2003 Denmark Award Winner
Psi Chi congratulates Dr. Paul Finn, professor of psychology at Saint Anselm College, as being selected the winner of the 2003 Psi Chi/Florence L. Denmark National Faculty Advisor Award. This prestigious award is presented annually to the one faculty advisor who best achieves Psi Chi's purposes and has made outstanding contributions both to Psi Chi and to the field of psychology at the local, regional, and national levels.
As winner of the Denmark Award, Dr. Finn received travel expenses to the 2003 APA/Psi Chi National Convention, held in Toronto, Canada, at which the award was formally presented. Dr. Finns' deep commitments and enormous involvement with Psi Chi is described in his chapter's letter of nomination below.
2003 Denmark Winner's Letter of Nomination
Dear Members of the Florence L. Denmark National Faculty Advisor Award Committee:
Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH would not have a Psi Chi Chapter if not for Dr. Paul Finn. Twelve years ago, he established the national honor society of psychology at Saint Anselm College and has been its primary advisor ever since. During his time as the advisor of the honor society, Psi Chi has flourished through inducting, supporting and sponsoring hundreds of students as they attend and present in most cases their own research at such prestigious conferences as the New England Psychological Association (NEPA) and Eastern Psychological Association (EPA). Under the guidance of Dr. Finn, many students go on to have their research published as well as play an active role in securing federal grants to conduct further research.
Dr. Finn is not only an advisor; he is a leader as well. Both students and colleagues seek his advice and guidance and he consistently makes people his priority. Leading not with words but by example, Dr. Finn would never ask of others what he himself would not do. As evident by his many accomplishments in addition to advising a successful Psi Chi chapter, his dedication to the field of psychology is second to none. His passion for psychology and for people is clear through his continued success and he currently presides as the Chair of the Psychology Department and a Full Professor at Saint Anselm College. In addition to carrying a full course load and advising Psi Chi, Dr. Finn plays in an integral role in a myriad of research projects going on simultaneously, as well as aiding senior psychology majors with their theses, coaching the men's varsity cross country team and heading up the running club.
Outside the academic arena, he is an active member of the American Pain Society, American Psychological Association, Behavioral Medicine, Neuropsychology Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, American Psychological Society National Academy of Neuropsychology, National Academy of Pain Management, New England Psychological Association and the New Hampshire Psychological Association Society for Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Finn is also a licensed psychologist (New Hampshire 344) with his own private practice, listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, has Ancillary Medical Staff Privileges at the two main hospitals in Manchester NH (Elliot Hospital and Catholic Medical Center and was Chief-Behavioral Health, 1996-97), is a board member of the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice and lastly, a member of the Psi Chi Steering Committee for the Eastern Region.
Dr. Paul Finn emulates what a professional, professor, leader, mentor, and advisor should be. The Psi Chi Chapter, as well as the entire psychology department at Saint Anselm College is what it is because of him, and will continue to be a success under his leadership. The members of Psi Chi unanimously nominate him for this distinguished faculty advisor award and sincerely hopes his efforts and accomplishments for himself, others and the field of psychology will not go unnoticed.