Jessica Henderson Daniel facts for kids

Jessica Henderson Daniel is a very important psychologist and teacher. She is famous for helping people, especially Black children and teenagers, with their mental health. She also studied how stress and difficult experiences can affect them.

In 2018, she made history by becoming the first African American woman to lead the American Psychological Association (APA). This is a huge group for psychologists! She also taught at Harvard Medical School and helped train new psychologists at Boston Children's Hospital.

Amazing Awards and Honors

Jessica Henderson Daniel has received many special awards for her important work.

Firsts and Big Wins

In 1998, she was the first person of color, the first woman, and the first psychologist to win the A. Clifford Barger Excellence in Mentoring Award from Harvard Medical School. This award celebrates people who are great at guiding and teaching others.

In 2021, she received a top honor: the American Psychological Association Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contributions. This award recognizes her many years of amazing work in psychology.

Other Special Recognitions

She has also received many other awards, including:

• The Kenneth and Mamie Clark Award in 1999.
• The University of Illinois Distinguished Alumni Award in 2001.
• The APA Distinguished Contributions to Education and Training Award in 2002.
• The APA Distinguished Leader for Women in Psychology Award in 2008.
• The Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Trust Award in 2012.
• The APA Division 45 Asunción Miteria Austria and John Robinson Distinguished Mentoring Award in 2014.

There's even an award named after her! The Strickland-Daniel Mentoring Award is given every year to a great mentor who supports women in psychology. It honors both Jessica Henderson Daniel and Bonnie Ruth Strickland.

Her Life Story

Jessica Henderson Daniel was born in San Antonio, Texas. Her father was an Air Force crew chief, and her mother helped start a local chapter of the NAACP. Because her family moved often, she got to learn about many different cultures.

Education and Early Work

She went to Fayetteville State College (now Fayetteville State University). She earned a B.A. in History in 1964, graduating with top honors.

Then, she studied at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She earned her master's degree in 1967 and her PhD in Education in 1969. Her studies looked at how Black graduate students chose their jobs during the time of desegregation and the Black power movement.

In 1970, Daniel joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School. She stayed there throughout her career, helping to guide and support students of color.