Leonard Jason

Leonard Jason is a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Community Research at DePaul University's College of Science and Health. He specializes in Clinical Psychology (Community) and focuses on public policy, ecological interventions for addictions, chronic illnesses like ME/CFS, and violence prevention. His work bridges research and practice, addressing issues such as recovery housing (e.g., Oxford Houses) and youth violence prevention through community-based interventions.

Education: B.A. in Psychology from Brandeis University (1971), Ph.D. in Clinical/Community Psychology from the University of Rochester (1975).

Research Interests: Includes ME/CFS epidemiology, recovery housing efficacy, and culturally grounded violence prevention programs. Notable projects include the Success Over Stress program (funded by a $6.6M NIH grant) targeting African American youth and longitudinal studies on Oxford Houses' impact on sobriety and community reintegration.

Publications: Over 500 peer-reviewed articles, focusing on ME/CFS diagnosis, recovery housing dynamics, and public health policy. Recent work addresses post-COVID syndromes and the overlap with ME/CFS.

Grants & Collaborations: Led major NIH-funded studies, collaborating with Chicago Public Schools, Rush University Medical Center, and the Oxford House network. Emphasizes community-engaged research and policy advocacy.