CASEL Awards

2022 Social and Emotional Learning Leaders of the Year

CASEL has announced recipients of the 2022 SELLY Awards, honoring outstanding achievements of six “Social and Emotional Learning Leaders of the Year” in the categories of research, practice, and public policy.

Did you miss our Social and Emotional Learning Exchange on October 13th, 2022? Tune into the on-demand conversations here.

2022 Recipients

• Dr. Karen Bierman, Evan Pugh Professor and Director of the Child Study Center, Penn State University

  • Joseph E. Zins Awards for Social and Emotional Learning Action Research

    Dr. Karen Bierman’s research focuses on the design and evaluation of school- and community-based prevention programs that promote social-emotional learning and school readiness. She has directed several longitudinal studies evaluating the long-term impact of early school-based and family-focused social-emotional learning programs designed to reduce aggression (Fast Track) and enhance school success (Head Start REDI). She has also developed and evaluated small-group (Tier 2) social-emotional skill training interventions for peer-rejected children (Friendship Group) designed to complement universal (Tier 1) programming. Her current research focuses on the longitudinal follow-up of the REDI classroom and parent prevention programs that featured social-emotional learning (funded by the National Institutes of Health) and the evaluation of two new parent-focused guided play interventions to support preschool STEM and social-emotional skills (funded by the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Education Sciences, respectively).

    Dr. Bierman has authored more than 230 peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters that have appeared in publications such as Child Development, JAMA Pediatrics, Journal of Developmental Psychology, and Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. She has published five books as author or co-editor. Some of her honors and awards include:

    • Fellow, American Psychological Association (2019)
    • Fellow, Society for Prevention Research (2019)
    • Service to SPR Award, Society for Prevention Research (2017)
    • Evan Pugh University Professor (2016)
    • Fellow, Association of Psychological Science (2016)
    • Senior Scientist and Mentor Award, Missouri Prevention Center (2015)
    • Prevention Science Award, Society for Prevention Research (2013)

    In the future, Dr. Bierman hopes to work with ongoing studies in the area of school readiness, linking school-based with family-focused social-emotional learning supports, and scaling up evidence-based interventions.

• Dr. Christina Cipriano, Director of Research, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

  • Joseph E. Zins Awards for Social and Emotional Learning Action Research

    Christina Cipriano, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the Yale Child Study Center and Director of Research at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, housed in the Yale School of Medicine. An applied developmental and educational psychologist, Dr. Cipriano’s research focus is the systematic examination of social and emotional learning (SEL) assessment and intervention with marginalized populations. A national expert in SEL, Dr. Cipriano is the PI and Director of numerous major federal and foundation grants supporting the development and validation of novel SEL assessments, classroom observation practices, and SEL evaluation and efficacy trials. She has published more than 65 papers, commentaries, and reports on topics of SEL, equity, inclusion, and assessment, spanning top tier peer-reviewed journals, and media outlets including The Washington Post, Education Week, PBS, The Greater Good Science Center, and Edsurge. Dr. Cipriano received her Ph.D. in Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology from Boston College, her Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and undergraduate degree from Hofstra University, and currently serves on the Professional Advisory Board of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, Teachstone, and Transforming Education. Chris is a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar and the mother of four beautiful children who inspire her every day to take the moon and make it shine for everyone. Learn more @drchriscip

• Dr. Teri (Brown) Lawler, Trauma-Informed Psychologist, Delaware Department of Education

  • Ann S. Nerad Awards for Distinguished Contributions to Advance Policies for Social and Emotional Learning

    Teri (Brown) Lawler, EdD leads the work in Trauma-Informed Practices and SEL at Delaware Dept. of Education. In her work she has been committed to translating research to practice assuring the highest quality learnings inform daily school practices. She has worked closely with CASEL on both the CASEL State Initiative and the Career and Workforce Initiative. She is a Founding Member of the American Psychological Association, Board of Educational Advancement and 2014 Awardee of the Golden Psi for her work on integrating SEL with academic achievement. She was recognized as the Delaware School Psychologist of the Year for her service to children and for being the Curriculum Architect of the Delaware Compassionate Schools Learning Collaborative. Dr. Lawler received her BA from Hampton University, her MA from the University of Delaware and her EdD from Willington University.

• Dr. Rose Prejean-Harris, Director of Social Emotional Learning, Atlanta Public Schools

  • Mary Utne O’Brien Awards for Excellence in Expanding the Evidence-Based Practice of Social and Emotional Learning

    Dr. Rose Prejean-Harris is Director of SEL, Atlanta Public Schools, is an SEL leader that has spearheaded the expansion of the CDI across the country, modeled SEL leadership, supported the documentation of systemic SEL practices, shared her learnings via tools, webinars and conference presentations and been a mentor for new SEL leaders across the country. Her commitment to creating equitable learning environments for every Atlanta Public School student is evident in every project that she leads. Dr. Prejean-Harris is constantly invited to sit at the table where important decisions —impacting the lives of children—are made every day. She is that passionate, hardworking, and caring team member that you always want on your team.

