Jeffrey T. Parsons

Jeffrey T. Parsons is an American psychologist, researcher, and educator; he was a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Hunter College[1] and The Graduate Center[2] of the City University of New York (CUNY) and was the Director of Hunter College’s Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies & Training,[3] which he founded in 1996.[4] Parsons was trained as a developmental psychologist and applied this training to understand health, with a particular emphasis on HIV prevention and treatment. He was known for his research on HIV risk behaviors of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), HIV-related syndemics, and sexual compulsivity. He resigned his positions at CUNY on July 3, 2019, following a year-long university investigation of misconduct allegations against him.[5][6][7]

Jeffrey T. Parsons
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Puget Sound (BA)
University of Houston(PhD)
Employerunknown / none
OrganizationCenter for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies & Training (CHEST)
TitleDistinguished Professor
Websitewww.chestnyc.org

Education and training

Parsons received his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA in 1988 with a minor in Theatre Arts. He went on to complete an M.A. in 1990 and Ph.D. in 1992 in Developmental Psychology from the University of Houston in Houston, TX. While there, he worked with Dr. Alexander Siegel on understanding the health risk behaviors of adolescents, with a primary focus on substance use.

Research

Parsons was a nationally and internationally recognized expert in HIV prevention and treatment, having been particularly influential on understanding health risk behaviors associated with HIV transmission and HIV-related health outcomes for GBMSM. He was a pioneer in understanding the etiology and consequences of sexual compulsivity (now often referred to as hypersexuality)[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] for GBMSM as well as having produced influential work on topics ranging from understanding intentional condomless sex (i.e., barebacking)[15][16][17][18][19][20] and methamphetamine use[21][22][23][24] to developing efficacious interventions to reduce substance use and HIV-related health risk behaviors.[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] Parsons developed an intervention for young GBMSM that showed an effect at reducing both substance use and sexual risk [35] and was the first intervention for this population designated as a "Best Evidence" Effective Behavioral Intervention (EBI) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S.[36][37] Parsons authored and co-authored more than 320 peer-reviewed publications,[38] more than 500 conference abstracts, and 11 book chapters as well as having been Editor of one book;[39] his work has received extensive popular media coverage.

Parsons was funded by several federal research grants between 1990 and 2019. In 1996, he founded the Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies & Training (CHEST) to “conduct research to identify and promote strategies that prevent the spread of HIV and improve the lives of people living with HIV.”[3] Since that time, Parsons received more than $55 million USD in funding as Principal Investigator from the National Institutes of Health (including the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other federal agencies.[40]

Career

Parsons was appointed as a Research Psychologist at the Mount Sinai Hemophilia Treatment Center in New York City from 1991 to 1997 and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at New Jersey City University from 1992 to 1997. Shortly after founding CHEST, Parsons was promoted to Associate Professor at New Jersey City University in 1997, where he remained until he moved to Hunter College of the City University of New York in 2000. Parsons was granted tenure at Hunter College in 2003 and promoted to Full Professor in 2005; he served as the Chair of the Department of Psychology from 2008 to 2010 and was subsequently promoted to Distinguished Professor at the recommendation of Hunter’s President, Jennifer Raab, and concurrence of the CUNY Board of Trustees in 2012.

Parsons held several concurrent positions while at Hunter College. He was appointed to the Doctoral Faculty in Psychology at the Graduate School & University Center (“The Graduate Center”) of CUNY in 2005 and served as Director of the Health Psychology Concentration from 2005 to 2008. From 2008 to 2016, he also served on the Doctoral Faculty in Public Health at the Graduate Center of CUNY. Parsons was Founding Chair of the Faculty Steering Committee for the LGBT Social Science and Public Policy Center at Hunter College’s Roosevelt House from 2008 to 2012. Between 2012 and 2019, he was on the faculty of the Graduate Center’s PhD program in Health Psychology and Clinical Science.[41]

Parsons has served in several editorial capacities for peer-reviewed journals in the field. He is currently Editor-in-Chief of Sexuality Research and Social Policy as well as Associate Editor of Archives of Sexual Behavior and AIDS and Behavior. He has also been on the Editorial Boards of AIDS Education and Prevention, International Journal of Sexual Health, Human Sexuality, and LGBT Health.

Parsons served as Chair of the NIH’s Behavioral and Social Consequences of HIV study section[42] from 2010 to 2012 after having served as a regular member of the same study section from 2007 to 2010. He was the President of the Eastern Region of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality from 2005 to 2007 and served on the Board of Directors for the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health from 2003 to 2008.

