2026 Early Career Psychology Diversity Awardee
Kelsie Okamura (she/her) is an Instructor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Center for Mental Health, a licensed psychologist, and board certified in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. She received her BA in Psychology with Honors and PhD from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Dr. Okamura completed her predoctoral internship at I Ola Lāhui Rural Hawai‘i Behavioral Health and postdoc at the University of Pennsylvania Center for Mental Health. Dr. Okamura was both an NIMH Child Intervention, Prevention and Services (CHIPS) and Training in Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (TIDIRH) fellow. Dr. Okamura is passionate about community-based public-sector service system implementation, particularly (a) knowledge formation within systems, (b) quality improvement initiatives that bridge team-based technology, and (c) youth participatory action research. She is currently funded through the National Institute on Drug Abuse and has received funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Institute for General Medical Services, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and American Psychological Foundation. As a fourth-generation daughter of Japanese and Okinawan immigrants to Hawaiʻi, Dr. Okamura has a deep appreciation of understanding diversity, culture, and contexts as they apply to youth mental health implementation. Growing up in a rural town in Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi has afforded her insight into the complexities of socioeconomic and cultural barriers that may impede successful implementation of youth psychosocial interventions.
The Early Career Psychology Diversity Award is given for dedication to diversity/multiculturalism in professional psychology.
The Early Career Diversity Award recognizes Early Career Psychologists (ECP) from under-represented groups in ABPP who demonstrate sustained, impactful contributions to advancing diversity and multiculturalism within professional psychology.
The recipient of this award will receive a $1,000 award to reimburse board certification expenses. Applicants for this award may be nominated by their ABPP Specialty Board/Academy or be self-nominated.
Eligibility Criteria
- The nominee must have successfully completed the ABPP board certification process by the year prior to submission of the application.
- Nominees must have received their psychology doctoral degree no more than ten calendar years before the year in which the award is to be awarded. (i.e., for 2026, the degree must have been granted in 2016 or after)
- Under-represented groups in ABPP include individuals from communities historically marginalized, excluded, or under-represented within professional psychology, including but not limited to: ethnic and racial minorities, women, LGBTQQIA+ individuals , and persons with disabilities. The nominee must be a member of at least one of these communities.
Candidates should submit all materials at once online:
- Current Curriculum Vita.
- Nomination letter from self and/or ABPP Specialty Board or Academy member; letter must address candidate’s membership in one or more under-represented communities.
- Brief answers (maximum of 1,000 words total) to address the following points:
- Describe how diversity and/or multiculturalism has shaped your career decisions, professional identity, and/or areas of specialization and how this commitment has evolved over time. Include specific examples related to professional or clinical practice and leadership.
- How have you integrated principles of multiculturalism and/or diversity competence in your professional psychology work (especially clinical practice and leadership roles)?
- Describe your vision for advancing diversity and/or multiculturalism within your psychology specialty and/or ABPP. Outline actionable strategies for leadership, research, or practice, and how you are positioned to implement them.
The award winner will be selected based on demonstrated excellence in:
- Sustained dedication to diversity and multiculturalism in career choice and professional psychology work
- Leadership and participation in impactful efforts to promote diversity and expand access for underserved populations
- Potential to enhance diversity and/or multiculturalism in professional psychology
- Professional strengths and accomplishments
The deadline for submitting a nomination is April 15, 2026.
For questions regarding online submissions, contact us.
Please login to access the award nomination form: