Jacqueline S. Mattis

Jacqueline S. Mattis earned her B.A. in psychology from New York University, and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Michigan. Prior to assuming the role of Dean of SASN, she served as Professor of Psychology and Associate Department Chair for Diversity Initiatives in the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan. She also co-directed the Center for the Study of Black Youth in Context. She previously served as Chairperson of the Department of Applied Psychology at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture Education and Human Development.

Her research focuses on the role of religion and spirituality in the lives of African American and Afri-Caribbean youth and adults, and on the factors that are associated with positive psychological and psychosocial development of urban-residing African Americans and AfriCaribbeans. In particular she uses quantitative and qualitative methods to explore the factors that contribute to volunteerism, civic engagement, altruism, compassion, empathy, forgiveness, optimism, and positive parenting among urban-residing African American and Afri-diasporic people. She has co-authored numerous articles and has served on the editorial boards of numerous journals. She co-authored (with collaborator Fulya Kurter) two books on counseling in the Turkish cultural context, including a handbook entitled “Culturally sensitive counseling from the perspective of Turkish practitioners” (Bahcesehir University Press). This handbook explores the topic of culture, cultural diversity and intercultural dynamics within Turkey as these issues apply to the practice of counseling.

Among the honors she has received over her career are the Distinguished Psychologist Award from the Association of Black Psychologists (2014); and NYU’s Martin Luther King Jr. Award (2011) for teaching excellence, leadership, social justice and community building. She has been recognized for her mentorship and teaching. She received the 2020 Paul M. Fitts Graduate Mentor Award from the University of Michigan Graduate Leadership Council) for outstanding mentorship of graduate students in Psychology, and the 2020 Cornerstone Award for unique contributions to enhancing the academic and social progress of African American students at the University of Michigan. She also received the Outstanding Mentor Award from the University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities program (2019).

University of Michigan, Ph.D., 1995, Psychology
University of Michigan, M.S., 1992, Psychology
New York University, B.A., 1989, Psychology (Phi Beta Kappa)

American Psychological Association
Association of Black Psychologists
International Association of Positive Psychology

2020 Paul M. Fitts Graduate Mentor Award (University of Michigan Graduate Leadership Council) for
outstanding mentorship of graduate students in Psychology

2020 Cornerstone Award for unique contributions to enhancing the academic and social progress of
African American students at the University of Michigan

2019 Outstanding Research Mentor Award, Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Nominee- Golden Apple Award for Outstanding Teaching, 2018

Helping Hands Award, Rackham School for Graduate Studies, University of Michigan, 2016

Distinguished Psychologist Award, Association of Black Psychologists, 2014

Martin Luther King Jr. Award for teaching excellence, leadership, social justice and community building, New York University, 2011

Nominated: NYU Steinhardt Distinguished Teaching Award, 2002-2007, 2012, 2013

Nominated: NYU Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award, 2007

NYU Graduate Student Organization Faculty Star Award, 2004

Positive Psychology Young Scholars Award, Templeton Foundation, 2001

Faculty Development Award- University of Michigan

Mary Malcolmson Raphael Fellowship- University of Michigan

Horace H. Rackham Merit Fellowship- University of Michigan

American Psychological Association Dissertation Research Award

American Psychological Association Travel Award

Samuel Borgman Prize- New York University

Catherine Vassilakis Award- New York University
Phi Beta Kappa

Peer Reviewed Articles:

Mattis, J. S., McWayne, C., Palmer, G., Johnson, M., & Sparks, H. (Accepted). Generative parenting
identities among low-income, urban residing African American fathers. Psychology of Men and
Masculinities.

McWayne, C. M., Mattis, J. S., & Li, L-W. (Accepted). Never alone: Understanding the shared context of
positive parenting among Black families with low-income. Journal of Black Psychology.

Palmer, G., Cole-Lewis, Y., Goodwill, J., & Mattis, J. (Accepted). No crystal stairs: Existential well-being,
racism, stress and pessimism among Black men. Journal of Men’s Studies.

Mattis, J. S., Palmer, G. J. M., & Hope, M. O. (2019). Where our bright star is cast: Religiosity, spirituality
and positive Black development in urban landscapes. “Special issue on Ecological Perspectives on
Religion and Positive Youth Development.” Religions, 10, 654; doi:10.3390/rel10120654

Varner, F., Hou, Y., Hurd, N., Ross, L., & Mattis, J. S. (2019). Dealing with discrimination: Parents’ and
adolescents’ racial discrimination experiences and parenting in African American families. Cultural
Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology.

