Previous Award Winners

In 2008, the Adoption Initiative began awarding outstanding scholars, practitioners, service providers, and trailblazers in adoption. In addition, to recognize scholarly contributions, pre-dissertation and post-dissertation scholarships were also awarded at each biennial conference. 

A scholarship will be given to a current graduate student who is conducting research on an adoption related topic and a recognition award will be given to a recent doctoral graduate (past 3 years) with a dissertation focusing on the same.  An award will be granted to the selected research initiative and the dissertation recipient will be invited to present at the Adoption Initiative's annual meeting.

For consideration, please submit a 5 to 10 page summary of your planned work if you are a current student and a digital copy of your dissertation if  you are a recent graduate.

For further information regarding the nomination procedures, please refer to the upcoming conference award  nomination page.

OUTSTANDING SCHOLAR IN ADOPTION

This award is to honor those researchers and scholars who have made substantial contributions in the area of adoption and foster care. Those who receive this award may be professional researchers, academics, or others who make meaningful contributions to the literature and knowledge in this discipline.

2010: Ruth McRoy, Ph.D.

2012: Harold D. Grotevant, Ph.D.

2014:  David M. Smolin, JD

2016: Ellen Pinderhughes, Ph.D.

OUTSTANDING PRACTITIONER IN ADOPTION

This award is to honor those practitioners and clinicians who have made substantial contributions in the area of adoption and foster care. Those who receive this award may be social workers, therapists, and other pre-and post-adoption professionals who make meaningful contributions through their clinical and social welfare provision to adopted and fostered individuals and families and to birth families.

2010: Beth Hall

2014:  Susan Harris O'Connor, MSW;  Gazillion Voices

2016: Joy Lieberthal Rho, LCSW

OUTSTANDING SERVICE PROVIDER IN ADOPTION

This award is to honor those who provide various services in the areas of adoption and foster care. Those who receive this award may be agency personnel, directors, policymakers, and others who make child welfare and adoption-based contributions in this discipline.

2012: Deann Borshay Liem; Jean Strauss

2016: Adoption Reform Legislative Advocacy, Original Birth Certificate Activists

TRAILBLAZER IN ADOPTION

This award is given to an adult adoptee whose work inspires and is foundational for future adoptee professionals in adoption and foster care work. The award is unique in that it recognizes adult adoptees specifically for their pioneering work in a field in which they were "insiders" as adoptees, but through their hard work, innovation, professionalism, intellect, and dedication became leaders and often reformers of the practice of adoption.

2012: Susan Soon-Keum Cox

2014: Ann Fessler, MA, MFA

2016: Laura Callen, Adoption Museum Project

OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION

Recognition Award for Outstanding Adoption-Related Dissertation

2010: Bobbie Miller, Ph.D.

2012: Stephanie Kripa Cooper-Lewter, Ph.D., MSW

2014: Leslie Wang, PhD

2016: Erin Kostina-Ritchey, Ph.D.

OUTSTANDING PRE-DISSERTATION

Scholarship Award for Pre-Doctoral Adoption Related Dissertation Proposal

2010: Elizabeth Raleigh, M.A.

2012: Oh Myo Kim, M.Div.

2014:  JaeRan Kim, MSW

2016: Wendy Laybourn, M.A.

BJ LIFTON/ANNETTE BARAN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

2012: Joyce Maguire Pavao, Ed.D., LCSW, LMFT

2016: David Brodzinsky, Ph.D.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION

2008: Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao; Dr. Betty Jean Lifto

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

2016: Amanda Baden, Ph.D.