Ann Masten, PhD, Regents Professor and Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Development in the Institute of Child Development (ICD), has received the 2022 Mentor Award in Developmental Psychology from Division 7 of the American Psychological Association.
The Developmental Psychology Mentor Award recognizes individuals who have made a substantial impact on the field through educating and training the next generation of scholars and researchers in developmental psychology. Recipients are nominated by former students, post-doctoral fellows, colleagues, or other individuals who have been impacted by their mentorship. The award typically is granted to senior scholars who have more than 15 years of experience in the field and who have engaged in consistent mentorship during that time.
Masten is internationally known for her research on competence and resilience in human development, especially in children and families threatened by adversity. The goal of her work is to inform science, practice, and policy around human adaptation and multisystem resilience. At ICD, she directs the Project Competence Research on Risk and Resilience (PCR3), including studies of normative populations and high-risk young people exposed to homelessness, poverty, war, natural disasters, and migration.
In addition to her contributions to the developmental psychology field, Masten has been a dedicated mentor and advocate for her students throughout her tenure at ICD. She strives to make her lab and classrooms collaborative spaces to encourage learning and knowledge sharing among students.
According to her nominators, “Ann’s mentorship style reflects her own research on resilience: that strong relationships and a sense of belonging are essential to support positive development. Ann’s mentees have described her as the ideal combination of high warmth and high standards. She genuinely cares about her students’ personal and professional successes and is always available with a listening ear⎯whether it be for brainstorming the most appropriate analytic approach or providing advice on work-life balance.”
Congratulations, Dr. Masten!