McWayne, C. M., Mattis, J. S., & Hyun, S. (2018). Profiles of culturally salient positive parenting
practices among urban-residing Black Head Start families. Journal of Cultural Diversity and Ethnic
Minority Psychology, 24, 414-428. doi: 10.1037/cdp0000164

Goodwill, J. R., Anyiwo, N., Williams, E. G., Johnson, N., Mattis, J. S., & Watkins, D. C. (2018). Media
representations of popular culture and the construction of Black masculinities. Psychology of Men
and Masculinity. doi: 10.1037/men0000164

Mattis, J. S., Grayman-Simpson, N., Powell, W., Murray, Y., Goodwill, J., & Cole Lewis, Y. (2017). What
would I know about mercy? Faith, forgiveness, and optimism among African American adults.
Race and Social Problems, 9 (1), 42–52. doi:10.1007/s12552-016-9190-9

Grayman-Simpson, N. A., & Mattis, J. S. (2017). Communalism Scale 2015 Cultural Validity Study.
Africology: The Journal of Pan African Studies, 10, 3, 67-75.

McWayne, C., Mattis, J., Green Wright, L., Limlingan, M. C., & Harris, E. (2017). An emic, mixedmethods approach to defining and measuring positive parenting among low-income Black families.
Early Education and Development, 28, 182-206. (Published online August 2016) doi:
10.1080/10409289.2016.1208601

Wittrup, A., Hurd, N., Varner, F., & Mattis, J. (2016). Natural mentors, racial pride, and academic
engagement among Black adolescents: A study of resilience in the context of perceived
discrimination. doi 10.1177/0044118X16680546

Powell, W., Banks, K. H., & Mattis, J. S. (2016). Buried hatchets, marked locations: Forgiveness, everyday
racial discrimination, and African-American men’s depressive symptomatology. American Journal
of Orthopsychiatry. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ort0000210

Gutierrez, I., & Mattis, J. S. (2014). Factors predicting volunteer engagement among urban-residing African
American women. Journal of Black Studies, 45(7) 599–619. doi: 10.1177/0021934714543189

Gutierrez, I. A., Goodwin, L. J., Kirkinis, K., & Mattis, J. S. (2014). African American families and
religious socialization. Journal of Family Psychology. doi: 10.1037/a0035732.

Grayman-Simpson, N., & Mattis, J. S. (2013). Doing good and feeling good among African Americans:
Subjective religiosity, helping, and satisfaction. Journal of Black Psychology. doi:
0095798412461809

Schaeffer, C., & Mattis, J. (2012). Diversity, religiosity and spirituality in the workplace. Journal of
Management, Spirituality and Religion, 9, 4, 317–333. dx.doi.org/10.1080/14766086.2012.742750.

Grayman-Simpson, N., & Mattis, J. S. (2012). “If it wasn’t for the church…”: Organizational religiosity
and informal community helping among African American adults. Journal of African American
Studies. 1-10.

Mattis, J. S., Hope, M., Sutton, R., Udoh, M., & Doucet, F. (2012). Researching and facilitating African
American global volunteerism. Review of Faith & International Affairs, Special issue on:
“Religion and African American Leadership in Global Voluntarism,” 10, 29-36.

Chatters, L. M., Mattis, J. S., Taylor, R. J., Woodward, A. T., Neighbors, H. W., & Grayman, N. A. (2011).
Use of ministers for a serious personal problem among African Americans: Findings from the
National Survey of American Life. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 81, 118-127.
doi: 10.1111/j.1939-0025.2010.01079.x.

Taylor, R. J., Toler Woodward, A., Chatters, L., Mattis, J. S., & Jackson, J. S. (2011). Seeking help from
clergy among Black Caribbeans in the United States. Race and Social Problems, 3, 241-251. doi:
10.10007/s12552-011-9056-0

Taylor,R. J., Chatters, L. M., Mattis, J. S., & Joe, S. (2010). Religious involvement among Caribbean
Blacks residing in the United States. Review of Religious Research, 52, 125-145.

