We will celebrate the incredible talents of this year’s award and honor recipients at AATA’s Annual Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Oct. 16, 8:30am, and in a virtual ceremony. Congratulations to our winners for their outstanding work and commitment to advancing the art therapy profession!

We also want to express our gratitude to the Honors, Multicultural, Research, and Scholarship Committees for their invaluable efforts in supporting these awards. If you’re an AATA Member and want to get involved, you can connect with the Committees via MyAATA.

• • Leigh Pursley, a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Art Therapy at Antioch University.
  • Delaney Bend, ATR, a doctoral candidate in Art Therapy Psychology at Dominican University of California.
  • Elliot Arylide, a graduate student attending Drexel University’s Masters in Creative Art Therapies program.
• • Angela Hawkins, a graduate student in Art Therapy and Counseling at West Liberty University,

 Congratulations to:

• Kati Walsh, LPCC,  an art therapist and counselor at the Mariposa Center for Infant, Child, and Family Enrichment in Denver, Colorado.

• Yunkyung Lee, LPC, ATR-P, an art therapist and former theater and theme park designer who earned her MA in Art Therapy and Counseling from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

• Anella Willis, ATR-P, a recent graduate with a Master of Science in Counseling & Art Therapy, specializing in trauma-informed art therapy.

This scholarship recognizes the specialization of Spiritual Art Therapy (within the mind/body practice). This year, we are proud to award this scholarship to Iris Kim.

Iris is an end-of-life doula and hospice volunteer who views Spiritual Art Therapy as a framework for engaging the search for meaning. She plans to study how legacy-based art interventions affect existential distress, dignity, and quality of life.

The Irene Rosner David Medical Art Therapy Scholarship focuses on understanding the role of the medical art therapist and is available to a student member who is interested in pursuing a position in medical art therapy for clinical practice (such as internship) or research specialization.

This year’s winner is Jenson Maydew, M.Ed., ATR-BC, ATCS. Jenson is a doctoral student in Art Therapy Psychology at Dominican University of California and a medical art therapist at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas. Jenson is also the director of Texas Children’s Hospital’s art therapy student internship program, mentoring the next generation of medical art therapists

The Laura Greenstone Memorial Scholarship honors Laura Greenstone and supports masters-level African-American and Afro-Caribbean art therapy students committed to diverse and inclusive practice. 

This year’s winner is Sambridhi Poudyal, currently pursuing an MS in Art Therapy Counseling and an MS in Clinical Counseling at Emporia State University. Sambridhi’s passion for art and for supporting marginalized communities led her to art therapy, and she builds the communities and resources she once found missing.

This year’s Myra Levick Scholarship goes to Jenny Min, pursuing clinical mental health counseling with a
concentration in art therapy at Antioch University.

Jenny comes to the mental health field with a background as an arts educator at the Center for Puppetry Arts and as an early childhood education specialist. She is especially interested in working with immigrant/first-generation populations, especially those who are queer, neurodivergent, and discovering their personal identity.

The Outstanding Applied Creative Practice Award was inspired by the life and work of art therapist, artist, author, and puppet maker, Dr. Lani Gerity Glanville. The award recognizes an art therapist who has made remarkable creative contributions to the profession of art therapy as an active artist.

This year, AATA is proud to present this recognition to Abigail Oxford, MA, ATR-BC, LPC. She is three-dimensional artist, art therapist, and educator who uses electroforming to turn found natural objects into hand-designed jewelry and keepsakes. Her work explores the beauty of imperfections and the story behind each piece, and she has exhibited in galleries and presented locally, regionally, and nationally.

This year’s award goes to Irene Chou, MPS, CAT-LP. Irene (Shen-Yun) Chou is a Creative Arts Therapist working with adults navigating life transitions, grief, identity, and cultural displacement. She holds an MPS in Art Therapy and Creativity Development from Pratt Institute, and brings prior experience in architecture into her clinical work. Her clinical training includes work in palliative, medical, and community settings, and she is bilingual in English and Mandarin. Her work and research interests center on identity, culture, and belonging, particularly for individuals navigating displacement and cross-cultural experience.

The Rudolph Arnheim Award recognizes a non-member of the Association whose contributions have significantly impacted the art therapy profession as a whole.

AATA is proud to recognize Sara M. Kass, MD! Dr. Kass is a board-certified family medicine physician and retired Navy Captain.

She formerly commanded the National Intrepid Center of Excellence and now serves as Senior Military and Medical Advisor for Creative Forces, where she leads a team of Creative Arts Therapists and research staff to expand access to care.

This year, AATA is proud to recognize Laura A Teoli, PhD, ATR-BC, ATCS, LPC. Dr. Teoli is an art therapy educator, clinician, and researcher with more than 10 years of experience in higher education. She serves as Director of the Master of Art in Art Therapy & Counseling (MAATC) Program at Cedar Crest College. Dr. Teoli helps prepare students to use visual art media, materials, and processes in therapeutic contexts. In recognition of her dedication to student learning, she received the Cedar Crest College Alumnae Association Excellence in Teaching Award in 2025. Her research, publications, and presentations focus on innovative pedagogy, art media and materials, and creating art alongside clients in the practice of art therapy.