Dr. Brian Leung Receives Sandra Goff Award

Volume 59, No. 2 Spring 2009

Dr. Brian Leung Receives Sandra Goff Award

Dr. Brian Leung bounded up to the podium to wild applause and a standing ovation as he received the Sandra Goff Memorial Award, CASP’s highest recognition for contributions to the profession of school psychology.

“Wait. I’m not old enough for this,” he told the crowd at the Presidential and Awards Luncheon, held March 13 at the 60th Annual CASP Convention in Riverside.

Perhaps not. But the Loyola Marymount University (LMU) professor has long been associated with school psychology, not only in California, but throughout the nation.

Dr. Leung began his career in the late 1970s as a psychometric technician, conducting psycho-educational assessments and counseling groups. Following his internship year, Dr. Leung was employed as a school psychologist in the early 1980s. He expanded his role by becoming an educational/training specialist for the California Department of Education, specifically coordinating and implementing bilingual-special education staff development activities with school districts statewide. During this time, Dr. Leung presented workshops at state and national conferences and counts among his clients the departments of education in California, Oregon and Washington, and county offices of education and school districts in Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin, and universities in California.

CASP President Doug Siembieda, Sandra Goff winner Brian Leung and past winner Richard Lieberman.

As coordinator of the School Psychology Program at LMU, he planed an integral part in the NASP accreditation process, making it possible for LMU to be one of the few private universities earning that accreditation. According to colleagues, he serves as a mentor for new and seasoned full- and part-time faculty, and is always willing to share his expertise.

“A few years ago, LMU signed a commitment to form a partnership with a family of neighboring LAUSD elementary, middle and high schools and Brian immediately volunteered to chair a work group that piloted a much-valued needs assessment in all the schools to help crystallize how we could help,” wrote Judy Pollick, clinical professor for the School Psychology Program at LMU.

“I have personally been touched by Brian’s belief in partnerships and his skills in creating those partnerships with educational organizations. He creates these relationships because of his commitment to the notion that partnerships can improve every aspect of the educational landscape,” wrote Lynn Busia, Ed.D., administrator of pupil services for the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District.

“After starting our internships I remember many students saying that his teaching of best practices was not reality in the school districts. His answer was clear,” wrote Kristin Meskell, NCSP, a former student. “He was not there to teach status quo. If we didn’t know how to do things in the best possible way, how could be strive to make things better?”

Beyond the university level, Dr. Leung has presented at many CASP and National Association of School Psychologists conventions, is a frequent contributor to both associations’ publications, and encourages his students to do the same. He is a longtime member of the CASP Board of Directors, having served as chair of or specialist for Ethnic and Multi-Cultural Affairs, Training and Accreditation, New School Psychologist, Web Site, Research and Publications. He was involved in the development of the English Language Learners program of the CASP Certification of Advanced Training and Specialization (CATS) program, and is currently leading efforts to establish a student leadership council through CASP.

“(Dr. Leung’s) interns and new school psychologist graduates are superb in the field and the best prepared for the work they are hired to perform,” wrote Rose Marie Benjamin Z, a consultant for the Psychological Services and Counseling division of the Los Angeles County Office of Education. “I seek them out first whenever I am recruiting. I attribute this excellence to Brian’s vision and dedication to high standards in the practice of school psychology.”