Editor’s Preface to the Special Issue Dedicated to Women in Humanistic Psychology

Abstract

Around a decade ago, I had a conversation with Connie Fisher about honoring women in humanistic psychology. Both of us had served together on the Award Committee for many years, and by that time, the number of women on the executive board of the Society had increased significantly and the journal was receiving more and more submissions from female authors. And yet, all of the legacy awards of the Society were named after men, and we thought it was time for an award to be named after a leading female figure in our field. But it was Donna Rockwell who stepped forward during her presidency of the Society and spearheaded the development of a new award to honor the contributions of women in humanistic psychology. Under Donna’s presidency, Eleanor Criswell Hanna became the first recipient of this award, which thereafter would continue to honor her by bearing her name. Connie Fischer then became the first recipient of the newly named Eleanor Criswell Hanna Award Celebrating Women in Humanistic Psychology at last year’s SHP Award Ceremony (which was held virtually in June).