PHILADELPHIA, PA – Chestnut Hill College doctoral students, Allison Abrahamson, M.S., and Rebeccah A. Bernard, M.A., M.S., have received the 2014 American Psychological Association Award for a Distinguished Graduate Student in Professional Psychology for the creation of the Human Rights Forum. 

Abrahamson and Bernard, each in their fifth year in CHC’s Doctorate of Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) program, were nominated for the honor by Susan McGroarty, Ph.D., ABPP, associate professor of Psychology at CHC and faculty mentor for the Human Rights Forum. 

The students presented an idea to McGroarty during their first year at CHC in 2011 to form a human rights group on CHC’s campus to promote social justice.  This idea became the Human Rights Forum. The Forum provides opportunities for clinical psychology doctoral students at CHC to conduct social justice activities, organize yearly academic Grand Rounds and actively participate in human rights causes.

“The development of this program by first-year students was historic and noteworthy. Their passion for human rights runs deep and is a clear reflection of the College mission. Their accomplishments speak to the enormity of their contributions and receiving this prestigious award is a well-deserved honor for these two students,” said McGroarty.

The Forum, in 2012, created the Merging Cultures Program, which engages students to conduct social activities with immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers serviced by the Nationalities Service Center of Philadelphia. In the program, the students discuss barriers faced by new immigrants such as language and bureaucracy. Contact with each group is maintained through monthly events, emails and phone calls.