Kantaş Receives National Award from American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama

Dr. Özge Kantaş, assistant professor of psychology, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Zerka T. Moreno Award given by the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP), one of the highest honors in the international psychodrama community.

Established in 1984, the Zerka T. Moreno Award recognizes integrated contributions across theory, research, teaching, practice, social impact, and leadership/innovation. Kantaş does it by pioneering the integration of group psychology, AI, and leadership in her teaching, scholarly activities, and service to the field and community. 

In her nomination, Kantaş was recognized for her groundbreaking scholarly contribution by formally integrating social psychology with psychodrama, establishing the first published framework that uses Self-Determination Theory as both a theoretical and measurement base for psychodramatic work. Her research provides the field with a shared scientific language, empirically grounded outcomes, and a non-pathologizing, needs-based lens that expands psychodrama’s credibility and accessibility across clinical, organizational, educational, and developmental contexts.

Bridging Psychology, the Stage, and Artificial Intelligence

She was also recognized for the creation of her Self-Psychologist™ model, an innovative inner psychodrama method that has reached hundreds to lead their “Inner Boardroom” globally and is now evolving into AI-supported, scalable applications of self-leadership and human development. Taking experiential learning with group psychology a step further, Kantaş has developed a groundbreaking AI ecosystem. Functioning as her “Digital Twin,” this safe AI technology is fully grounded in her extensive expertise. Rather than simply talking or analyzing, the system creates a dedicated digital space for users to enact their inner world — acting as the director of their internal theater and chair of their inner board meeting. It facilitates the move from mere narration to lived action, helping individuals explore their roles and transform awareness into tangible change through the power of play.

Using Psychodrama to Enhance Leadership in Business and Organizations

This work is currently being further developed through a Scholarly Innovation Grant at Fisher, where Kantaş is collaborating with MBA students to explore how AI-supported reflective systems can enhance self-leadership, decision-making, and experiential learning in business education and leaders’ well-being. Being the only American Board of Examiners Certified Psychodrama Practitioner and Trainer (CP, PAT) holding a full-time tenure-track position in Western New York, Kantaş’ scientist-practitioner approach makes Fisher one of only a handful of institutions globally where Fisher students can experience psychodrama as a primary pedagogical tool rather than a postgraduate-level specialty.

Beyond her scholarship, Kantaş has significantly elevated the visibility, reach, and ethical practice of psychodrama through extensive professional presentations, including two TEDx Talks and more than five years of workshops at ASGPP and the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA). Her teaching brings psychodrama into leadership, business, and organizational contexts, reframing it as a tool for creativity, resilience, and ethical decision-making.

“What makes this recognition particularly meaningful to me is that it reflects the kind of interdisciplinary and applied work I’ve been developing at St. John Fisher University — bringing together psychology, AI, organizational behavior, motivation science, and experiential learning into a next-generation self-leadership framework that redefines how individuals and organizations understand and manage human potential,” said Kantaş.

She will formally receive the award at the organization’s national conference in May.