Both awards recognize Bishop's contributions during his 31-year tenure as director of UD's Center for Counseling and Student Development.
The Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award is given annually to honor and reward the exemplary achievements of an individual's lifetime career contributions to the field of college and university counseling and psychological services.
Bishop was presented with the award in April, during a social given by the Commission for Counseling and Psychological Services (CCAPS) at the ACPA/NASPA (National Association of Student Personnel Administrators) Joint Meeting held in Orlando. The award is the highest given by the Commission for Counseling and Psychological Services.
The Diamond Honoree Program, established by the ACPA Foundation in 1999, recognizes outstanding professionals in student affairs. Bishop is one of 15 student affairs professionals inducted into the foundation's Diamond Honoree Class of 2008.
"Those nominated for consideration are recognized for their outstanding and sustained contributions to student affairs," Jean Paratore, president of the ACPA Educational Leadership Foundation, said. "The nomination we received provided ample evidence of Dr. Bishop's qualifications for this prestigious award. The foundation is honored to recognize Dr. Bishop for his long and distinguished career in student affairs."
UD graduate Patty Perillo, associate dean of students at Davidson College, said that the award recognizes Bishop's lifelong service and commitment to students and his leadership in the counseling center profession.
"I personally nominated John because he was an important and influential mentor in my life," Perillo said. "I credit him for being one of the people in my life who really made a difference for me. John is truly deserving of this award--I know this personally, and I know it from all of his professional accolades, awards and the experience that others have had with John."
Bishop said that both awards were especially pleasing because they are from organizations comprised of his professional peers.
"The Outstanding Lifetime Award is particularly meaningful to me because I have spent most of my career in dealing with mental health services on campus and in being an advocate for those services," Bishop said. "The designation as a Diamond Honoree by the ACPA Foundation is appreciated because it is based on contributions to the larger field of student affairs in higher education. In both cases, whatever success I have achieved is shared by the fine colleagues I have had at the University of Delaware."
In 2004, Bishop received the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors' lifetime achievement award, its highest award. A graduate of Albright College, Bishop received his doctoral degree from Ohio University and began his career at UD in 1969.
As a professor of education, Bishop has been teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate level for nearly 40 years. He has published more than 30 journal and monograph articles and book chapters in a broad range of professional publications. Bishop also has given more than 30 presentations at national, regional and local conferences.
"In my new role as a full-time professor, I hope to continue making contributions to the University of Delaware and to have some impact on the profession of counseling and student affairs practice," Bishop said.
Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photo by Kathy Atkinson