UA Education Professor Receives National Distinguished Service Award in Psychology

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Patti L. Harrison, professor of school psychology at The University of Alabama, has been awarded the 2006 Jack Bardon Distinguished Service Award by the Division of School Psychology in the American Psychological Association.

The Bardon Award recognizes major leadership in the administration of psychological services in the schools, development and implementation of policy leading to psychologically and socially sound training and practice in schools psychology, sustained research contributing to more effective practice in school psychology, the inauguration or development of training programs for new school psychologists, and/or for the systematic nurturance of in-service training for practicing school psychologists.

“It is great to see Dr. Harrison’s work recognized by her professional peers nationally,” said Dr. James McLean, dean of the UA College of Education. “She has provided the leadership of our own School Psychology Program for over twenty years. She is most deserving of this honor.”

A member of the UA faculty since 1985, Harrison worked on the 2004 revision of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, and on the national Joint Committee on Testing Practices.

IDEA is a federal law that ensures “a free, appropriate public education” for students with disabilities, requiring public schools to provide necessary learning aids, testing modifications and other educational accommodations to children with disabilities. The act also establishes due process in providing these accommodations.

Her professional affiliations and awards include president of the Society for the Study of School Psychology; program manager with the National Association of School Psychologists; editor of the School Psychology Review; a member of the editorial boards for the School Psychology Quarterly and the Journal of School Psychology; the UA Phi Delta Kappa Educator of the Year Award; the School Psychology Quarterly Reviewer of the Year Award; and a six-time recipient of the National Association of School Psychologists Presidential Award.