Peter Gleason

Peter Gleason, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology at Thomas College with over ten years of experience as a licensed clinical psychologist in higher education. His academic foundation includes advanced training in clinical and experimental psychology, supporting his dual focus on research and clinical practice.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Loma Linda University
• M.A. in Experimental Psychology, Loma Linda University
• B.S. in Psychology, Atlantic Union College

Gleason's research spans clinical, community, and health psychology with emphasis on mental health literacy, adolescent psychological distress, and environmental impacts on community well-being. His interdisciplinary approach integrates public health perspectives to examine how digital media exposure, depression awareness, and industrial environments shape mental health outcomes across diverse populations. Methodologically versatile, he employs both quantitative epidemiological studies and qualitative community assessments.

Analysis of his publication history reveals sustained investigation into vulnerable populations—particularly youth exposed to excessive screen time and communities adjacent to industrial sites. His work consistently bridges theoretical psychology with real-world mental health interventions, highlighting screen time's correlation with distress, depression literacy gaps among young adults, and systemic health challenges in rail yard neighborhoods.

Gleason champions an autonomy-centered teaching philosophy where cultivated curiosity and self-directed learning form the bedrock of education. He contends that true learning emerges when students develop intrinsic interest, enabling them to become lifelong self-educators rather than dependent on instructors.