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CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD

The Contemporary Relationships Conference seeks to recognize outstanding efforts by individuals and/or organizations who have been extraordinary advocates for mental health and positive relationships within the LGBTQ+ community. Nominees should have demonstrated considerable creativity and innovative efforts in developing programs, services, and conversations that benefit LGBTQ+ people and/or strive to advance equality. The ideal candidate may be a well-known leader, or an unsung champion, that works tirelessly to improve the lives, relationships, and families of LGBTQ+ people.

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Below are the recipient's of the award. To nominate someone for 2026, please click HERE.

PAST WINNERS

2025         ASSEMBLYWOMAN LUANNE M. PETERPAUL, ESQ

Luanne (she/her) was elected to the New Jersey Assembly in 2023. Peterpaul is the managing partner of Peterpaul Law in Asbury Park, focusing primarily on labor and employment law, general litigation, and training and education. Peterpaul previously served as an assistant Essex County prosecutor, where she successfully prosecuted cases against criminals ranging from theft to homicide, before being appointed as a Municipal Judge for the Cities of Long Branch and Asbury Park from 2018-2022. Peterpaul fundamentally believes in equal rights for all individuals and has dedicated her life’s work to advocating for marginalized individuals so people of all walks of life are able to call New Jersey their home. As the former Chair of the Garden State Equality Action Fund, Peterpaul, the first out gay woman to assume a position in the State Assembly, played a critical role in creating and promoting anti-bullying legislation in the state legislature. Standing up to bullies and promoting safety are core values for Peterpaul, who sat on the New Jersey Commission on Bullying as well as the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Task Force. Additionally, Peterpaul was instrumental in bringing marriage equality to New Jersey through her role on the Board of Directors of Garden State Equality. Peterpaul has continuously used education as a tool for promoting equality. She has lectured for the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, the New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Conference, the American Conference on Diversity, the American Bar Association, the New Jersey Judicial College, Rutgers University, Kean University, and the Education Law Center, and presented numerous seminars to clients and interested parties in the area of employment and education law and litigation. Peterpaul is an active member of the American Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association, and the Monmouth County Bar Association, as well as a former member of the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey. Peterpaul has received numerous accolades for her work as a lawyer, as she is a top-rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, has been selected as a NJ Super Lawyer, and was named to the New Jersey Law Journal List as one of the Diverse Attorneys of the Year in 2015. She has also served as a legal analyst on various news outlets. Peterpaul received her J.D. from Seton Hall School of Law and her bachelor’s from Duquesne University. Peterpaul is committed to supporting the families of children with illness, serving on the Advisory Committee of the Unterberg Children’s Hospital of RWJ/Barnabas Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center and on the board of the Thomas Peterpaul Foundation. She currently resides in Long Branch with her wife Robin.

 

2025         CHRISTINE HATCHARD, PSYD

2024         SARAH WHITTON, PHD

Dr. Hatchard is a clinical and forensic psychologist, international speaker and trainer, consultant, author, researcher, associate professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at Monmouth University. She has multiple media appearances in film, television, newspaper and radio, and has won national awards for her clinical and professional work and leadership in the field of Psychology. She practices through a diverse, social justice-oriented, culturally competent and trauma-informed lens, while using her knowledge and experience to provide her clients with exemplary care. She is Vice-President of the Advisory Board for The Center for Contemporary Relationships and has supported the ongoing development of CRC and QTAP for many years.

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Sarah (she/her), is a licensed clinical psychologist, professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cincinnati, and Director of the Today’s Couples and Families Research Program. Her research is focused on the mental health and close relationships of people in marginalized groups, particularly sexual and gender minority(SGM) individuals. She is the PI of FAB400, an NIH-funded longitudinal cohort study of SGM young people assigned female at birth focused on development, minority stress, close relationships, and mental health. Dr. Whitton has also developed and evaluated a number of tailored relationship education programs for SGM couples designed to promote relationship health and individual well-being using an SGM affirming approach.

 

2023          COLT ST. AMAND, PHD, MD

Colt is an educator, physician, psychologist, and advocate for the queer community,

especially our gender expansive queer siblings.

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  • Education

    • PhD Clinical Psychology - Univ Houston

      • Licensed psychologist TX

    • MD - Univ Texas Medical Branch

      • Licensed Physician TX, MN, soon to be NY

  • Roles

    • Family Medicine Resident

    • Lecturer

    • Research Coordinator

    • Research Assistant

    • Research Mentor

    • Course Coordinator

    • Course Creator

    • Course Director

    • Ad hoc editor

    • Adjunct Assistant Professor

  • Research

    • 49 peer reviewed publications

  • Presentations

    • 21 international conference presentations

    • 52 domestic conference presentations

    • 54 guest lecture appearances

    • 17 poster presentations

  • Grants, Scholarships, Awards

    • 27 total

    • $57,000

  • CV 30 pages+

  • Former CRC presenter

  • Speaker at Texas legislature, combating recent anti-trans legislation banning gender affirming care for youth.

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