Stephen E. Bemis Award Goes to James Sharf

by David Dye

On June 25 at the IPMAAC Conference in Boston, the 1996 Stephen E. Bemis Memorial Award was presented to Dr. James C. Sharf. In winning this year’s award, Jim joined a list of Who’s Who in the field of personnel assessment dating back to 1986 when the award was first given. In presenting the award to Jim, former IPMAAC President Anita Ford noted that “Jim is one of the best exemplars of the qualities embodied by the Bemis Award and that his long association with our field and the contributions he has made over the years makes him very deserving of this year’s award.”

Since 1986, the Bemis Award has been given to an individual who most nearly emulates the qualities for which Steve is remembered. These qualities include displaying an ongoing commitment to the principles of merit and fairness; making an impact in the assessment field by his/her practical contributions; and showing a commitment and concern for assisting fellow practitioners.

Jim is certainly no stranger to anyone in the personnel assessment field. For over 25 years, Jim has been an active member and respected contributor to our field as recognized by his recent election to SIOP and APA fellowship.

Some of Jim’s most important contributions to the personnel assessment arena came in the mid 1970's when he served as a staff psychologist for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and again in the 1990's as a Special Assistant to the Chairman. It was during his tenure with the EEOC that Jim was deeply involved with the development of the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures, the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the race norming provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1991. In his private sector experience -- first as Vice President of Richardson, Bellows, Henry and Co., and now as a Vice President in the Washington, DC office of Aon Corporation, Jim has been an active participant in the process of commenting on and providing input concerning government guidance and regulations.

Even with his busy schedule, Jim has always been able to share his knowledge and expertise with others in the field through his talks and journal articles, book chapters, and The Industrial Psychologist (TIP), where he has served on the editorial board since 1977. He has also served on the editorial board for Personnel Psychology. In addition, Jim has conducted numerous fair employment seminars for many professional groups, including the PTC’s, American Management Association, the Federal Bar Association, and the Equal Employment Advisory Council. Throughout this time, he has clearly shaped professional practice.

More than most personnel practitioners, Jim has demonstrated a clear commitment to merit principles and fair selection. He has advised attorneys defending personnel selection and promotion procedures and has provided expert testimony for both plaintiffs and respondents ranging from the Department of Justice to the Educational Testing Service.

Perhaps one of Jim’s most practical contributions was while he was a staff psychologist at OPM. It was there that he teamed with other psychologists to develop the first Federal Biodata exam, the Individual Achievement Record (IAR). The IAR was subsequently used as an alternative selection procedures to replace the PACE for entry-level professional and career examining.

The Board of Directors for the Stephen E. Bemis Memorial Award, which is responsible for selecting an award winner, had a very difficult task this year. Along with Jim, three other outstanding and deserving individuals were nominated for this year’s award -- Jennifer French, Doris Maye, and Terry McKinney.

After receiving the award, Jim noted that as a friend of Steve’s, he appreciated being recognized for his accomplishments and his contributions to the personnel assessment field.

Congratulations to Jim, Jennifer, Doris, and Terry!