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Augustus Long Professor of Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology Janet E. Helms, Ph.D., is this year’s recipient of the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award, which recognizes educators in psychology, medicine and law who have inspired their students to benefit their communities.
A member of the Lynch School of Education faculty since 2000, Helms was nominated for the honor by her former doctoral student Maryam M. Jernigan. The $25,000 award was presented to Helms at a Jan. 7 ceremony at the Carter Center in Atlanta.
“I am honored by this recognition,” said Helms. “Students often come to me with ideas on changing communities of interest to them for the better. I try to mentor them to think about community intervention with some complexity, and to value the communities as well as themselves — as scholars and practitioners with relevant life experiences.”
Helms is founding director of the Lynch School’s Institute for the Study and Promotion of Race and Culture, sponsor of an annual “Diversity Challenge” that draws hundreds of scholars, practitioners, educators, community activists and policy makers for discussions on diversity-related issues.
She is a former president of the Society of Counseling Psychology, and a fellow in the American Psychological Association’s divisions on counseling psychology and ethnic diversity.
“Janet Helms has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to the promotion of race and culture, and the pursuit of social justice,” said LSOE Interim Dean Maureen Kenny. “As a long-time colleague of Janet’s I have witnessed her commitment and impact in inspiring the new generation of social justice learners. I am delighted that she was honored for her dedication to mentoring students at the Lynch School and beyond.”