J. L. Matson, Professor and Distinguished Research Master, Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La 70803-5501, USA
Johnny Matson is Professor and Distinguished Research Master in the Department of Psychology at Louisiana State University. He received
a Ph.D from Indiana State University in 1976. His first academic appointment was as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry
at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In 1985 he joined the Department of Psychology at Louisiana State University. His
interests are in the fields of intellectual disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
He has over 350 publications in a variety
of academic outlets and in addition has written over 30 books on mental retardation, autism, and severe emotional disorders. His research
has been recognized by the American Association of Publishers when he was awarded the Best Book in the Social and Behavioral Sciences
in 1983. He has also received several other prestigious awards including: a Career Research Award from the National Association on Dual
Diagnosis, Early Career Research Award from the National Academy of Education and the 20th Century Award from American Association on
Mental Retardation. Professor Matson teaches practicum and child psychopathology in the Ph.D. program in psychology at Louisiana State
University.
He has held positions including: president, executive committee member or board member for divisions of the American
Psychological Association, American Association on Mental Retardation and Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy.
Professor
Matson has been the Editor-in-Chief of Research in Developmental Disabilities since 1979 and will also be the Editor-in-Chief
for the new journal Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
