SRA Awards

SRA is committed to recognizing outstanding contributions to the study of adolescent development. Through its awards program, SRA honors scholars whose work advances scientific understanding, informs policy and practice, and promotes the well-being of young people across diverse contexts. These awards reflect the breadth and impact of SRA members in the field, celebrating excellence in research, mentorship, service, and translational science.

SRA Awards

International Fellowship Program

In 2008, SRA established the International Fellowship Program (IFP). Although supporting early-career international scholars is critical, the IFP was designed for well-established scholars and professionals. These senior Fellows bring substantial expertise and are well-positioned within their regional networks to serve as ambassadors for SRA. The IFP hosts one Fellow at each conference.

Previous Awardees:

  • 2026 | Tina Malti 
  • 2024 | Kofi Marfo (Kenya) 
  • 2022 | Suman Verma (India)
  • 2021 | María Cristina Richaud (Argentina)
  • 2018 | Rita Giacaman (Palestine)
  • 2014 | Barbara Lethem Ibrahim (Egypt)
  • 2012 | Raija-Leena Punamäki (Finland)
  • 2010 | Silvia H. Koller (Brazil)
  • 2008 | A. Bame Nsamenang, (Cameroon)

Hershel D. Thornburg Dissertation Award

The Hershel D. Thornburg Dissertation Award was established in 1987 to honor the founding president of SRA. Dr. Thornburg concentrated on adolescence, educational psychology, and health-related issues, publishing 11 books. Dedicated to teacher training, he was one of the few adolescent psychology specialists who encouraged interactive dialogue and the exchange of ideas between scientists and educators on effective teaching, school structure, and curriculum offerings for middle school-age youth. This award recognizes outstanding scholastic promise in research on adolescence.

Previous Awardees:

  • 2026 | Rachel Hanebutt
  • 2024 | Sirui Wan
  • 2023 | Mary Kate Koch
  • 2022 | Kathy Do
  • 2020 | Andrik Becht
  • 2016 | Deinera Exner-Cortens
  • 2014 | Eva H. Telzer
  • 2012 | Virginia Huynh
  • 2010 | Aprile D. Benner
  • 2008 | Koen Luyckx
  • 2006 | Margo Gardner
  • 2004 | Janis L. Whitlock
  • 2002 | Jennifer L. Matjasko
  • 2000 | Carol A. Wong
  • 1998 | Robert Roeser
  • 1996 | Miranda Yates
  • 1994 | Lauren Wakschlag
  • 1992 | Nancy Leffert
  • 1990 | Christy M. Buchanan
  • 1988 | Grayson Holmbeck

John P. Hill Memorial Award

John P. Hill was one of the charter members and the second president of SRA. Dr. Hill was especially interested in puberty and its psychosocial impact, the development and expression of gender roles, adolescent attachment and autonomy, and family relations in early adolescence. His impact on the field of adolescence was profound. This award recognizes an individual whose overall program of work has had a significant impact on our understanding of development and behavior during the second decade of the lifespan.

Previous Awardees:

  • 2026 | Velma McBride Murry
  • 2024 | Joseph Allen
  • 2020 | Suniya Luthar
  • 2018 | Judith Smetana
  • 2016 | Reed W. Larson
  • 2014 | William M. Bukowski
  • 2012 | Wyndol C. Furman
  • 2010 | Richard M. Lerner
  • 2008 | Elizabeth J. Susman
  • 2006 | Jacquelynne S. Eccles
  • 2004 | Frank J. Furstenberg, Jr.
  • 2002 | Avshalom Caspi
  • 2002 | Terrie Moffitt
  • 2000 | Laurence Steinberg
  • 1998 | David Magnusson
  • 1996 | Jeanne Brooks-Gunn
  • 1994 | Erik Erikson
  • 1992 | Sir Michael Rutter
  • 1990 | Daniel Offer

Early Career Research Award (formerly Young Investigator’s Award)

Established by the SRA Governing Council in 2006 as the Young Investigator’s Award, this honor was created to recognize early-career scholars who had made significant contributions to understanding adolescent development and behavior early in their career. The award highlighted individuals whose work demonstrated strong scholarly impact through research, publications, grant activity, conference presentations, and growing visibility in the field.

In 2016, the SRA Executive Council renamed and refined the award as the Early Career Research Award, reflecting the field’s evolving emphasis on the breadth, rigor, and influence of early-career research programs. While the core purpose of recognizing outstanding emerging scholars remained unchanged, the updated name more clearly signals a commitment to honoring innovative, high-impact research trajectories and the diverse ways scholars contribute to advancing adolescent development science.

