American Psychological Association honors UAF professor

Submitted by Marie Gilbert
Phone: 907-474-7412
09/18/07

The American Psychological Association presented Gerald Mohatt, director of the Center for Alaska Native Health Research and professor of psychology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, with the 2007 APA Distinguished Career Contribution to Research Award at the organization’s August convention.

The award is issued by the APA Division 45 of the Society for the Study of Ethnic Minority Issues and honors the contributions of a researcher with 15 or more years of experience in the field of psychology who has made significant contributions in research related to ethnic minority populations.

"His innovative and seminal scholarly accomplishments are stellar, born from his deep and abiding commitment to multicultural issues and topics especially those germane to Indian and Native populations," said Joseph Trimble, professor of psychology at Western Washington University, who nominated Mohatt for the award.

"Jerry is responsible in large part for the establishment of the Center for Alaska Native Health Research," Trimble said. CANHR, part of the Institute of Arctic Biology, investigates weight, nutrition and health in Alaska Natives from genetic, dietary and cultural-behavioral perspectives.

"The result of Jerry’s efforts and activities is an extremely productive program of research that will illuminate the dangers and dilemmas of importing standard conventions with regard to the diagnosis and treatment of Alaska Native health problems," Trimble said.

Throughout his career Mohatt has focused on building new settings in rural areas to increase opportunities for rural people. On the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, Mohatt and a group of Lakota and non-Natives founded a tribal college that has since grown into a tribal university. Mohatt was the college’s first president.

"Jerry’s research and scholarship has significantly contributed to our understanding and increased effectiveness in meeting the mental health needs of American Indians and Alaskan Natives," said Toy Caldwell-Colbert, head of nominations and awards for the APA Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues.

Mohatt has worked as a clinician in rural mental health centers and provided various clinical services throughout a region that had no other resident psychologists. His work also included research on psychotherapy, indigenous healing systems and protective and recovery factors for alcohol abuse.

CONTACT: Gerald Mohatt, director, Center for Alaska Native Health Research, Institute of Arctic Biology, professor of psychology, department of psychology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 907-474-7927, ffgvm@uaf.edu

Marie Gilbert, public information officer, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 907-474-7412, marie.gilbert@uaf.edu

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