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(BEAVER FALLS, Pa.) – Geneva College M.A. in Counseling Professor James K. Matta Sr., Ed.D., NCC, LPC, will receive the PCA Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pennsylvania Counseling Association (PCA) at the annual conference in November.

The PCA Lifetime Achievement Award goes to a Pennsylvania resident who has demonstrated outstanding dedication, service and/or achievement in professional counseling over a lifetime.

Dr. Matta is the Director of the Master of Arts & Counseling program at Geneva College and the Coordinator of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling track. He has been a faculty member for Geneva Counseling since 2008.

In 2008 he was also appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania to serve as a board member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists and Professional Counselors. He served on the licensing board a total of nine years. Towards the latter half of his second term, board members voted unanimously to elevate Dr. Matta to the position of Chair.

In 2017 he was elected President of the American Association of State Counseling Boards (AASCB), which consists of state boards that regulate the practice of counseling, becoming the first Pennsylvanian to lead the AASCB.  He served as elected treasurer for the PCA from 2006 to 2008.

Dr. Matta conducted academic research for 30 years at the Pittsburgh Adolescent Alcohol Research Center (PAARC), which is affiliated with Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic and the first research center to investigate adolescent issues. The National Institutes of Health awarded a grant in 2006 to enable Dr. Matta to study adolescents and young adults struggling with comorbidity. His academic presentations and publications in the field of counseling number in the dozens.

Dr. Matta earned both his doctoral degree in Counselor Education & Supervision and his M.S.Ed. in Counselor Education at Duquesne University. He completed his M.A. in Clinical Psychology and B.A. in Psychology at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. Offering over 145 traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva’s programs are recognized for their high quality and affordability. Geneva is the #6 ranked Best Value Regional University North, according to U.S. News and World Report. Adhering to the truth of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God’s Word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today’s world. Geneva was founded and is governed by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) and is a founding member of both the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and IACE (International Association for Christian Education).