APA/APAGS Award for Distinguished Graduate Student in Professional Psychology: Pearis L. Bellamy.

Abstract

The APA/APAGS Award for Distinguished Graduate Student in Professional Psychology is awarded annually by the APA Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) and the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) to a graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding practice and application of psychology. A 2022 award winner is Pearis L. Bellamy. Bellamy is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Florida. In this role, she has conducted research and completed multiple practicum/externship experiences where she has developed and evaluated programs and created healing spaces for underserved populations and survivors of trauma. She has also been active in advocacy on behalf of underserved populations where she organizes others to make actionable change in understanding their privilege and power and in using this education, training, and awareness building to fight racism. Ms. Bellamy's clinical work, scholarly research, and professional interests include culturally mindful clinical interventions and community-based research and prevention programming for survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and racism with a focus on the Black community. Her professional contributions reflect numerous examples of how she provides healing spaces for underrepresented groups to connect, share experiences, and challenge and resist oppressive systems. For these and other impactful efforts, we believe that Ms. Bellamy is well-deserving of this distinguished award and recognition. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).