Psychology professor Antonio Puente has been selected to receive the American Psychological Association’s (APA) 2009 State Leadership Award. According to a press release issued on Feb. 11, this prestigious recognition is “given to an individual who represents outstanding service to their state and significant participation in local or national advocacy and legislative efforts advancing the profession of psychology.”

Puente will receive the award during the APA State Leadership Conference in March.

Puente, who has been a faculty member at UNCW since 1981, was “surprised and honored” to receive the award.

“UNCW has allowed me the flexibility of thought and trajectory,” Puente said. “I am especially indebted to my past chair, Andy Jackson, and our current chair, Mark Galizio, who have been supportive and understanding of the scope and impact of my work. In addition, there is no way that I could have achieved any of these goals without the assistance and engagement of a large group of students, many who have gone on to pursue doctorates in psychology as well as medicine.”

Puente, who founded Centro Hispano at UNCW in 2005, has had many accomplishments during his career. With seven books and more than 160 scientific and professional articles, he has still made time to provide mental health services at the Tileston Health Clinic and maintains a private practice in clinical neuropsychology.

Puente is also a member of the APA’s Committee for Psychological Tests and Assessments and has served as the APA’s representative to the American Medical Association’s Current Procedural Terminology Panel since 1994. Last year, Puente served on the editorial voting panel as the only non-physician.

“All of my accomplishments have been in conjunction with others so it is difficult, if not inappropriate, to take personal credit for any one accomplishment,” Puente said. “On one hand I have worked for over decades on establishing policy for the practice of psychology including but not limited to setting federal guidelines (e.g., Medicare) for what professional activities psychologists can perform, how they can do those activities and how much they get reimbursed for doing them.”

He added, “More recently, I now represent all of health care, rather than just psychology. In addition, I have spent a little longer than that working on integrating the specialty of neuropsychology with Spanish speakers as well as reaching out to this seriously underserved population.”

According to the press release, UNCW chair and professor of psychology Mark Galizio stated, “Puente’s expertise and international success has brought recognition to UNCW and has been of critical value to the development of our department and our students.”

“The university has been very kind and extended a sabbatical from teaching this semester,” Puente said. “My hope is to finish some writing projects, submit a series of unfinished research projects for consideration and start a journal, possibly a foundation. Thus, time off from the classroom is allowing me to catch up and lay the foundation for several years to come.”

Puente said, “The process of teaching has allowed me to continue learning. Also, there is no greater satisfaction than illuminating the paths for others to see.”