Matthew Larson (dv5168)
University information
Contact information
School of Social Work
Matt is an Associate Professor who completed his Ph.D. at Arizona State University. Prior to his graduate training, he was part of the U.S. Department of Education’s McNair Scholars Program, a federal initiative centered on increasing the attainment of Ph.D.s by students from historically underrepresented groups. His research has appeared in journals such as Criminology, Justice Quarterly, Journal of Criminal Justice, and Journal of Youth & Adolescence, and his work has been funded by the National Institute of Justice, National Science Foundation, and Public Welfare Foundation.
Beyond research, Matt led Wayne State's adoption of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program in 2016 (at Detroit Reentry Center) and has supported the development of the university's first BA-granting prison education program. He is also co-founder of JUST POETRY, an annual event that brings together individuals from diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds (e.g. officers of the Detroit Police Department, children with incarcerated parents, victims of violence, former juvenile lifers, etc.) to explore “justice” through poetry/spoken word. Matt has received the CLAS Excellence in Teaching Award, the Learning Community Coordinator of the Year Award, and, while at Saint Louis University, the Award for Excellence in Diversity & Social Justice. In 2022, he received the Early Career Excellence Award from the School of Criminology & Criminal Justice at Arizona State University.
Matt serves as the Director of Implementation for the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice. In this role, he oversees project development and implementation across all Center initiatives to ensure all projects follow an implementation science framework. In addition, Matt leads grant strategy and development efforts to fulfill the CBHJ's vision of equipping communities with research, data, and best practices to enhance the well-being of people with mental illness and/or substance use disorders who come in contact with the criminal/legal system.
- Ph.D., Arizona State Univeristy, 2013
Expert in criminal justice/legal policy evaluation, longitudinal methodology, and the transition to adulthood for vulnerable youth
