APA/APAGS Award for Distinguished Graduate Student in Professional Psychology: Sarah Alsaidi

The APA/APAGS Award for Distinguished Graduate Student in Professional Psychology is awarded annually by the APA Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) and the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) to a graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding practice and application of psychology. A 2021 award winner is Sarah Alsaidi. Alsaidi "was instrumental in developing and facilitating the Audacious Young Women of Action (AYWA) program for the Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian (AMEMSA) girls and young women at the Arab-American Family Support Center (AAFSC) in New York City. The majority of AYWA participants are first-generation or second-generation female immigrants or refugees, with many identifying as Yemeni-American. In their daily lives, AYWA participants navigate bicultural identities, family and community expectations, and religious and cultural norms. Dr. Alsaidi developed a unique curriculum and program to meet the needs of AYWA participants, support their development as young people, and create a safe space for participants to connect with one another. Dr. Alsaidi was adept at navigating challenging conversations and empowering AAFSC's young women through the programming that she developed and facilitated. Dr. Alsaidi's work has been instrumental in uplifting and supporting Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (AMEMSA) young women through her practice and application of psychology." (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).