• In memory of Dr. Eric Schaps, Founder and President, Developmental Studies Center

  • Mary Utne O’Brien Awards for Excellence in Expanding the Evidence-Based Practice of Social and Emotional Learning

    Dr. Eric Schaps. For over 40 years, Eric Schaps was a leader in the SEL space. As founder and president for 30 years at the Developmental Studies Center (DSC), now known as the Center for the Collaborative Classroom, Eric conceptualized and led its mission to create, evaluate, and disseminate school-based programs designed to help children develop academically, socially, emotionally, and ethically in safe and caring classroom communities. Eric devoted his career to supporting educators and their access to effective and practical instructional tools, developing the first comprehensive, systemwide social-emotional learning program, documenting the gains children make when schools address academics hand-in-hand with social and emotional development. In the last decade of his life, Eric was a key thought partner and collaborator with CASEL and our partner districts in their mission to systemically implement social and emotional learning. His ground-breaking research, along with his development and support of innovative programs, provided the foundation for the growth and expansion of mental health, social-emotional, and character education programs across the country.

• Gene Wilhoit, CEO, Center for Innovation in Education at the University of Kentucky

  • Ann S. Nerad Awards for Distinguished Contributions to Advance Policies for Social and Emotional Learning

    Gene Wilhoit is the CEO of the Center for Innovation in Education at the University of Kentucky. Gene served as executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) from 2006 until 2013. At CCSSO, Gene spearheaded the states’ collective action to adopt the Common Core State Standards. From 1994 to 2006, Gene led two state education agencies: Arkansas Dept of Ed and Kentucky Dept of Ed. He began his career as a social studies teacher in Ohio and Indiana. Gene holds degrees from Georgetown College and Indiana University. Wilhoit has also studied education administration at the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies. He is a member of numerous education organizations, serves on several boards, has served on national and state commissions (including the National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development) and has written and spoken on a variety of education issues. He has been a longtime advisor to the CASEL States Initiative and friend of CASEL.

Joseph E. Zins Awards for Social and Emotional Learning Action Research

The Zins Award was established in 2007 to honor the memory of collaborator Joseph E. Zins, a research pioneer in SEL and former director of the University of Cincinnati’s doctoral program. We present the awards to two investigators and researchers per year that are at distinct phases in their careers: an early-career researcher and an established scholar.

The early-career researcher is limited to researchers at the research scientist, assistant, or associate professor level. The established scholar is a senior investigator or full professor who has advanced the field in important and meaningful ways, across the span of a distinguished career.

These contributions could include applied research, theoretical contributions, or research on curriculum, policies, or practices.

• Joseph E. Zins Award Past Recipients
  • • Early Career Recipients: Sara Rimm-Kaufman (2007), Marc Brackett (2009), Celene Domitrovich (2011), Angela Lee Duckworth (2012), Stephanie Jones (2013), David Yeager (2015) Camille A. Farrington (2018), Anne Gregory (2018), Clark McKown (2020), Tia Barnes (2021)
    • Distinguished Scholar Recipients: Maurice Elias (2011), Edward Zigler (2011), J. David Hawkins (2012), Joseph Durlak (2013), Kimberly Schonert-Reichl (2015), David Osher (2018), and Laura Hamilton (2020), Edmund Gordon (2021)

Mary Utne O’Brien Awards for Excellence in Expanding the Evidence-Based Practice of SEL

The Utne O’Brien Award was established in 2011 to honor the memory and dedication to high-quality practice of Mary Utne O’Brien, former CASEL executive director and key leader in the SEL field. We present the awards to two district or school leaders per year who have provided the vision, inspiration, and practical strategies for developing the infrastructure and support for high-quality SEL at the district or school level.

• Mary Utne O'Brein Award Past Recipients
  • • District or School Leaders: Carol Comeau (2012), Jillian Ahrens (2013), Linda DePriest (2013), Koua Jacklyn Franz (2013), Ed Graff (2013), Sherrie Raven (2013), Trish Shaffer (2013), Kristina Tank-Crestetto(2013), Karen VanAusdal (2013), and Michelle Van Allen (2018), Sheldon Berman (2020), Byron Sanders (2020), Eric Moore (2021)
    • Federal or State Policymaking: Congresswoman Judy Biggert (2011), Congressman Dale Kildee (2011), Congressman Tim Ryan (2012), Ellen Moir (2015), James Comer (2015), Joan Duffell (2018), Tom Roderick (2018), R. Keeth Matheny (2021)

Ann S. Nerad Awards for Distinguished Contributions to Advance Policies for Social and Emotional Learning

The Ann S. Nerad Award for Distinguished Contributions to Advance Policies for Social and Emotional Learning was established in 2021 and will be presented this year for the first time to two recipients that are leading SEL public policy.

• Ann S. Nerad Awards Past Recipients

  • Linda Darling-Hammond (2021), Rosa DeLauro (2021)

Hear from Past Recipients

• Building Teacher Capacity for SEL Through Community – Guest Blog from 2020 CASEL Award Recipient: Dr. Sheldon Berman
• Youth Need Better Civic Learning Opportunities, and SEL Can Pave the Way – Guest Blog from 2020 CASEL Award Recipient: Laura Hamilton, Ph.D.
• Keeping Social and Emotional Learning Grounded in Evidence – Guest Blog from 2020 CASEL Award Recipient: Clark McKown, Ph.D.