ISPA Award For Distinguished Services

Anna-Lisa Melldén

The International School Psychology Association has great pleasure in presenting an award to Anna-Lisa Melldén in recognition of her outstanding services to the Association.

Already in 1970 Dr. Cal Catterall wrote a letter to the Board of Education in Stockholm, requesting the Swedish School Psychological Association to join an international network of school psychologists that he was forming. Consequently Anna-Lisa actively involved herself from 1974 -75, so she has contributed to the activities of The International School Psychology Committee and played a role in the formation of our Association. Ever since Anna-Lisa has been actively involved dedicated and faithful in international cooperation between school psychologists ever since. She participated in the first colloquium in Munich in 1975 and gave a presentation at the second colloquium held in Denmark in 1977. In the years thereafter she, among other activities, supported Calvin Catterall in expanding the international network of school psychologists.

Naturally Anna- Lisa offered to chair the Local Organizing Committee of the successful colloquium in Stockholm, July 1982 and, as expected, the colloquium was very well organised and, the participants were offered a high quality professional and social program.

The Stockholm Colloquium is memorable for one more important reason: The formal foundation of the International School Psychology Association took place at this time. The founding session was on Wednesday, August 4^th 1982 and since that time Anna-Lisa has continued in various ways to contribute to the development of ISPA.

She served on the Executive Committee from 1987 -1992 and during this period the Association made significant developments, both internally and externally. For example ISPA was allocated (?) obtained (?) an official status by UNESCO, and the Code of Ethics was formed. Both were of importance for all school psychologists worldwide. Internally the formulation of an ISPA Operations Handbook served to improve the stability of the association and to make the administrative functions visible to the membership. Anna- Lisa contributed greatly to all of these activities.

Her way of leadership among others of the Executive Committee was very supportive and discrete. Her speech was clear, calm and controlled. Behind this manner you noticed, now and then, a certain degree of stubbornness when she feels the circumstances make it necessary to reach a final decision for the benefit of ISPA.

Her leadership consistently exhibited well reasoned consideration of issues, sensitivity to the diversity of the ISPA membership’s perspectives and needs, a tough-minded pursuit of ISPA’s purposes and grace in interpersonal relations. She has been a model of responsible and caring behaviour.

Also, after her period on the Executive Committee she has served ISPA in several important positions. Anna-Lisa has chaired the Nominations and Elections Committee and she has constantly contributed the various efforts in formulating models for “The Way Forward of ISPA”

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Nothing could be more natural than, in 2005, to ask Anna-Lisa to become a member of the selection committee for appointing the next Executive Secretary. Her longstanding knowledge to ISPA business and her wisdom made her a valuable partner in the process of selecting the coming Executive Secretary.

It is a very great pleasure for me to present this award to Anna-Lisa Melldén on behalf of ISPA as an expression of our appreciation for what she has done for the Association and for her commitment to continue to support our activities.

Helen Bakker

President of the International School Psychology Association. July 2007