Jim Matthews
Jim’s Important Links
Jim Mathews, M.Ed. provides students, faculty, staff and parents with the most critical and up-to-date information about college drinking in an entertaining and non-judgmental manner. Integrating lecture with numerous movie clips, video interviews of students, commercials and other media, his classes and programs capture the attention of students, parents, and faculty alike. Programs are designed to support students who are abstaining or making low risk drinking choices while assisting dangerous drinkers in understanding the importance of modifying their drinking behaviors.
Jim knows students. With more than 20 years of experience working with elementary, secondary and college students as a teacher, adjunct professor, administrator and parent of two children himself, he presents this sensitive topic in a way that students appreciate and enjoy. His humor and sincerity help ease some of the tension and concern that students may have when discussing such a controversial topic. Jim has both personal and professional experience in dealing with alcohol issues. He grew up in Queens, a blue collar neighborhood in New York City where alcohol and alcohol problems knew no boundaries for Jim, his family and his friends.
Jim is the Coordinator of Health Education at Merrimack College in Massachusetts. Prior to this position, for 13 years he was the Assistant to the Vice President for Alcohol and Other Drug Programs at Keene State College in New Hampshire where the campus newspaper identified his courses as the “most popular courses” at Keene State.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Manhattan College and his masters in Education from Queens College both in New York City. Jim is a certified trainer for the Prevention Research Institute, has a Certificate in Chemical Dependency Therapy, was a participant in the Professional in Residence Program at the Betty Ford Center in California and is the author of “Beer, Booze and Books…a sober look at higher education,” “The ABCs of College Drinking…25 tips for navigating the collegiate party scene” and “The Parents Guide to College Drinking…facing the challenge together.” As a member of the advisory board for MyStudentBody.com, he is a frequent contributor to the Ask the Exert component of MSB.
Jim has been recognized by the New Hampshire legislature for his work in alcohol and other drug education and abuse program. He has appeared on ABC-TV, WOR-TV, CNN, NBC Radio and New Hampshire Public Radio and has been featured in numerous magazines and newspaper articles. Jim has spoken to over 400,000 students on more than 400 campuses throughout the country.