William James College Announces New Sonya Kurzweil Grant Program

William James College, which prepares students for professional careers in psychology and behavioral health, is establishing The Sonya Kurzweil Grant Program. The grant program is made possible through an initial $10,000 donation from the Sonya Kurzweil Developmental Center (SKDC), a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide mental health services to women, children, adolescents, parents, and families.

The Sonya Kurzweil Grant will award up to two $5,000 grants to William James College students working on doctoral projects in the child-family specialty. The first of its kind in the history of William James College, this grant will provide students financial backing while they pursue research which promises to advance knowledge of best practices for treating psychological problems that afflict children, adolescents, parents, and families.

“This grant is an important step in the growth of our programs,” said Robert Whitaker, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at William James College. “By encouraging students to work in this research area, we can continue to expand on our mission to meet the growing need for quality mental health services.”

“I chose to give to William James College because of its commitment to bolstering child clinical psychology and the child behavioral health specialty, areas where there is a shortage of providers in many parts of the state and the country,” said Sonya Kurzweil, Ph.D., Director of the Sonya Kurzweil Developmental Center. “I believe child-family practice and research to be at the forefront of progress in improving the mental health of our communities.”