Previous Awardees:

  • 2026 | Donte Bernard, Juan Del Toro
  • 2024 | Seanna Leath
  • 2023 | Mengya Xia
  • 2022 | Riana Anderson
  • 2020 | Ryan Watson
  • 2018 | Russell B. Toomey
  • 2016 | Adriana M. Manago
  • 2014 | Jane Mendle
  • 2012 | Guillermo Prado
  • 2010 | Tina Malti
  • 2008 | Deanna L. Wilkinson

Roberta Grodberg Simmons Prize Lecture

Roberta Grodberg Simmons, one of the 20 charter members of the Society for Research on Adolescence, made foundational contributions to the study of adolescent development through her interdisciplinary, theoretically grounded, and empirically rigorous scholarship. Trained as a sociologist, Simmons held faculty positions at Barnard, Wellesley, Columbia, the University of Minnesota, and later the University of Pittsburgh, where she advanced influential research on self-concept, puberty, school transitions, and broader social-structural influences on development. Her collaborations helped reshape how scholars understand adolescent self-image and the interplay of biopsychosocial and contextual factors. In recognition of her profound scholarly impact, the Roberta Grodberg Simmons Lecture was established following her passing in 1993. Presented at each Biennial Meeting, this lecture series honors her legacy by featuring a distinguished scholar whose work reflects her dedication to advancing theoretically informed and interdisciplinary research on adolescence.

Previous Awardees:

  • 2026 | Enrique Neblett
  • 2024 | Margaret Beale Spencer
  • 2022 | Tammy Chang, Xochitl Amaro
  • 2018 | Diane Hughes
  • 2016 | Nancy A. Gonzales
  • 2014 | Hirokazu Yoshikawa
  • 2012 | Cigdem Kagitcibasi
  • 2010 | Cynthia Garcia Coll
  • 2008 | William Julius Wilson
  • 2006 | Sandra Graham
  • 2004 | Håkan Stattin and Margaret Kerr
  • 2002 | Marcelo Suárez-Orozco & Carola Suárez Orozco
  • 2000 | Linda Burton
  • 1998 | Felton J. Earls III
  • 1996 | Deborah Prothrow-Smith
  • 1994 | William Julius Wilson

Interdisciplinary Award (Formally the Presidential Citation Award for Excellence in Research)

The Presidential Citation Award was established by the SRA Executive Council in 2016 to recognize innovative, interdisciplinary, policy-informed research that has advanced Developmental Science, our understanding of Adolescents, and improved the lives of young people, their families, and their communities.

Previous Awardees:

  • 2026 | Johari Harris, Nancy L. Deutsch, Molly Cory, & Onnie Rogers
  • 2024 | Jolien Trekels, Maria T. Maza, & Kara Fox
  • 2023 | Christina Rogers
  • 2022 | not awarded
  • 2020 | not awarded
  • 2016 | Kenneth A. Dodge 

Organizational Impact Award for Excellence in Research and Programming for Youth (Formally Presidential Citation Award)

The Presidential Citation Award was established by the SRA Executive Council in 2016 to recognize unwavering promotion and support of research, programming, and mentoring for the optimal development of adolescents.

Previous Awardees:

  • 2026 | Youth Reproductive Equity
  • 2024 | Youth-Nex (UVA)
  • 2023 | Community Coalition (Los Angeles, CA)
  • 2022 | Center for Rural Opioid Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery (Washington State University)
  • 2020 | National 4-H Council, Compassion International
  • 2016 | William T. Grant Foundation 

Mid-Career Award for Research Excellence

The transition from early- to mid-career scholar represents a critical and often challenging period, as professional demands intensify while institutional support may diminish and expectations for sustained, high-impact scholarship intensify. Supporting scholars through this phase is essential to advancing the field and ensuring the continued development of innovative and influential research programs. In recognition of this career stage, the SRA Executive Council established the Mid-Career Award for Research Excellence in 2016. This award honors scholars who have made a significant contribution to understanding adolescent development and behavior and who demonstrate continued excellence and impact in their research. Recipients are distinguished by the strength and influence of their scholarly contributions, as evidenced by research, publications, grants, conference presentations, and visibility in the field.

Previous Awardees:

  • 2026 | Roberto L. Abreu
  • 2024 | Laura Baams
  • 2023 | Radosveta Dimitrova
  • 2022 | Ming-Te Wang
  • 2020 | Aprile Benner
  • 2018 | Catherine Bradshaw
  • 2016 | Noel A. Card

Outstanding Mentor Award

Training, guiding, and encouraging early-career researchers through direct instruction and collaborative research are integral to advancing the multidisciplinary field of adolescent research. The Outstanding Mentor Award was established by the SRA Executive Council in 2016 to recognize the importance of mid-career scholarship and to celebrate mid-career scholars who exemplify research excellence through mentorship in any topic related to adolescence and the transition to adulthood.

