Dr. James K. Matta

 Dr. James K. Matta

Dr. James (Jim) K. Matta, Sr. Is the Program Director of the Master of Arts in Counseling Program at Geneva College. He also serves as the coordinator of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling track. He started as an adjunct professor in 2008 and was hired as a full-time faculty member in 2010. In 2016 he became a tenured faculty member of the college.

Dr. Matta graduated from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 1984 with an undergraduate degree in Psychology. In 1986 he earned his Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology. In 1999 he received a second Master of Arts Degree in Counseling from Duquesne University and was certified as a school counselor. In 2004, he earned his doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision.

In 1986 he began his work in the mental health field in a small outpatient clinic in Corry, Pennsylvania. In 1988, he and his wife moved to Pittsburgh, and he worked a couple of years as a family therapist at Family Services of Beaver County. In 1990, he accepted an academic researcher position at Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic at Services for Teens at Risk (STAR). In 1996 he moved to the Pittsburgh Adolescent Alcohol Research Center (PAARC). In 2006 he was awarded funding by the National Institute of Health (NIH) to be trained as a scientific practitioner. He remained there as a full-time clinical researcher until 2008. Dr. Matta continued to work part-time at PAARC until 2018.

In 2008, Dr. Matta was appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania to the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors. He served on this board until stepping off in 2018. In 2017, he was elected for a three-year stint as the President of the American Association of State Counseling Boards (AASCB). This national organization involves the state licensing boards in mental health counseling that safeguard the public by ensuring that licensed professionals meet the minimum qualifications necessary to for safe and ethical practice.            

Dr. Matta has received any number of honors during his career, which include: 2022-23 Outstanding Service Faculty Award from Geneva College, 2021 Pennsylvania Counseling Association Lifetime Achievement Award, and was presented with the board service award in 2018 by the American Association of State Counseling Boards.

Dr. Matta is married to his wife Carla, and they will be celebrating their 39^th anniversary later this year. They have four adult children (James, Jr., Sarah, Mary Kate, and Rebekah). They reside in Beaver Falls.  

Dr. Matta has been a member of the Bellefield Presbyterian Church in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh for the past 8 years, where he serves as one of the elders. Last fall he was appointed as the elder of missions.