APA/APAGS Award for Distinguished Graduate Student in Professional Psychology: Shawntell Nicole Pace.

Abstract

The APA/APAGS Award for Distinguished Graduate Student in Professional Psychology is awarded on an annual basis by the APA Board of Professional Affairs and the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) to a graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding practice and application of psychology. Shawntell N. Pace is a joint winner of the 2024 award. Pace is a doctoral candidate in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Georgia. Throughout her doctoral journey, she has conducted research and engaged in clinical practice that has cultivated sacred, transformative healing spaces for racially, ethnically, and culturally marginalized populations. She is at the forefront of engaging advocacy, where she collaborates with communities and other professionals to organize education, training, and community-serving programming that increases awareness of systemic inequities and mental health outcomes and increases awareness about how to harness community cultural strengths to foster wellness. Her scholarly research, clinical work, and professional service center on amplifying the stories, sociocultural histories, and cultural strengths of marginalized communities, with an emphasis on African descent and Chamorro populations, to continually enhance culturally responsive clinical practice and research. Her professional contributions reflect numerous examples of how she conceptualizes and creates sacred, healing spaces that encourage connection, reflection, rest, and resistance among marginalized people groups. As is reflected in the title of her dissertation, 'Finding Minagahet,' Shawntell's professional endeavors seek truth and provide a pathway for people to share their stories authentically. Indeed, Shawntell's efforts have made an impact on so many individuals, and she is well-deserving of this distinguished award. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).