North American Drama Therapy Association Awards

Awards are presented annually at the North American Drama Therapy Association conference.Recipients are chosen by the NADTA Board from a list of candidates nominated by NADTA members. A nominee must be an NADTA member to be considered for an award.

To nominate a member for one of the below awards, click here.


The Gertrud Schattner Award

The Gertrud Schattner Award has been given since 1993 in recognition of distinguished contribution to the field of drama therapy in education, publication, practice, and service. This award is not necessarily given every year.

The recipients of the Gertrud Schattner Award are:

2018     Nisha Sajnani
2017     Saphira Linden
2016     Pam Dunne
2013     Armand Volkas
2012     Antonina Garcia
2010     Daniel Weiner
2009     Naida Weisberg
2007     Norman J. Fedder
2006     Sally Bailey
2005     Rosilyn Wilder
2004     Eleanor Irwin
2003     Penny Lewis
2002     Sue Jennings
2001     Stephen Snow
1998     Patricia Sternberg
1996     Renee Emunah
1995     Robert Landy
1994     David Read Johnson
1993     Gertrud Schattner

The Raymond Jacobs Memorial Diversity Award

The Raymond Jacobs Memorial Diversity Award is given to an NADTA member in recognition of outstanding dedication to diversity in the field of drama therapy, through advocacy, championing a diverse membership, or working to increase skill, awareness, and cultural competence.

The recipients of the Raymond Jacobs Memorial Diversity Award are:

2019     Britton Williams
2018     Jessica Bleuer
2017     Carlos Rodriguez-Perez
2016     Mark Beauregard
2015     Nisha Sajnani
2014     Alice Forrester
2013     Daniela Bustamante
             Amber Smith
2012     Theatre for Change at California Institute of Integral Studies
2011     Navah Steiner
2010     Lance  McGee
2009     Rose Pavlow
2006     Sherry Diamond
2005     Paula Kingwill
2002     Armand Volkas
2001     Norman Fedder

The North American Drama Therapy Association Service Award

The NADTA Service Award is given to recognize a member who has volunteered substantial time and effort serving the association on committees, subcommittees, or regional chapters on a specific project or series of projects.

The recipients of the NADTA Service Award are:

2019     Lisa Merrell
2018     The New Jersey Task Force
  (Barbara McKechnie; Brooke Campbell; Lisa Gail Schwartz; Mizuho Kanazawa)
2017     Liz Muckley
2016     Nadya Trytan
2015     Gary Raucher
2014     Maria Hodermarksa
2013     Kate Hurd
2012     Sherry Diamond
2011     Susan Ward
2010     Barbara McKechnie
2009     Nancy Sondag
2008     Marilyn (Toddy) Richman
2007     Naida Weisberg
2006     Linda Gregoric Cook
2005     Sally Bailey
2004     Darby Moore
2003     Alice Forrester
2002     Sean Flannigan
             Kim Galway
             Elisabeth Speck
2001     Lanell Finneran
2000     Penny Lewis
1999     Marie Woods-Pettiti

The North American Drama Therapy Association Student Service Award

The NADTA Student Service Award is given to recognize a student member of NADTA who has volunteered substantial time and effort serving the association, the student members of NADTA, and/or students of drama therapy at large on a project or series of projects in the past year. The purpose of this award is to demonstrate to students that the association values their contributions to the field, for they are the future of drama therapy.

The recipients of the NADTA Student Service Award are:

2019     Ashley Blair
2018     Meaghen Buckley
2017     Hiroko Saeki
             Adam Stevens
2016     Chelsea Weck
2015     Barrett Scroggs
2014     Margaret Powell
             Amy Tichy
             Adam Davis
2013     Mikel Moss
2012     Sai Ye Bunnye
             Jennifer Hays
2011     Jason Frydman
             Amber Smith
2010     Whitney Davis
2009     Sarah Harkness
2008     Margaret Owen
2007     Shannon Garretson
             Pam Edgar
2006     Mary DeBastiani
2005     Azizi Marshall
2004     Emily Burkes-Nossiter
2003     Jason Butler
             Katie Tauscher
2002     Lori Yates
2001     Stacey Park

The North American Drama Therapy Association Research Award

The NADTA Research Award is given to a member of NADTA in recognition of significant contributions to the field through research demonstrating the efficacy of drama therapy.

The recipients of the NADTA Research Award are:

2017     Brant Wadsworth
2016     Nisha Sajnani
             Meredith Dean
             Christine Mayor
2015     Calli Armstrong
2014     Craig Haen
2013     Lee Chasen
2012     Bonnie Harnden
2010     Diana Feldman
             Emilie Ward
2009     Yehudit Silverman
2008     Robert Landy
2006     Daniel J. Wiener
2005     John Bergman
2004     Stephen Snow
2002     David Read Johnson

The North American Drama Therapy Association Teaching Excellence Award

The NADTA Teaching Excellence Award is given to an NADTA member in recognition of outstanding dedication to education in the field of drama therapy through teaching and mentorship.

The recipients of the NADTA Teaching Excellence Award are:

                 2019      Renee Emunah
                 2018     Sally Bailey
                 2017     Maria Hodermarska
                 2016     Bonnie Harnden
                              Sara McMullin
                 2015     Heidi Landis and the CANY Team
                 2014     Pam Dunne
                 2013     Anna Marie Weber
                 2012     Jason D. Butler
                              Saphira Barbara Linden

The North American Drama Therapy Association Performance Award

The NADTA Performance Award is given to an NADTA member in recognition of the exemplary use of live or recorded performance to facilitate individual or collective awareness and transformation.

The recipients of the NADTA Performance Award are:

                 2019     Michelle Yadon
                 2018     Alexis Powell
                 2017     Andrew Gaines
                 2016     Dave Mowers
                 2015     Suraya Keating
                 2014     Cecilia Dintino
                 2013     Gaye Doner-Tudanger
                 2012     Zeina Daccache