Distinguished Contributions to Behavioral Science
Award
Purpose of Award
The Mid-American Association for Behavior Analysis seeks to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the science of behavior analysis through their research, teaching, and or professional service.
See below for nomination and award selection information.
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2021 Awardee
Dr. Jack Michael
Western Michigan University
Dr. Michael served the discipline in countless ways, including several key leadership positions across many professional and scholarly endeavors. In 1971, a group of behavior analysts—including Dr. Michael—convened at the Midwest Psychological Association in Detroit, MI and called an open meeting to plan the inaugural gathering of behavior analysts in the Midwest. This meeting was the beginning of the Midwest Association of Behavior Analysis, which evolved into what we recognize today as the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), of which Dr. Michael served as the 4th President.
Later, in 2001, Dr. Michael worked with another generation of behavior analysts to re-develop and launch the Mid-American Association for Behavior Analysis and served as the first president. Twenty years later, the Mid-American Association for Behavior Analysis is proud to name Dr. Jack Michael the 2021 recipient of the Distinguished Contributions to Behavioral Science Award and will pay tribute to his life and work as we convene on October 28-30, 2021 in Detroit, MI.
Nominations
Beginning with the annual conference, the Award committee, composed of the three previous past presidents of MABA will solicit award nominations by (a) posting advertisements on the MABA website and related social media pages, (b) by email to the MABA executive board, and (c) by email to the current MABA membership. Nominations may be made by any current MABA member and will be considered through January 1st. Nominations should consist of a brief synopsis of nominee’s notable accomplishments and contributions to the basic, applied, translational, and/or conceptual analysis of behavior.
Awardee Selection
The award committee will review nominations and make a recommendation to the executive board for an awardee. Candidates will be considered based upon cumulative accomplishments, with consideration of significant recent contributions, and a history of exemplary presentations at MABA and other conventions; preference will be given to those nominees with professional appointments in the Mid-Western United States. In order to receive the award, recipients must commit to presenting at the upcoming MABA convention.
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Previous Winners
2020
Dr. Alyce M. Dickinson, Western Michigan University
2019
Dr. Leonard Green, Washington University in St. Louis