Awards & Fellows
HNS awards & fellows Program




Paola Suarez, PhD

Ambar Perez Lao, MS

Franchesca Arias, PhD

Kristin Krueger, PhD, ABPP


Andrea Mejia Kurasz, MA




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 |
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:
- 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
- A copy of the student’s CV
- 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

2022
Ambar Perez Lao

2021
Jéssica Orobio

2019
Andrea Ochoa Lopez

2017
Katheryn Conde

2016
Jenny Zhen-Duan
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/.
Award Recipients

2023
Ruby Cuellar

2023
Sarah Prieto

2022
Juan González

2022
Andrea Mejia Kurasz

2022
Rita Rivera

Crystal Quinn

Alicia Ranucci

Janet Yanez

2018
Justina Avila

2018
Esmeralda Valdivieso Mora
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:
- At least three letters of endorsement by leaders in the field who can address the nominee’s accomplishments in the area of cultural neuropsychology
- The nominee’s CV

2022
Cristi Salinas, PsyD

2021
Heidi Bender, PhD, ABPP

2021
Veronica Bordes Edgar, PhD, ABPP

2021
Tedd Judd, PhD, ABPP

2021
Adriana Strutt, PhD, ABPP

Laura Renteria, PhD, ABPP

David Lechuga, PhD, ABPP

Monica Rivera Mindt, PhD, ABPP

Antonio Puente, PhD
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:
Procedure:
Nominations must include:
- The nominee’s CV
- A summary of the nominee’s relevant contributions/qualifications (no more than 500 words)
- Two additional letters of support
Self-nominations will be accepted.
Neuropsychology Award Recipients

2021
Mónica Rosselli, PhD

Antonio Puente, PhD

Alfredo Ardila, PhD
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:
Procedure:
Nominations must include:
- The nominee’s CV
- A letter of support summarizing the nominee’s relevant contributions/qualifications (no more than 500 words)
- One additional letter of support
Self-nominations will be accepted.
Neuropsychology Award Recipients

2022
Mirella Diaz-Santos, PhD

2021
Johanna Rengifo, PhD

Tedd Judd, PhD, ABPP

2019
Cristi Salinas, PsyD