Velma McBride Murry, has been selected to receive the APA Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology from the American Psychological Association. Murry is the Lois Autrey Betts Professor of Education and Human Development and University Distinguished Professor of Human and Organizational Development at Vanderbilt University Peabody College of education and human development.
As a scientific and professional organization, the APA promotes “the advancement, communication, and application of psychological science and knowledge to benefit society and improve lives.” The APA Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology “honors psychologists who have made distinguished theoretical or empirical advances in psychology leading to the understanding or amelioration of important practical problems.”
Murry studies how social stressors shape the everyday life experiences, development, and well-being of African American youth and their families, especially in rural and under-resourced communities. Her work examines the interplay between family, community, and societal factors, and mechanisms that promote resilience even when faced with significant challenges.
She has designed and rigorously tested innovative strength-based, family-focused prevention programs—such as the Strong African American Families and Pathways for African American Success —to strengthen caregivers’ psychological health, support positive parenting, enhance youths’ skills and reduce risky behaviors like early substance use. Both programs are also effective in decreasing depression among caregivers and youth, supporting their measurable, real-world impact on mental health and family functioning.
Professor Murry’s scholarship has received support from the Spencer Foundation, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. Her work has been cited more than 16,000 times by peers, with more than 4,400 of those citations recorded in the last 5 years.
“I was deeply moved and humbled to be selected to receive the Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology,” Murry said. “This honor affirms a career devoted to research that matters, grounded in deep partnership with families and communities, and guided by a commitment to centering lived experiences in research, particularly within historically underserved communities. This work has advanced preventive interventions that reduce health disparities, strengthen resilience, and promote healthy development across the life course. I am deeply grateful for this recognition and remain steadfast in my commitment to advancing research that informs policy, elevates community knowledge and leadership, and promotes justice in all domains of health.”
Among numerous honors, Murry served on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Board of Children, Youth and Families’ Consensus Study Committee on Addressing the Long-term Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children and Families (2021-2023). She also received the 2013 Distinguished Contributions and Contextual Factors in Child Development Award from the Society for Research in Child Development.
