Oxford, OH - The educational psychology community is mourning the loss of Dr. Alex Thomas, who served as a revered faculty member at Miami University for 14 years. Dr. Thomas, the distinguished department chair of Educational Psychology for the last six years of his tenure, passed away on August 7, 2023. His legacy in the field of school psychology is profound.

Dr. Thomas was celebrated not only for his academic contributions but also for his leadership roles. He served as President of the Ohio School Psychologists Association (OSPA) on two occasions and held the same position for the National Association of School Psychologists. His enduring impact on the field was further cemented through his co-editorship of the critically acclaimed "Best Practices in School Psychology" book series.

To honor his immeasurable contributions, the OSPA has announced that their prestigious "School Psychologist of the Year Award" will be renamed the "Alex Thomas School Psychologist of the Year Award." The announcement took place at the fall OSPA Conference on November 9th, and the unveiling was conducted by Amity Noltemeyer. Dr. Noltemeyer, who is also co-editing a special issue of "The Ohio School Psychologist" journal as a tribute to Dr. Thomas, provided a heartfelt tribute at the event. Dr. Thomas's widow Bonnie was in attendance, as well as several Miami University students and faculty who were profoundly influenced by his work.

The renaming of this distinguished award is a fitting tribute to Dr. Alex Thomas, a true legend in the field of school psychology whose impact will endure for generations to come.