Professor Leonard A. Jason to Receive Award for Excellence in Research

Leonard Jason to Receive DePaul University's 2013 College of Science and Health Award for Excellence in Research

Professor Leonard A. Jason, a most prolific innovator in the study of new topics in community psychology, is the recipient of the 2013 College of Science and Health (CSH) Research Award at DePaul University. Dr Jason is a Professor of Psychology at DePaul University and the Director of the Center for Community Research who is completing his 38th year as a DePaul faculty member.

Dr. Roger Weissberg, Novo Foundation Endowed Chair in Social and Emotional Learning and Distinguished Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, says, “There is broad consensus that Dr. Jason is among the pre-eminent community behavioral health psychologists in the United States.” Dr. Jason led scientific study in three relatively unexplored areas of community psychology. He has developed and empirically verified the value of new ways of reducing underage youth’s access to tobacco. These approaches have been implemented in communities across the nation.

Second, he has played a major role in establishing the scientific basis of chronic fatigue syndrome/ myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and thereby obtaining National Institute of Health support for studying this disease.

Third, Dr. Jason’s work has demonstrated the effectiveness of recovery homes run by people recovering from alcoholism, known as Oxford Houses, in preventing residents from relapsing. With about 1500 homes, Oxford Houses are the largest privately organized system of recovery homes in the U.S. In sum, Dr. Jason has edited or written 23 books, and he has published over 600 articles and 75 book chapters in community psychology. Consequently, his work has been widely cited and he has served on the editorial boards of ten psychological journals. He was ranked as the fourth most productive clinical psychologist in over 40 leading programs nationally in 2000-2004, and is likely the most prolific community psychologist in history. Dr. Jason has received over $26,000,000 in federal research grants. The American Psychological Association has honored him with three media awards. He is frequently asked to comment on policy issues for numerous media outlets.

Dr. Anne Bogat, Professor of Psychology and former Director of Clinical Psychology Training at Michigan State University, noted that, “Although exemplary in every way, Lenny’s research shines because it has had such a major influence on the field and people’s lives.” Dr. Jason’s many awards are a testimony to the scientific and social impact of his research and related activities. He received the 1997 Distinguished Contributions to Theory and Research Award in Community Psychology from Division 27 of the American Psychological Association. He was presented the 1997 CSN ACTION Champion Award by the Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Association of America in appreciation of research and educational efforts on behalf of persons with CFS. He was also given the Dutch ME-Foundation International ME-Award for 2003 for outstanding work in the field of CFS. Moreover, he was presented in 2007 with a Special Contribution to Public Policy Award by the Society for Community Research and Action. Dr. Jason was awarded the 2011 Perpich Award for distinguished service to the IACFS/ME and the CFS/ME community, the first person who was not a physician to receive this honor. In 2011, he was also presented with the Tom Fellows Award by the Oxford House Organization for his 20 years of research documenting the process of long term recovery from addiction, the first person who was not a recovering addict to receive this honor. Finally Dr. Jason is an invited keynote speaker at the Biennial Convention of the Society for Community Research and Action this summer in Miami.

CSH is delighted to recognize Leonard Jason’s career of exemplary research in community psychology with the 2013 Award for Excellence in Research.