UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Kathy Bieschke, Penn State vice provost for faculty affairs and professor of education (counseling psychology), was recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA) with its Award for Distinguished Contributions to Education and Training in Psychology. Bieschke’s award was given the career designation, recognizing her continuous significant contributions made over a lifelong career in psychology.
“I am honored to receive this award, and humbled to be honored for doing work that has changed me as much as it has changed the field,” Bieschke said. “Because I have focused on systemic change within the field of psychology, I am grateful to my colleagues as the success of my efforts benefited, and relied upon, their robust engagement. I’m also grateful to have worked with so many impressive doctoral students, all of whom serve as inspiration for my work.”
Bieschke is recognized for her national impact on education and training in the field of psychology through her research and scholarship, service to the field and national leadership roles in the Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs and APA’s Society of Counseling Psychology and Commission on Accreditation.
In partnership with colleagues, she helped to lead national conversations on how to train and educate trainees to deliver competent services to a diverse clientele. Her efforts contributed to a comprehensive, developmental approach to training and education that is inclusive and welcoming of the diverse backgrounds and worldviews of both clients and trainees.
Bieschke was the first member of her family to graduate from college, receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in clinical psychology, both from Illinois State University, and a doctorate in counseling psychology from Michigan State University. Her scholarship pertaining to education and training focuses on the development of trainee competencies. Her work first focused on the development of research competencies and then on identifying the competencies necessary to serve a diverse public.
Bieschke joined the College of Education in 1991 as assistant professor of counseling psychology, and became full professor in 2007. She served as the director of the CEDAR (now Herr) Clinic from 2003-2011, and served intermittently for nine years as director of clinical training for the APA-accredited counseling psychology program. In 2012 she accepted a one-year Administrative Fellowship with Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Rob Pangborn. She then returned to the College of Education to serve as head of the Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education for the next three years. In 2016, she was appointed interim dean of the Schreyer Honors College. In 2017, Bieschke accepted her current position of vice provost for faculty affairs.
Bieschke served in several national leadership roles focused on education and training, including secretary of the Council for Counseling Psychology Training Programs from 2001 to 2003 and vice president of education and training for APA’s Division 17 (counseling psychology) from 2004 to 2007. Bieschke also served as a site visitor for APA’s Commission on Accreditation for many years prior to serving as a commissioner for APA’s Commission on Accreditation (CoA) from 2010 to 2016, including as associate chair of quality assurance for 2014 and 2015, and as chair in 2016.
Bieschke also served as one of the inaugural associate editors of Training and Education in Professional Psychology from 2006 to 2012.
Bieschke said these leadership roles were transformative for her. “Collectively they provided me with a wide and deep understanding of education and training in the field of psychology and helped me to establish strong relationships within the training community,” she said.
The American Psychological Association is the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States, with more than 118,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members.