On July 3, 2019 Jeffrey Parsons resigned his position at CUNY, following a year-long investigation by the university of allegations against him related to improper drug and alcohol use and of sexual improprieties at the university affiliated events that he hosted.[5][6][43][44] The investigation found that he violated CUNY’s policy on sexual misconduct and engaged “in behavior that violated CUNY’s Drug and Alcohol Policy”.[5] Following Parson's resignation, the Hunter College renamed CHEST into PRIDE, which stands for Promoting Resilience, Intersectionality, Diversity and Equity.[7]

Honors and awards

Parsons was named Fellow of the American Psychological Association in 2008,[45] the Society of Behavioral Medicine in 2012, and the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality in 2012. He received the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award in from the American Psychological Association’s Division 44 in 2008,[46] the John Money Award from the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality in 2011,[47] and the Psychology and AIDS Distinguished Leadership Award from the American Psychological Association in 2017.[48]

References

  1. "Jeffrey T. Parsons — Hunter College". www.hunter.cuny.edu. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  2. "Jeffrey Parsons". www.gc.cuny.edu. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  3. "CHEST | Center for HIV Educational Studies & Training". www.chestnyc.org. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  4. "CHEST | Overview & Mission". www.chestnyc.org. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  5. "Esteemed CUNY prof quits after allegations of cocaine binges and out-of-control parties". New York Post. 2019-07-13. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  6. "CUNY Professor Resigns Over Allegations of Drug Use". Inside Higher Ed. 2019-07-15. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  7. "Renowned HIV Researcher Who Led CHEST Resigns Amid Scandal". POZ. 2019-07-18. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  8. PhD, Jeffrey T. Parsons; PhD, Brian C. Kelly; David S. Bimbi MA, PhD (Cand.); PhD, Frederick Muench; PhD, Jon Morgenstern (2007-08-14). "Accounting for the Social Triggers of Sexual Compulsivity". Journal of Addictive Diseases. 26 (3): 5–16. doi:10.1300/j069v26n03_02. ISSN 1055-0887. PMID 18018804.
  9. Grov, Christian; Parsons, Jeffrey T.; Bimbi, David S. (2010-08-01). "Sexual Compulsivity and Sexual Risk in Gay and Bisexual Men". Archives of Sexual Behavior. 39 (4): 940–949. doi:10.1007/s10508-009-9483-9. ISSN 0004-0002. PMC 2890042. PMID 19308715.
  10. Parsons, Jeffrey T.; Kelly, Brian C.; Bimbi, David S.; DiMaria, Lauren; Wainberg, Milton L.; Morgenstern, Jon (2008-10-01). "Explanations for the Origins of Sexual Compulsivity Among Gay and Bisexual Men". Archives of Sexual Behavior. 37 (5): 817–826. doi:10.1007/s10508-007-9218-8. ISSN 0004-0002. PMID 17882541.
  11. Kelly, Brian C.; Bimbi, David S.; Nanin, Jose E.; Izienicki, Hubert; Parsons, Jeffrey T. (2009-07-28). "Sexual Compulsivity and Sexual Behaviors Among Gay and Bisexual Men and Lesbian and Bisexual Women". The Journal of Sex Research. 46 (4): 301–308. doi:10.1080/00224490802666225. ISSN 0022-4499. PMID 19148829.
  12. Grov, Christian; Golub, Sarit A.; Mustanski, Brian; Parsons, Jeffrey T. (2010). "Sexual compulsivity, state affect, and sexual risk behavior in a daily diary study of gay and bisexual men". Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. 24 (3): 487–497. doi:10.1037/a0020527. PMID 20853934.
  13. Pachankis, John E.; Rendina, H. Jonathon; Restar, Arjee; Ventuneac, Ana; Grov, Christian; Parsons, Jeffrey T. (2015). "A minority stress—emotion regulation model of sexual compulsivity among highly sexually active gay and bisexual men". Health Psychology. 34 (8): 829–840. doi:10.1037/hea0000180. PMC 4476950. PMID 25528179.
  14. Grov, Christian; Bamonte, Anthony; Fuentes, Armando; Parsons, Jeffrey T.; Bimbi, David S.; Morgenstern, Jon (2008-02-01). "Exploring the internet's role in sexual compulsivity and out of control sexual thoughts/behaviour: A qualitative study of gay and bisexual men in New York City". Culture, Health & Sexuality. 10 (2): 107–125. doi:10.1080/13691050701564678. ISSN 1369-1058. PMID 18247206.
