Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Stanley and Deborah Lefkowitz Faculty Fellow of Psychology at Temple University, has been selected to receive a 2026 lifetime achievement award from the Association for Psychological Science (APS). Specifically, Hirsh-Pasek will receive the APS Mentor Award, which “recognizes psychology researchers and educators who have shaped the future directions of science by fostering the careers of students and colleagues.”
Established in 1988, the APS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and uplifting scientifically oriented study and research in psychology. The Mentor Award is one of four lifetime awards presented annually by the APS to a select group of distinguished psychological scientists, recognizing their career contributions to the field.
A senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and Director of Temple’s Infant and Child Laboratory, Hirsh-Pasek is an internationally recognized expert in child development and early learning. She has authored 17 books and over 250 publications. Through her research on the benefits of learning through play, she has striven to advance the way we approach education. Her Playful Learning Landscapes has turned public spaces into science-based hubs of playful learning in cities around the world. In 2023, she and her team received a $19.98 million grant from the LEGO Foundation in support of playful learning initiatives.
Her work has seen her on the receiving end of numerous awards and honors, including: the American Psychological Association’s Bronfenbrenner Award, the American Psychological Association’s Award for Distinguished Service to Psychological Science, the Association for Psychological Science James McKeen Cattell Award, the Society for Research in Child Development, Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Child Development Award and the APA Distinguished Lecturer Award.
However, as a professor at Temple University, she is celebrated not only for her groundbreaking research and achievements but also for her commitment to the success of her students. Hirsh-Pasek prides herself on creating inclusive and empowering spaces for young mentees and putting them in a position to lead.
Hirsh-Pasek and other honorees will be presented with their awards at the 2026 APS Annual Convention, which will take place May 28-30 in Barcelona, Spain.