The International Society of Political Psychology presents the John L. Sullivan Mentor Award annually. John L. Sullivan, Professor of Political Science, Emeritus, University of Minnesota, was central in establishing the political psychology program at the University of Minnesota as a joint venture of both the psychology and political science departments. His work has been central to the field for several decades, and his students and their students now form the core of the field. This award therefore honors faculty who, like Sullivan, have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to and a history of success in the mentorship of undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. The John L. Sullivan Mentor Award is for faculty engaged in the field of political psychology.
Sullivan aided undergraduate and graduate students, collaborators and faculty colleagues beyond count. He did so quietly and in ways often unnoticed even by those he helped, but most who know him are aware of the impact he had. In brief, his mentoring took many forms, but a common thread in John Sullivan’s legacy is his ability to form collaborations based on equal status among all participants. The program was and remains a leader among political psychology interdisciplinary programs.
To honor those who have distinguished themselves as mentors, we seek nominations of faculty who have demonstrated excellent mentorship in multiple ways that may include:
- Providing intellectual leadership directed at encouraging and enabling their peers and students.
- Building institutions for research and scholarship that assist scholars in the various aspects of their growth into able scholars. In various ways political psychology has greatly benefited by enduring institutions beyond the academic calendar to foster the field. Among these are the Summer Academies, beginning with that of Ohio State University, now at Stanford University, the ISPP’s summer academy and conferences such as the bi-annual New York Area Political Psychology Meeting.
- Integrating students and/or postdoctoral scholars into the broader culture of the field of political psychology.
- Demonstrating leadership and initiative at the program level to improve improve mentorship access and quality for all participants ranging from undergraduates to senior faculty.
Recipients of The John L. Sullivan Mentor Award will receive an award of $500.
Eligibility
- Nominees must be faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to and a sustained period of success in mentorship.
- Nominators should document the contributions of those they nominate attending to the many forms forms that mentorship can take.
How to Nominate:
Nominations may be submitted by current and former graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty colleagues. All nominations must include the following: An argument as to why she/he deserves the award in accordance to the eligibility recommendations above. To complete a nomination, simply send these materials to the Committee Chair by the deadline.
The award recipient will be strongly encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting and Awards Reception.
2025 Award Committee:
Chair: Darren Schreiber (University of Exeter)
Committee: Luca Bernardi (University of Liverpool), Jojanneke van der Toorn (Utrecht University/Leiden University)
THE NOMINATION PROCESS FOR 2025 NOW OPEN. The deadline for nominations is 15 January 2025.
Winners will be notified by early April 2025.
Current Winner
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2024 John L. Sullivan Mentorship Award
Leonie Huddy, Stony Brook University
The winner for the John Sullivan Award for Outstanding Mentorship is Dr. Leonie Huddy. Dr. Huddy’s letters of nomination and support were glowing, and scholars pointed to her incredible generosity as a tough but kind mentor, who pushed them to work harder and think more clearly about their concepts and ideas. They note her tireless work in the discipline, to mentor not only her own students at Stony Brook, but the entire community in political psychology, through her various collaborative projects, her networking initiatives, and her genuine interest in the success and careers of her mentees. One nominee stated, “You will not find a professor more generous with their time to meet, read work, and provide feedback than Dr. Leonie Huddy,” and this observation was confirmed over and over again by the supporting letter writers. Dr Huddy has had a long and successful career, and has spent a good deal of that time trying to support and improve the experiences of those she has worked with. She is highly deserving of this award.
Past Winners
- 2024 Leonie Huddy
- 2023 Cristina Montiel
- 2022 Stanley Feldman
- 2021 Kristin Monroe & David Sears
Our thanks to those who have provided the initial funding for this award:
| John Aldrich | James L Gibson | Mark Peffley |
| Barbara Allen | Ewa Golebiowska | David Peterson |
| Davida Alperin | Paul Goren | Jonathan Peterson |
| Patricia Avery | Dana Griffin | James Piereson |
| Karen Bird | Pakou Hang | Wendy Rahn |
| Eugene Borgida | Russell Hanson | Nigel Roberts |
| Angie Bos & Bas van Doorn | Henriet Hendriks | John Romano & Mary Kay Metz |
| Thomas Brothen & Elizabeth Molberg | Jon Hurwitz | Thomas Rudolph |
| Diana Burgess | Melinda Jackson | Martin & Ellen Sampson |
| Chris Chapp | Lawrence Jacobs | Monica C. Schneider |
| Yun-han Chu | William Jacoby | Michal Shamir |
| Terry Collings & Carol Miller | Amy E. Jasperson | Phil Shively |
| Pamela Johnston Conover | Craig & Margaret Bull Kovera | Thomas Skovholt & Lisa Yost |
| Lois B. Cooper | Jennifer Lambe | Elizabeth Smith |
| Michael X. Delli Carpini | Howard Lavine | Mark Snyder |
| Bud and Cathy Duvall | George E. Marcus | Daniel Stevens |
| Rachel Estroff | Greg McAvoy | James Stimson |
| Daniel Dezner | Patrick Meirick | Elizabeth Theiss-Morse |
| Chris Federico | Joanne Miller | John Transue |
| Stanley Feldman | Robert O’Connor | Mark Watts |
| John & Barbara Freeman | Paula O’Loughlin | Ian Williamson |
| Amy Fried | Alina Oxendine | Jason Young |