  15. Halkitis, Perry N.; Parsons, Jeffrey T.; Wilton, Leo (2003-08-01). "Barebacking Among Gay and Bisexual Men in New York City: Explanations for the Emergence of Intentional Unsafe Behavior". Archives of Sexual Behavior. 32 (4): 351–357. doi:10.1023/a:1024095016181. ISSN 0004-0002.
  16. Halkitis, P. N.; Parsons, J. T. (2003-06-01). "Intentional unsafe sex (barebacking) among HIV-positive gay men who seek sexual partners on the Internet". AIDS Care. 15 (3): 367–378. doi:10.1080/0954012031000105423. ISSN 0954-0121. PMID 12745400.
  17. Grov, Christian; DeBusk, Jonathan A.; Bimbi, David S.; Golub, Sarit A.; Nanin, Jose E.; Parsons, Jeffrey T. (2007-07-01). "Barebacking, the Internet, and Harm Reduction: An Intercept Survey with Gay and Bisexual Men in Los Angeles and New York City". AIDS and Behavior. 11 (4): 527–536. doi:10.1007/s10461-007-9234-7. ISSN 1090-7165. PMID 17431756.
  18. Parsons, Jeffrey T.; Bimbi, David S. (2007-03-01). "Intentional Unprotected Anal Intercourse among Sex Who have Sex with Men: Barebacking—from Behavior to Identity". AIDS and Behavior. 11 (2): 277–287. doi:10.1007/s10461-006-9135-1. ISSN 1090-7165. PMID 16775771.
  19. MA, David S. Bimbi; PhD, Jeffrey T. Parsons (2005-10-21). "Barebacking Among Internet Based Male Sex Workers". Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy. 9 (3–4): 85–105. doi:10.1300/j236v09n03_06. ISSN 0891-7140.
  20. Kelly, Brian C.; Bimbi, David S.; Izienicki, Hubert; Parsons, Jeffrey T. (2009-08-01). "Stress and Coping Among HIV-Positive Barebackers". AIDS and Behavior. 13 (4): 792–797. doi:10.1007/s10461-009-9586-2. ISSN 1090-7165. PMID 19533321.
  21. Perry N. Halkitis MS, PhD; PhD, Jeffrey T. Parsons; MA, Michael J. Stirratt (2001-07-10). "A Double Epidemic". Journal of Homosexuality. 41 (2): 17–35. doi:10.1300/j082v41n02_02. ISSN 0091-8369. PMID 11482426.
  22. Parsons, Jeffrey T.; Kowalczyk, William J.; Botsko, Michael; Tomassilli, Julia; Golub, Sarit A. (2013-05-01). "Aggregate Versus Day Level Association Between Methamphetamine Use and HIV Medication Non-adherence Among Gay and Bisexual Men". AIDS and Behavior. 17 (4): 1478–1487. doi:10.1007/s10461-013-0463-7. ISSN 1090-7165. PMC 3643207. PMID 23553345.
  23. Nanín, José E.; Parsons, Jeffrey T.; Bimbi, David S.; Grov, Christian; Brown, Justin T. (2016-07-21). "Community Reactions to Campaigns Addressing Crystal Methamphetamine Use among Gay and Bisexual Men in New York City". Journal of Drug Education. 36 (4): 297–315. doi:10.2190/9818-1w43-1876-2062. PMC 1885400. PMID 17533803.
  24. Grov, Christian; Parsons, Jeffrey T.; Bimbi, David S. (2008-02-01). "In the Shadows of a Prevention Campaign: Sexual Risk Behavior in the Absence of Crystal Methamphetamine". AIDS Education and Prevention. 20 (1): 42–55. doi:10.1521/aeap.2008.20.1.42. ISSN 0899-9546. PMID 18312066.
  25. Parsons, Jeffrey T; Golub, Sarit A; Rosof, Elana; Holder, Catherine (2007). "Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention to Improve HIV Medication Adherence Among Hazardous Drinkers". Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. 46 (4): 443–450. doi:10.1097/qai.0b013e318158a461. PMC 2666542. PMID 18077833.
  26. Wolitski, Richard J; Gómez, Cynthia A; Parsons, Jeffrey T (2005). "Effects of a peer-led behavioral intervention to reduce HIV transmission and promote serostatus disclosure among HIV-seropositive gay and bisexual men". AIDS. 19 (Supplement 1): S99–S109. doi:10.1097/01.aids.0000167356.94664.59.
  27. Carpenter, Kelly M.; Stoner, Susan A.; Mikko, Aneke N.; Dhanak, Lynn P.; Parsons, Jeffrey T. (2010-06-01). "Efficacy of a Web-Based Intervention to Reduce Sexual Risk in Men Who Have Sex with Men". AIDS and Behavior. 14 (3): 549–557. doi:10.1007/s10461-009-9578-2. ISSN 1090-7165. PMC 3128504. PMID 19499321.
  28. Naar-King, Sylvie; Parsons, Jeffrey T.; Murphy, Debra A.; Chen, Xinguang; Harris, D. Robert; Belzer, Marvin E. (2009-12-07). "Improving Health Outcomes for Youth Living With the Human Immunodeficiency Virus". Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 163 (12): 1092–8. doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2009.212. ISSN 1072-4710. PMC 2843389. PMID 19996045.
