Awards & Fellows

HNS awards & fellows Program

The Hispanic Neuropsychological Society (HNS) is proud to support graduate students and recognize members for their outstanding achievements in support of the neuropsychology profession.
Awards Committee Chair
Renteria L
Laura Renteria, PhD, ABPP (2021-2023)
Awards Committee Members
Veronica
Veronica Bordes Edgar, PhD, ABPP
Mirella
Mirella Diaz-Santos, PhD
suarez

Paola Suarez, PhD

APL

Ambar Perez Lao, MS

arias headshot

Franchesca Arias, PhD

Krueger K

Kristin Krueger, PhD, ABPP

Tedd Judd, PhD, ABPP
andrea mejia kurasz

Andrea Mejia Kurasz, MA

Award Presentations at HNS meetings

Click on the links below to learn more about the various HNS awards, eligibility, and submission requirements.

Award Category Call for Applicants Deadline to Apply Notification
Student Research Award Early Summer Late Summer Early Fall
Fellows Program Early Summer Late Summer Early Fall
Lifetime Achievement in Cultural Neuropsychology Award Early Summer Late Summer Early Fall
Mentorship in Cultural Neuropsychology Award Early Summer Late Summer Early Fall
Internship Scholarship Award Mid Fall Late Fall Winter
Student Research Award

The Awards Committee, in collaboration with the HNS Mentoring and Education Committee, offers a monetary award (totaling $1000) to support graduate students of HNS. The call for applicants is in Early Summer, and the deadline to apply is in Late Summer. The notification of awards takes place in Early Fall.

Half of the award ($500) can be used for student research that addresses cross-cultural issues or clinical materials needed for evaluation of Hispanics (i.e., Spanish language testing materials). The remaining $500 can be used toward travel to a conference, where the student will be expected to present their research as a poster and/or during HNS Heritage Month.

Eligibility:

The award is limited to graduate students who are current student affiliate members of HNS.

Procedure:

The student’s application must include the following:

  1. A one-page description of how funds will be used and how this supports the student’s development as a psychologist who serves Hispanics or addresses cross-cultural issues
  2. A copy of the student’s CV
  3. A letter of support from a relevant sponsor that describes the student’s potential to contribute to Hispanic/Latino neuropsychology and feasibility/resources available to complete such a study
Student Research Award Recipients
Established December 2014
APL

2022
Ambar Perez Lao

Jéssica Orobio

2021
Jéssica Orobio

Ochoa Lopez

2019
Andrea Ochoa Lopez

Conde

2017
Katheryn Conde

Duan

2016
Jenny Zhen-Duan

Internship Scholarship Award
(Formerly Internship Fees Award)

The Awards Committee, in collaboration with the HNS Student Association, will accept applications for a monetary award to support graduate students of HNS. This award is designed to provide financial assistance to two outstanding student members of HNS applying for the APPIC Internship Match. Awardees will receive $600 each to subsidize both internship registration and application costs. The deadline to apply is December 31, 2022. The notification of awards takes place in January 2023.

Eligibility:

Candidates must be a current student member of HNS who will be applying for the APPIC clinical internship match. Students must be from an underrepresented background and demonstrate financial need in their application. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from socially, culturally, economically, or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply.

Procedure:

The student’s application must include the following:

  • A 1-page statement of purpose specifying (1) personal circumstances and background, (2) service to multiculturalism, including experience in research and/or clinical work focusing on populations of diverse backgrounds, the applicant’s commitment to helping others to overcome barriers to graduate school, and/or applicant’s contributions to their local or larger community, and (3) professional goals (e.g., commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in neuropsychology).
  • The student’s CV.
  • One letter of recommendation from faculty, supervisors, or mentor. The letter must address the applicant’s readiness for internship and potential to make an impact in the work with multicultural groups.
  • Proof of APPIC Match registration (e.g., copy of registration confirmation email).

For more information about how to become a member, please visit https://hnps.org/

Internship Scholarship
Award Recipients
(Formerly Internship Fees) Established November 2018
RubyCuellar

2023
Ruby Cuellar

SaraPrieto

2023
Sarah Prieto

Juan Gonzalez

2022
Juan González

andrea mejia kurasz

2022
Andrea Mejia Kurasz

Rita Rivera

2022
Rita Rivera

Quinn
2019
Crystal Quinn
Alicia Ranucci
2019
Alicia Ranucci
Yanez
2019
Janet Yanez
Avila

2018
Justina Avila

Mora

2018
Esmeralda Valdivieso Mora

Fellows Program

Fellow status within HNS is an honor that acknowledges remarkable contributions to the field of cultural neuropsychology that have garnered national or international renown. This award is given every two years and recognizes individuals who have made a significant impact to the profession of cultural neuropsychology through achievements in scientific and/or scholarly publications, teaching or training programs, advocacy, and contributions to HNS.

Nominations of individuals for this award should include a description of how their work impacted the profession of cultural neuropsychology, including their scientific and/or scholarly publication achievements, teaching or training programs, advocacy, and contributions to HNS. The call for nominations takes place in the Early Summer and the deadline to apply is in Late Summer. The notification of awards takes place in Early Fall.

