The Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology (SSCP) has honored University Distinguished Professor Tom Ollendick with its 2020 Distinguished Scientist Award.

The honor comes from the SSCP’s Section III of Division 12 of the American Psychological Association. The annual award honors individuals -- who need not be an SSCP member -- who have made an extremely important career contribution to the science of clinical psychology, according to the group’s website.

Ollendick is a professor in clinical psychology with the Department of Psychology and is director of the Virginia Tech Child Study Center. His numerous awards include the Academy of Cognitive Therapy’s 2019 Aaron T. Beck Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award for Scientific Contributions from the Society of Clinical Psychology, and the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.

He is the author or co-author of 350-plus research publications, more than 100 book chapters, and 38 books. Among his most recent books is the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, a textbook that will be used worldwide by academics and practitioners of child psychology and psychiatry.