support the need, development, implementation, and effectiveness of the practices, procedures, or methods of the nominee.
- Extent to which the nominee has disseminated information about the practices, procedures, or methods through presentations, workshops, or publications in a variety of outlets. The practices, procedures, or methods should be both available to and utilized by other practicing I-O psychologists.
- The extent to which the nominee has made significant practice contributions throughout their career.
- Stature of the nominee as a practitioner vis-à-vis other prominent practitioners in the field of I-O psychology.
Call for Nominations
Nomination Guidelines
- A nomination letter by a SIOP member is required. Self-nominations are welcome.
- Only SIOP members may be nominated for the award.
- Nominees should have spent a major part of their career working to improve organizations and impact people at work.
- The nomination package should also include: a current curriculum vitae, three to five letters of support, and any additional materials that illustrate the contributions of the nominee. All nomination materials (including proprietary information) are considered confidential, and reviewers must delete materials after the review process is complete.
- The letter of nomination, CV, and all supporting letters and materials must be submitted online by the nominator.
- When submitting the nomination materials, nominators will also be asked if the nominee is being investigated, or has been found responsible, for misconduct prohibited in SIOP’s Anti-Harassment Policy and to provide a brief explanation if this is the case.
Current Award Recipients


Award Type
Distinguished & Career Awards