Hampton, M., Halkitis, P., & Mattis, J. S. (2010). Coping, drug use, and religiosity/spirituality in relation
to HIV serostatus among gay and bisexual men. AIDS Education and Prevention, 22, 417-429. doi:
10.1521/aeap.2010.22.5.417

Halkitis, P., Mattis, J., Sahadath, J., Massie, D., Ladyzhenskaya, L., Pitrelli, K., Bonacci, M., & Cowie, S.
(2009). The meanings and manifestations of religion and spirituality among lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender adults. Journal of Adult Development, 16, 250-262. doi: 10.1007/s10804-009-
9071-1.

Mattis, J., Powell Hammond, W., Grayman, N., Cowie, S., Bonacci, M., Brennan, W., & Massie, D.
(2009). The social production of altruism: Motivations for selfless giving in a low-income
community. American Journal of Community Psychology, 43, 71-84. doi: 10.1007/s10464-008-
9217-5.

Mattis, J., Grayman, N., Cowie, S., Winston,C., Watson, C., & Jackson, D. (2008). Intersectional identities
and the politics of altruistic care in a low-income, urban community. Sex Roles, 59 (5-6), 418-428.
doi: 10.1007/s11199-008-9426-2.

Mattis, J.S., Mitchell, N., Zapata, A., Grayman, N., Taylor, R., Chatters. L., & Neighbors, H. (2007). Uses of
ministerial support by African Americans: A focus group study. American Journal of
Orthopsychiatry, 77, 249-258. doi:10.1037/0002-9432.77.2.249.

Beale,R., Mattis, J., Cowie, S., Watson, C., Forrest, J., & Cooper, D. (2007). Organizational citizenship
initiatives: A qualitative analysis of overcoming deterrents to volunteerism and community service
opportunities. International Journal of Business Strategy, 7, 3, 32-41.

Suzuki, L., Ahluwalia, M., Kwon-Aurora, A., & Mattis, J. (2007). The pond you fish in determines the fish
you catch. Exploring strategies for qualitative data collection. The Counseling Psychologist, 35,
295-327. doi: 10.1177/0011000006290983.

Powell-Hammond, W., Hudson-Banks, K., & Mattis, J. (2006). Masculinity ideology and forgiveness of
racial discrimination among African American men: Direct and interactive relationships. Sex Roles,
55, 679-692. doi: 10.1007/s11199-006-9123-y.

Graham-Bermann, S. A., De Voe, E. R., Mattis, J. S., Lynch, S., Thomas, S. A. (2006). Ecological
predictors of traumatic stress symptoms in Caucasian and ethnic minority children exposed to
intimate partner violence. Violence Against Women, 12, 663-692. doi: 10.1177/1077801206290216.

Powell, W., & Mattis, J. S. (2005). Being a man about it: Constructions of masculinity among African
American men. Men and Masculinities, 6, 114-126. doi: 10.1037/1524-9220.6.2.114.

Suzuki, L., Ahluwalia, M., Mattis, J.S., & Quizon, C. (2005). Ethnography: New horizons for the study of
lives in counseling psychology. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 206-214.

Mattis, J. S., Beckham, W., Saunders, B., Williams, J., McAllister, D., Myers, V., Knight, D., Rencher, D.,
& Dixon, C. (2004). Who will volunteer? Religiosity, everyday racism and social participation
among African American men. Journal of Adult Development, 11, 261-272. doi:
10.1023/B:JADE.0000044529.92580.6d.

Mattis, J. S., Eubanks, S., Zapata, A., Grayman, N., Belkin, M., Mitchell, N., & Cooper, S., (2004). Factors
influencing religious non-attendance among African American men: A multi-method analysis.
Review of Religious Research, 45, 386-403.

Mattis, J. S., Fontenot, D., Hatcher-Kay, C., Grayman, N., & Beale, R. (2004). Religiosity, optimism and
pessimism among African Americans. Journal of Black Psychology, 30, 187-207. doi:
10.1177/0095798403260730.

Mattis, J. S., Fontenot, D., & Hatcher-Kay, C. (2003). Religiosity, racism and dispositional optimism
among African Americans. Personality and Individual Differences, 34, 1025-1038. doi:
10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00087-9.

Mattis, J. S. (2002). Religion and spirituality in the meaning making and coping experiences of African
American women: A qualitative analysis. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 26, 308-320. doi:
10.1111/1471-6402.t01-2-00070.

