DISTINGUISHED CAREER AWARD:
GEORGE W. HOLDEN 

Recognizing an outstanding professional for longstanding dedication, expertise, and contributions to the field of child abuse and neglect, this award was presented to George W. Holden (center) by Councilors Lucia Williams (right) and Sue Foley (second from right), along with ISPCAN Executive Director Pragathi Tummala, President Elect Tufail Muhammad, and President Bernard Gerbaka.

Dr. Holden is chair of the Psychology Department, Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, Texas. Nominator Sue Foley said that Dr. Holden has, “over a period of almost 40 years, dedicated his life as a psychologist, research, and advocate to understanding and preventing child abuse.” He has published significant books and articles on numerous topics, and developed a new construct and instrument on “meta-parenting” to study parents’ reflections on their own parenting. Dr. Holden is also founder of the U.S. Alliance to End the Hitting of Children, and “his applied and concrete efforts to ban corporal punishment in the world, particularly in the U.S., are an inspiration to us all,” said Foley.