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Counseling psychology professor named 'Woman of the Year'


woman holding a framed certificate
August 13, 2014

Bianca Bernstein, professor of counseling and counseling psychology in ASU's School of Letters and Sciences, has been named the 2014 Woman of the Year by the American Psychological Association.

Bernstein received the award at the association's annual conference, on Aug. 8, in Washington, D.C. The association's Division 17 Section for the Advancement of Women specifically recognized Bernstein for her contribution to the advancement of women in psychology and other scientific professions.

“I am truly honored to receive this award,” Bernstein said. “Applying psychological science to the educational and career advancement of women and underrepresented minorities has been my passion and privilege. Now to have my work recognized by my professional community in this special way is a wonderful bonus.”

The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. The association is the world's largest association of psychologists, with nearly 130,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members.

“Bianca has been an exceptional mentor to graduate students and junior and mid-career faculty across many disciplines at ASU, and in every realm of her professional life,” said Duane Roen, assistant vice provost for the University Academic Success Program and interim director of the School of Letters and Sciences. “The project management skills and commitment to meticulous research methods that she brings to her scholarship is evident in the success of her CareerWISE online coaching program, which has put ASU on the map as a go-to source for women in STEM fields anywhere in the world to learn communication skills and find thoughtful guidance.”

In addition to her teaching duties, Bernstein is principal investigator of the CareerWISE research program, supported by the National Science Foundation since 2006. Her over 200 publications and presentations, and over $3.6 million in external support, have focused on the application of psychological science to the career advancement of women and underrepresented minorities, and the development of effective learning environments for graduate education.

In her 27 years at ASU, Bernstein has served as the dean of ASU’s Graduate College, director of NSF’s Division of Graduate Education, leader of ASU’s extensive Preparing Future Faculty Program, innovator of ASU’s Preparing Future Professionals Program, president of the Western Association of Graduate Schools, member of the Board and Executive Committee of the Council of Graduate Schools and visiting scholar at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching at Stanford University.

She has won a number of awards for her work on equity and inclusiveness, including the ASU Faculty Women's Association Outstanding Mentor Award, the ASU Faculty Women’s Association Achievement in Gender Equity Award, the ASU Black Caucus Award for Contributions to Diversity and the Arizona Governor’s Spirit of Excellence Award.

Bernstein holds a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of California at Berkeley and graduate degrees in counseling psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara.