Dr. Candice Nicole Hargons, an assistant professor in the University of Kentucky College of Education, has been awarded a presidential citation from the American Psychological Association. The citation recognizes her commitment to leadership development and education and her fearless research on and commitment to social justice.
Hargons is a faculty member in the Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology in the UK College of Education. The citation was presented by American Psychological Association President Dr. Rosie Phillips Davis during the association’s annual meeting.
“Presidential citations recognize outstanding psychologists in various disciplines. It is rare for early career professionals to receive one. Dr. Hargons earned her doctorate only five years ago, and has made a significant and transformative impact in the early stages of her career,” said Dr. Kenneth Tyler, chair of the Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology.
The citation recognized the leadership role Hargons has played in the psychology field’s focus on Black Lives Matter. She was involved in coordinating the Solidarity March for Black Lives at the 2016 American Psychological Association convention. Hargons has created a Black Lives Matter Meditation for Healing Racial Trauma for people who experience microagressions, oppression, and other traumatic racist incidents. She has initiated two national hashtag love campaigns for Black people, and is founding director of the Center for Healing Racial Trauma. Her meditation and podcast have been highlighted in the press and picked up by numerous national blogs, extending the field of psychology’s reach to individuals and communities not previously served.
Hargons has been recognized with numerous scholarly and community service-focused state and national awards. She served on the faculty of the Society of Counseling Psychology’s Leadership Academy, providing insights into the design, implementation, and evaluation of leadership development activities. She recently served on the executive board of the Kentucky Psychological Association and on the Council of Representatives for the American Psychological Association.
“I never expected to be recognized with a presidential citation, particularly at this stage in my career,” Hargons said. “I feel incredibly grateful. Dr. Rosie Phillips Davis presented this citation, and she has been a role model to me. Many people have told me I have done so much to be so young, but I don’t register these things as outside the norm. I simply hope I am pursuing work that is worthy of being known about, makes an impact, and is hopefully replicated. I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be a voice for social justice and healing racial trauma and my other area of passion for relationships, intimacy and sexual enrichment. This is my dream job, and I am so honored.”
For more information about the UK College of Education Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, visit https://education.uky.edu/edp/.