Eligibility:

Nominees must have been HNS professional members for at least five years and remain in good standing. They must have 10 years post-doctoral experience in clinical neuropsychology and recognized expertise in cultural neuropsychology as defined by their clinical, scholarly, and professional activities. They must have substantially contributed to the science and/or profession of cultural neuropsychology through distinguished research, scholarship, teaching/mentoring, leadership and service, and/or practice.

Procedure:

Nominations must include:

  1. At least three letters of endorsement by leaders in the field who can address the nominee’s accomplishments in the area of cultural neuropsychology
  2. The nominee’s CV
Fellows
Salinas

2022
Cristi Salinas, PsyD

Bender_circular

2021
Heidi Bender, PhD, ABPP

Bordes Edgar circular

2021
Veronica Bordes Edgar, PhD, ABPP

Judd circular

2021
Tedd Judd, PhD, ABPP

Strutt circular

2021
Adriana Strutt, PhD, ABPP

Renteria L
2020
Laura Renteria, PhD, ABPP
David
2019
David Lechuga, PhD, ABPP
Monica-1
2019
Monica Rivera Mindt, PhD, ABPP
Tony
2019
Antonio Puente, PhD
Lifetime Achievement in Cultural
Neuropsychology Award

This award recognizes individuals who have made a significant impact to the profession of cultural neuropsychology through achievements in scientific and/or scholarly publications, teaching or training programs, advocacy, and contributions to HNS.

Nominations of individuals for this award should include a description of how their work impacted the profession of cultural neuropsychology, including their scientific and/or scholarly publication achievements, teaching or training programs, advocacy, and contributions to HNS. The call for nominations takes place in the Early Summer of every odd year (e.g., 2021, 2023) and the deadline to apply is in Late Summer. The notification of awards takes place in Early Fall.

Eligibility:

Nominees must have at least 10 years of post-doctoral experience and have contributed significantly to the field. Nominees must be/become professional members of HNS.

Procedure:

Nominations must include:

  1. The nominee’s CV
  2. A summary of the nominee’s relevant contributions/qualifications (no more than 500 words)
  3. Two additional letters of support

Self-nominations will be accepted. 

Lifetime Achievement in Cultural
Neuropsychology Award Recipients
Rosselli circular

2021
Mónica Rosselli, PhD

Tony
2020
Antonio Puente, PhD
Alfredo
2019
Alfredo Ardila, PhD
Mentorship in Cultural
Neuropsychology Award

The Mentorship in Cultural Neuropsychology Award recognizes a neuropsychologist who has made significant contributions to the development of students, trainees, and/or junior colleagues. This award is organized and administered by the HNS Awards Committee. The call for nominations is in Early Summer and the deadline to apply is in Late Summer. The notification of awards takes place in Early Fall.

Eligibility:

Nominees must be/become professional members of HNS.

Procedure:

Nominations must include:

  1. The nominee’s CV
  2. A letter of support summarizing the nominee’s relevant contributions/qualifications (no more than 500 words)
  3. One additional letter of support

Self-nominations will be accepted. 

Mentorship in Cultural
Neuropsychology Award Recipients
M-1

2022
Mirella Diaz-Santos, PhD 

Rengifo circular

2021
Johanna Rengifo, PhD

Ted
2020
Tedd Judd, PhD, ABPP

2019
Cristi Salinas, PsyD

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DELIA SILVA, PSYD, ABPP

Dr. Silva’s parents immigrated from Panama and Chile to the United States, and she was born and raised in melting pot that is New York City. She grew up speaking Spanish at home and feels fortunate to have grown up in an environment where cultural diversity was the norm, not the exception.

During her training to become a neuropsychologist, Dr. Silva was often asked to work with Spanish-speaking patients, though most training sites did not have supervisors who also spoke Spanish or had sufficient cultural knowledge relevant to Latinx populations. She joined HNS as a student and found mentorship and training resources that helped her gain competency in providing neuropsychological services to these patients. Dr. Silva has served on the HNS Board as Member-at-Large (2014-2016) and Secretary (2019-2022). She has also been involved with several committees over the years and is currently serving as the Chair of the Information Technology (IT) Committee. She views HNS as the main organization to promote development of professional resources and scientific advancements in neuropsychology that are specific to Latinx groups; she is honored to help the organization in any way she can. 

Dr. Silva is the owner of Pacific Neurobehavioral Clinic, PC, a group practice in San Diego, California that offers neuropsychological evaluation and psychotherapy services to adults with various neuropsychiatric conditions. She engages in clinical and civil forensic work and oversees the clinic operations.

Educational, training and professional experiences include:

  • Doctorate in Clinical Psychology – Florida Institute of Technology
  • Post-doctoral fellowships – Fullerton Neuropsychological Services, St. Jude Medical Center (one year; neurorehabilitation) and University of California San Diego (one year; clinical neuropsychology)
  • Staff neuropsychologist at Sharp Memorial and Grossmont hospitals from 2009-2012
  • Board certified through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in Clinical Neuropsychology
  • Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) for the state of California
  • Treasurer and Current Chair of California Psychological Association-Division 8 (Neuropsychology)

In her spare time, Dr. Silva enjoys playing and making music (piano and electronic instruments; she recently took up learning how to play the theremin), playing tennis, karaoke, and spending time with family and friends.