Previous Awardee:

  • 2026 | Christy Rogers (Mid-career), Eva Lefkowitz (Senior)
  • 2024 | Jeff Temple (Mid-career), Not awarded (Senior)
  • 2023 | Tiffany Yip (Mid-career), Melanie Zimmer-Gembeck (Senior)
  • 2022 | Birdie Shirtcliff (Mid-career), Stephanie Rowley (Senior)
  • 2020 | Michael Cunningham (Mid-career), Jacquline Eccles (Senior)
  • 2018 | Emily Ozer (Mid-career), Gustavo Carlo (Senior)
  • 2016 | Adriana J. Umaña-Taylor (Mid-career) 

Policy Committee Publication Awards

This award, presented by the SRA Policy Committee, recognizes outstanding scholarly contributions that advance the understanding of adolescence and meaningfully inform social policy and practice. Awards were conferred across four categories—best authored book, best edited volume, best journal article, and best policy report or brief—reflecting the diverse ways in which scholarship can shape policy and improve the lives of young people. They were consolidated in YEAR. Eligible works are drawn from peer-reviewed outlets and include policy-oriented research, program evaluations, and foundational studies that clearly articulate implications for practice and policy. Submissions from a wide range of disciplines are encouraged, including self-nominations. Selections are based on the (1) rigor and theoretical contribution of the work, (2) substantive and timely nature of the policy issues addressed, and (3) clarity with which the research illuminates policy challenges and potential solutions.

Best AUTHORED BOOK Awards

  • 2016 | Ben Kirshner, Youth Activism in an Era of Educational Inequality
  • 2014 | Constance A. Flanagan, Teenage Citizens: The Political Theories of the Young
  • 2012 | Catherine R. Cooper, Bridging Multiple Worlds: Cultures, Identities, and Pathways to College
  • 2012 | Barton J. Hirsch, Nancy L. Deutsch, & David L. DuBois, After-School Centers and Youth Development: Case Studies of Success and Failure
  • 2010 | Elizabeth Scott & Laurence Steinberg, Rethinking Juvenile Justice
  • 2008 | Frank F. Furstenberg, Destinies of the Disadvantaged: The Politics of Teen Childbearing
  • 2006 | Barton J. Hirsch, A Place to Call Home: After-School Programs for Urban Youth
  • 2004 | Roger J. R. Levesque, Not by Faith Alone: Religion, Law, and Adolescence
  • 2002 | Bonnie Leadbeater & Niobe Way, Growing Up Fast: Transitions to Early Adulthood in the Inner City
  • 1998 | Rebecca Maynard, Kids Having Kids
  • 1996 | Nicholas Emler & Stephen Reichler, Adolescence and Delinquency
  • 1996 | Carola Suárez-Orozco & Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, Transformation: Migration, Family Life and Achievement Motivation among Latino Adolescents
  • 1992 | Michelle Fine, Framing Dropouts: Notes on the Politics of an Urban Public High School
  • 1990 | Stephen F. Hamilton, Apprenticeship for Adulthood: Preparing Youth for the Future
  • (Subsumed into one Policy Publication Award)

Best EDITED BOOK Awards

  • 2016 | Carola Suárez-Orozco, Mona M. Abo-Zena, & Amy K. Marks, Transitions: The Development of Children of Immigrants
  • 2014 | Elizabeth T. Gershoff, Rashmita S. Mistry, & Danielle A. Crosby, Societal Contexts of Child Development: Pathways of Influence and Implications for Practice and Policy
  • 2010 | Marybeth Shinn & Hirokazu Yoshikawa, Toward Positive Youth Development: Transforming Schools and Community Programs
  • 2008 | Jeffrey M. Jenson & Mark W. Fraser, Social Policy for Children and Families: A Risk and Resilience Perspective
  • 2006 | David L. DuBois & Michael J. Karcher, Handbook of Youth Mentoring
  • 2004 | B. Bradford Brown, Reed W. Larson, & T. S. Saraswathi, The World’s Youth: Adolescence in Eight Regions of the Globe
  • 2002 | Thomas Grisso & Robert Schwartz, Youth on Trial: A Developmental Perspective on Juvenile Justice
  • 2002 | Jeffrey Fagan & Franklin Zimring, The Changing Borders of Juvenile Justice: Transfer of Adolescents to the Criminal Court
  • (Subsumed into one Policy Publication Award)