Mattis, J. S. (2002). Grappling with culture, class, and context in cross-cultural research and intervention.
Prevention and Treatment, Vol. 5, Article 11. doi:10.1037/1522-3736.5.1.511c.

Mattis, J. S., Hearn, K., & Jagers, R. (2002). Factors predicting communal attitudes among African
American men. Journal of Black Psychology, 28 (3), 197-214. doi: 10.1177/00998402028003002.

Mattis, J. S., Murray, Y., Hatcher, C., Hearn, K., Lawhon, G., Murphy, E., & Washington, T. (2001). Religiosity
and the subjective quality of African American men's friendships: An exploratory study. Journal of Adult
Development, 8 (4), 221-230. doi: 10.1023/A:1011338511989.

Mattis, J. S., & Jagers, R. (2001). A relational framework for the study of religiosity and spirituality in the
lives of African Americans. Journal of Community Psychology: Special Issue on Spirituality
Volume 2, 29 (5), 519-539. doi: 10.1002/jcop.1034.

Mattis, J. S. (2001). Religiosity and African American political life. Political Psychology: Special Issue:
Psychology as Politics, 22 (2), 263-278. doi: 10.1111/0162-895X.00238.

Mattis, J. S., Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. (2001). Are they really not religious? A multi-method analysis of
the attitudes of religiously non-involved African American women. African American Research
Perspectives, 7 (1), 90-103.

Mattis, J. S., Jagers, R. J., Hatcher, C., Lawhon, G., Murphy, E., & Murray, Y. (2000). Religiosity,
volunteerism and community involvement among African American men: An exploratory analysis.
Journal of Community Psychology, 28 (4), 391-406. doi: 10.1002/1520-
6629(200007)28:4<391::AID-JCOP2>3.0.CO; 2-A.

Bell, C. C. &. Mattis, J. S. (2000). The importance of cultural competence in ministering to African-American victims
of domestic violence. Violence Against Women, 6 (5), 515-532. doi: 10.1177/10778010022182001.

Mattis, J. S. (2000). African American women’s definitions of spirituality and religiosity. Journal of Black
Psychology, 26 (1), 101-122. doi: 10.1177/0095798400026001006.

Morgan, L., Beale. R., Mattis, J. S., Stovall, E., & White, D. (2000). The combined impact of racism at
work, non-racial stress, and financial stress on Black women’s psychological well-being. African
American Research Perspectives, 6 (1), 41-50.

Taylor, R. J., Mattis, J. S., & Chatters, L. (1999). Subjective religiosity among African Americans: A
synthesis of findings from five national samples. Journal of Black Psychology, 25 (4), 524-543.
doi: 10.1177/0095798499025004004.

Mattis, J. S., Bell, C. C., Jagers, R. J., & Jenkins, E. (1999). A critical approach to stress-related disorders
in African-Americans. Journal of the National Medical Association, 91 (2), 80-85.

Mattis, J. S. (1997). The spiritual well-being of African Americans: A preliminary analysis. Journal of
Prevention and Intervention in the Community, 16 (1-2), 103-120. doi: 10.1300/J005v16n01_06.

Mattis, J. S. (1997). Spirituality and religiosity in the lives of Black women. African American Research
Perspectives. 3 (2), 56-60.

Graham-Bermann, S., Banyard, V., Coupet, S., Egler, L., & Mattis, J. (1996). Interpersonal relationships
and adjustment of children in homeless and economically distressed families. Journal of Clinical
Child Psychology, 25 (3), 250-261. doi: 10.1207/s15374424jccp2503_1.

Books: 

Mattis, J. S., & Kurter, F. (2014). Psikolojik danişma ve kültür araştirmasi: Bulgular ve yorumlar.
(Psychological Counseling and culture research: Results and implications). Istanbul, Turkey:
Bahçeşehir University Press.

Kurter, F., & Mattis, J. S. (2014). Üygulamacilarin gözuyle, Türkiye’de Psikolojik Danişmanlikta kulture
duyarlilik (Cultural sensitivity in counseling from the perspective of practitioners in Turkey).
Istanbul, Turkey: Bahçeşehir University Press.

Book Reviews & Commentaries: 

Mattis, J. S. (2000). Book review: Psychotherapy with African American women: Innovations in
psychodynamic perspectives and practice. Sex Roles, 43, 745-747.

Mattis, J. S. (1994). Working with West Indian families. The Interchange, 13 (1), 8-9.