Dr. Kenneth Solberg, professor and core faculty in the Psy.D. program at Saint Mary’s University, received the Bravada Garrett-Akinsanya Distinguished Elders Award for Leadership in Minnesota Psychology from the Minnesota Psychology Association (MPA). Dr. Solberg was nominated by several people for the award and was honored at the 82nd annual MPA Convention in April. The award is given to elders who have made significant contributions to mental health in Minnesota in their roles as scholars, teachers, mentors, practitioners, and/or advocates for rights and just causes.
“Although I admit to some initial ambivalence about getting an award as an ‘elder,’ I am deeply appreciative of MPA’s recognition of my career in psychology,” said Dr. Solberg. “In many cultures, the status of elder is the highest honor, and I know that this is the tradition in which MPA makes this award.”
Helping to establish the Psy.D. program at Saint Mary’s, Dr. Solberg served as its director from 2009-2016. Earlier in his career, Dr. Solberg taught for 18 years in the undergraduate Psychology Department at Saint Mary’s in Winona. He’s worked on and off at Saint Mary’s since 1968.
Photo caption: Dr. Kenneth Solberg, center, receives the Bravada Garrett-Akinsanya Distinguished Elders Award for Leadership in Minnesota Psychology from Bruce Bobbitt, left, Minnesota Psychology Association president, and Bravada Garrett-Akinsanya, right, for whom the award was named after.