  29. Chen, Xinguang; Murphy, Debra A.; Naar-King, Sylvie; Parsons, Jeffrey T. (2011). "A Clinic-based Motivational Intervention Improves Condom Use Among Subgroups of Youth Living With HIV". Journal of Adolescent Health. 49 (2): 193–198. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.11.252. PMC 3282587. PMID 21783053.
  30. Naar-King, Sylvie; Outlaw, Angulique Y.; Sarr, Moussa; Parsons, Jeffrey T.; Belzer, Marvin; MacDonell, Karen; Tanney, Mary; Ondersma, Steven J. (2013-07-01). "Motivational Enhancement System for Adherence (MESA): Pilot Randomized Trial of a Brief Computer-Delivered Prevention Intervention for Youth Initiating Antiretroviral Treatment". Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 38 (6): 638–648. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jss132. ISSN 0146-8693. PMC 3701125. PMID 23359664.
  31. Naar-King, Sylvie; Outlaw, Angulique; Green-Jones, Monique; Wright, Kathryn; Parsons, Jeffrey T. (2009-07-01). "Motivational interviewing by peer outreach workers: a pilot randomized clinical trial to retain adolescents and young adults in HIV care". AIDS Care. 21 (7): 868–873. doi:10.1080/09540120802612824. ISSN 0954-0121. PMID 20024744.
  32. Lelutiu-Weinberger, Corina; Pachankis, John E.; Gamarel, Kristi E.; Surace, Anthony; Golub, Sarit A.; Parsons, Jeffrey T. (2015-07-01). "Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of a Live-Chat Social Media Intervention to Reduce HIV Risk Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men". AIDS and Behavior. 19 (7): 1214–1227. doi:10.1007/s10461-014-0911-z. ISSN 1090-7165. PMC 4375068. PMID 25256808.
  33. Taylor, Raekiela D.; Bimbi, David S.; Joseph, Heather A.; Margolis, Andrew D.; Parsons, Jeffrey T. (2011-10-01). "Girlfriends: Evaluation of an HIV-Risk Reduction Intervention for Adult Transgender Women". AIDS Education and Prevention. 23 (5): 469–478. doi:10.1521/aeap.2011.23.5.469. ISSN 0899-9546. PMID 22010810.
  34. Velasquez, Mary M.; Sternberg, Kirk von; Johnson, David H.; Green, Charles; Carbonari, Joseph P.; Parsons, Jeffrey T. (2009). "Reducing sexual risk behaviors and alcohol use among HIV-positive men who have sex with men: A randomized clinical trial". Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 77 (4): 657–667. doi:10.1037/a0015519. PMC 3737491. PMID 19634959.
  35. Parsons, Jeffrey T.; Lelutiu-Weinberger, Corina; Botsko, Michael; Golub, Sarit A. (2014). "A randomized controlled trial utilizing motivational interviewing to reduce HIV risk and drug use in young gay and bisexual men". Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 82 (1): 9–18. doi:10.1037/a0035311. PMC 3935799. PMID 24364800.
  36. "Young Men's Health Project – Best Evidence (Risk Reduction)" (PDF). www.cdc.gov. October 13, 2017.
  37. "Complete | Risk Reduction | Compendium | Intervention Research | Research | HIV/AIDS | CDC". www.cdc.gov. 2017-09-22. Retrieved 2017-10-14.
  38. "Jeffrey T Parsons – Google Scholar Citations". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  39. Contemporary research on sex work. Parsons, Jeffrey T. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press. 2005. ISBN 9780789029638. OCLC 58386753.CS1 maint: others (link)
  40. generator, metatags. "- NIH RePORTER – NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures and Results". projectreporter.nih.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  41. "Health Psychology and Clinical Science Doctoral Program". www.cunyhpcs.org. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  42. "Behavioral and Social Consequences of HIV/AIDS Study Section [BSCH]". public.csr.nih.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  43. "CUNY Prof Quits Amid Charges of Cocaine Binges & Sex Parties". The Jewish Voice. 2019-07-15. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  44. "Distinguished professor and leading HIV expert ensnared in cocaine-fueled sexual misconduct scandal". Queerty. 2019-07-17. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  45. "APA Fellows". fellows.apa.org. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  46. "Distinguished Scientific Contribution". Retrieved 2017-10-14.
  47. "Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality". www.sexscience.org. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  48. "Psychology and AIDS Leadership Award". Retrieved 2017-10-13.
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