ISU Alumna Kendra Westerhaus Honored with Prestigious American Psychological Association Award for Advocacy

Dr. Steven Lawyer, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of Clinical Training at ISU, highlighted the importance of Dr. Westerhaus's contributions: "Kendra has been a consistent and strong leader for psychology advocacy in Idaho for years. Her work has helped influence and improve legislative policies in ways that significantly benefit Idahoans."

The Karl F. Heiser APA Presidential Award for Advocacy, established in 1992, recognizes psychologists who voluntarily dedicate their time and effort to advocacy. The award is named after Karl F. Heiser, who successfully led the charge for the first state statute defining psychology. This year, the award honors Dr. Westerhaus for her relentless work advocating for psychology in Idaho and beyond.

In the Heiser award statement read by APA President Cynthia de las Fuentes, she says, “Dr. Westerhaus has been a prominent advocate for the field of psychology throughout her career, contributing significantly to legislative efforts at both the state and federal levels. Her advocacy journey began as a student representative to the Idaho Psychological Association (IPA) while she was in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at ISU. Her work there helped identify gaps between scientific knowledge and service delivery, which became the focus of many of her advocacy efforts.”

Dr. Westerhaus’s advocacy has left a lasting impact on several legislative initiatives. Notably, she has played a pivotal role in advancing the Kids Online Safety Act and the ADAPT Act, as well as supporting the PsyPACT legislation, which facilitates the practice of psychology across state lines. She was also instrumental in securing state legislation that clarifies the role of psychological service extenders in Idaho, a critical move for enhancing psychological care in integrated settings.

Dr. Westerhaus regularly contributed to legislative testimonies, wrote letters, and guided other psychologists in advocating for policy changes. She was also a key figure in the fight for prescription privileges for psychologists in Idaho, training students and encouraging them to engage with legislators.

Dr. Westerhaus's dedication to advocacy is not confined to policy work; she is also deeply committed to educating and inspiring future psychologists. As a clinical supervisor and mentor, she frequently lectures on advocacy to ISU’s doctoral psychology program students and encourages students to get involved in legislative matters.

“I try to make advocacy a fairly painless process for psychologists who want to make their voices heard,” Westerhaus says. “I frequently discuss advocacy efforts with ISU’s clinical psychology students and hope that my passion for advocacy is contagious.”

Reflecting on her achievement, Dr. Westerhaus said, "I’m passionate about advocacy, and to be recognized by my national professional organization was an honor." 

Her dedication to advocacy and professional service has also been recognized by her colleagues, who praise her leadership within the Idaho Psychological Association and her broader contributions to the field.

Dr. Westerhaus's award also reflects the quality of training and mentorship provided by the ISU Clinical Psychology PhD program. Her journey from a student representative to a national leader in advocacy demonstrates the program’s commitment to preparing its graduates for impactful roles in the field. 

"Psychologists can play a critical role in educating legislators about the field and promoting effective legislative policies," said Dr. Lawyer. "Kendra's work exemplifies this responsibility."