The LGBT Ally Research Award recognizes outstanding research, publications and/or scholarship that focuses on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations, or advances knowledge of LGBT issues.

2009 LGBT Ally Research Award

dawn szymanski
Dawn Szymanski, from the department of psychology, has a wide range of work focused the psychosocial health of LGBT persons. She focuses particularly on events or ideas of heterosexism such as harassment, discrimination or the internalization of negative ideas about homosexuality. Her work also has examined aspects of self-esteem, social support and involvement in activism as they relate to mental health. Of the 34 peer-reviewed journal articles and two book chapters Szymanski has published, 27 are specifically related to LGBT issues. Last year she co-authored a major contribution on internalized heterosexism for the publication “The Counseling Psychologist.” It will serve to inspire many mental health professionals in their work with LGBT clients. She is also a dedicated teacher whose activism and service have done much to broaden the understanding of LGBT issues on our campus.