Jessica Magidson Receives Prestigious Sabbatical Award
The Association for Psychological Science has named Jessica Magidson, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology (PSYC) and director of the University of Maryland’s Center for Substance Use, Addiction and Health Research (CESAR), a 2026-2027 recipient of a James McKeen Cattell Fund Sabbatical Fellowship.
Magidson is one of only three individuals to receive the highly competitive award, which allows researchers who are taking sabbatical leave to extend their leave period in pursuit of activities that will enhance their research endeavors.
“The Cattell Award is given to only a very limited number of individuals and Jess’ work exemplifies the very type of high-impact research that is supported through this mechanism,” PSYC Professor and Chair Michael Dougherty said. “We're exceptionally proud to have Jess as part of our department and to see her work being recognized in this way.”
Much of Magidson’s research to date has focused on how to treat substance use disorders in underserved parts of the United States and sub-Saharan Africa by having lay health workers, and “peers” with personal experience with substance use, deliver evidence-based behavioral interventions.
In 2023, Magidson was recognized for her work in this space—which she has conducted alongside partners in the University of Maryland School of Medicine—by being named an MPower Professor.
During her sabbatical leave, Magidson will be focusing her research on an area that she plans to explore more deeply in the next phase of her career: How can nature be paired with existing behavioral health interventions, like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), to improve the well-being of mental health providers, as well as their patients?
“The majority of people around the world in need of mental health care never receive it. Over the past decade, we have been trying to address this gap by training more people to expand access to care. But no matter how many people we train, we will never have enough providers,” Magidson said. “I truly believe that one of the most scalable solutions to this crisis is not only in a clinic, but also right outside of our doors.”
From July 2026 to June 2027, Magidson will be spending time at the University of Colorado, Boulder and completing a Nature as Medicine practitioner training and certification program led by Harvard Medical School faculty Susan Abookire. She also plans to investigate how other countries, like Scandinavia and Australia, bring nature into their mental health programs; write and publish a review paper on delivering CBT in nature; and write a manual for clinicians on nature-based delivery of CBT compared to office-based delivery of CBT.
“I am very grateful to receive this award and to have this dedicated time to become an expert in this exciting, rapidly growing new area,” Magidson said. “I believe that through these efforts, I can shift norms, advance the field of nature and mental health, and increase our understanding of how the natural world can be leveraged by mental health providers to improve the well-being of themselves, their patients, and the environment. I also believe that UMD can be a hub for this type of work, which makes me all the more eager to get started.”
Published on Wed, Jun 10, 2026 - 2:33PM