Best Journal ARTICLE Awards

  • 2016 | Nolan L. Cabrera, Jeffrey F. Milem, Ozan Jaquette, & Ronald W. Marx, “Missing the (Student Achievement) Forest for All the (Political) Trees: Empiricism and the Mexican American Studies Controversy in Tucson.” American Educational Research Journal
  • 2014 | Sarah D. Lynne-Landsman, Melvin D. Livingston, & Alexander C. Wagenaar, “Effects of State Medical Marijuana Laws on Adolescent Marijuana Use.” American Journal of Public Health
  • 2012 | Antti Kärnä, Marinus Voeten, Todd D. Little, Elisa Poskiparta, Erkki Alanen, & Christina Salmivalli, “Going to Scale: A Nonrandomized Nationwide Trial of the KiVa Antibullying Program for Grades 1–9.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
  • 2010 | Nancy E. Hill & Diana F. Tyson, “Parental Involvement in Middle School: A Meta-Analytic Assessment of the Strategies That Promote Achievement.” Developmental Psychology
  • 2008 | Jessica Owen-Kostelnik, N. Dickon Reppucci, & Jessica R. Meyer, “Testimony and Interrogation of Minors: Assumptions About Maturity and Morality.” American Psychologist
  • 2006 | Lisa A. Gennetian, Greg Duncan, Virginia Knox, Wanda Vargas, Elizabeth Clark-Kauffman, & Andrew S. London, “How Welfare Policies Affect Adolescents’ School Outcomes: A Synthesis of Evidence From Experimental Studies.” Journal of Research on Adolescence
  • 2004 | P. Lindsay Chase-Lansdale, Robert A. Moffitt, Brenda J. Lohman, Andrew J. Cherlin, Rebekah Levine Coley, Laura D. Pittman, Jennifer Roff, & Elizabeth Votruba-Drzal, “Mothers’ Transitions From Welfare to Work and the Well-Being of Preschoolers and Adolescents.” Science
  • 2002 | Thomas Dishion, Joan McCord, & François Poulin, “When Interventions Harm: Peer Groups and Problem Behavior.” American Psychologist
  • 1996 | Jennifer J. Frost & Jacqueline Darroch Forrest, “Understanding the Impact of Effective Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Programs.” Family Planning Perspectives
  • 1994 | W. R. Hammond & B. Yung, “Psychology’s Role in the Public Health Response to Assaultive Violence Among Young African-American Men.” American Psychologist
  • 1992 | J. Shedler & J. Block, “Adolescent Drug Use and Psychological Health: A Longitudinal Inquiry.” American Psychologist
  • (Subsumed into one Policy Publication Award)

Best Policy Report/Brief Awards

  • 2014, Howard S. Bloom & Rebecca Unterman, "Sustained Progress: New Findings About the Effectiveness and Operation of Small Public High Schools of Choice in New York City." MDRC

Social Policy Achievement Award

The Social Policy Achievement Award recognizes outstanding contributions to adolescent development through impactful policy work.

Social Policy Publication Award

  • 2026 | Cecilia Velazquez, Velazquez, C. (2025). “Abortion Legalization and Adolescent Fertility: New Evidence for Uruguay Based on the Synthetic Control Method.” Women’s Reproductive Health, 12(3), 748–772. DOI
  • 2024 | Bottiani, J. H., Camacho, D. A., Lindstrom Johnson, S., & Bradshaw, C. P. (2021). “Annual Research Review: Youth firearm violence disparities in the United States and implications for prevention.” Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines. PubMed
  • 2023 | Del Toro, J., Jackson, D. B., & Wang, M. T. (2022). “The Policing Paradox: Police Stops Predict Youth’s School Disengagement via Elevated Psychological Distress.” Developmental Psychology, 58(7), 1402–1412. doi: 10.1037/dev0001361
  • 2020 | McNeely, C. A., Lee, W. F., Rosenbaum, J. E., Alemu, B., & Renner, L. M. (2019). “Long-Term Effects of Truancy Diversion on School Attendance: A Quasi-Experimental Study with Linked Administrative Data.” Prevention Science, 20(7), 996–1008. DOI

Outstanding Scholarly Contribution to Adolescence in the Majority World Award

  • 2026 | Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie
  • 2024 | Blanca Estela Barvelata Eguiarte
  • 2023 | Lixian Cui; Silvia Koller

Inclusion, Equity, and Social Justice Award

  • 2026 | Victoria Vezeldenos (early career), Donte Bernard (mid-career)
  • 2024 | Radosveta Dimitrova

Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences Early Career Impact Award

The Early Career Impact Awards recognize scientists who are in the early stages of their professional careers and have already shown promise as a leading researcher. The early career scientists’ academic contributions are highlighted on the FABBS website, and FABBS translates their research for a broad public audience by preparing general interest articles for policy makers and the public. 2026 Adam Fine