Dr. Richard A. Rodriguez Division 44 Student Travel Award

Richard A. Rodriguez

The Dr. Richard A. Rodriguez Division 44 Student Travel Award is sponsored by the Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity (CoRED) of the Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Issues (Division 44). The purpose of the Dr. Richard A. Rodriguez Division 44 Student Travel Award is to encourage greater participation in Division 44 annual convention activities by LGBT students of color. CoRED acknowledges that LGBT students of color frequently experience increased demands on time and resources as a result of managing multiple identities within professional organizations. The Dr. Richard A. Rodriguez Division 44 Student Travel Award therefore seeks to support engagement with LGBT people of color issues in psychology by defraying travel costs to the 2008 American Psychological Association Annual Convention.

Graduate students who (a) self-identify as LGBT persons of color, (b) demonstrate a strong commitment to LGBT and ethnic minority issues; (c) plan to attend the 2008 American Psychological Association (APA) Annual Convention, and (d) will still be enrolled as graduate students at the time of the 2008 APA Annual Convention are eligible to apply for the Dr. Richard A. Rodriguez Division 44 Student Travel Award. LGBT students of color who are presenting research at the convention are especially encouraged to apply, though all applications will be considered. One student travel award in the amount of $500 will be awarded.

2007 winner

Yung Chi Chen, M.A. is a doctoral student in School Psychology at the APA-accredited Educational Psychology Program in the Graduate School and University Center at City University of New York. At the APA Convention 2007 in San Francisco, California, he presented a research poster titled “Dual-Minority Status and Gay Asian Americans’ Psychological Stress and Adaptation” at the Division 44 poster presentation session.

Mr. Chen was selected for the Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity Student Travel Award on the basis of the strength of his application, favorable recommendation from advisor Dr. Georgiana Tryon, and his contribution to the body of literature regarding LGBT individuals of color. His quantitative study challenged conventional discourse about singular identity models, insisting instead upon an exploration of “dual-minority status” and examining how aspects of race and sexual orientation interact to contribute to psychological stress. The Division wishes Mr. Chen well in future scholarly and other professional endeavors.

2006 winners

Damaliah and her advisor
  • Damaliah Gibson - Seton Hall University
  • Thang Luu - University of Houston
  • Juan Contreras - Pennsylvania State University

Past winners

  • 2005 Alison Cerezo and Erlanger Turner
  • 2004 Konjit V. Page - Boston College
  • 2003 Annaliese Singh
  • 2002 Marie Darcy
  • 2001 Ming-Hui Daniel Hsu
  • 2000 Debbiesiu Lee

Application Procedures

Submission of Application Materials

All materials must be submitted by May 1. Electronic submission of application materials to the CoRed Chairs is preferred. As an alternative, materials may be mailed or faxed to:

Dr. Kirstyn Chun
Counseling and Psychological Services
California State University, Long Beach
226 Brotman Hall
1250 Bellflower Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90840-0111
562.985.8817 (fax)

Application Forms

Personal Statement

Please submit a personal statement (300 words maximum) that addresses each of the following questions: (a) In what ways does your graduate program benefit from your self-identification and involvement as an LGBT person of color? How does APA benefit from your participation in professional activities as an LGBT person of color? (b) What unique challenges might LGBT graduate students of color face that may hinder participation in APA? (c) How would attending the 2008 APA Annual Convention further your career goals? (d) Are you presenting research at the 2008 APA Annual Convention? If so, will it contribute to the body of knowledge regarding LGBT people of color issues? If so, how?

Curriculum Vitae

Please submit a curriculum vitae electronically.

Graduate School Transcript

Please submit a copy of your transcript (may be unofficial) electronically.

Letter of Recommendation

Please have a faculty member electronically submit a letter in support of you receiving the Dr. Richard A. Rodriguez Division 44 Student Travel Award. Faculty members are asked to address the applicant’s commitment to LGBT people of color issues in academic and other domains.

Questions?

Please contact CoRED Co-Chairs

See also