Dr. L. James Schut is the Director of Clinical Research at Centerstone’s Research Institute. With training in applied social psychology, program evaluation, mental health services research, and marriage and family therapy, Schut’s primary role is facilitation of clinical research with partnering organizations and scientific experts. Schut liaises with clinical staff across the Centerstone organization, thereby creating and maintaining organizational research infrastructure. Additionally, he works alongside other departments to identify, promote, and support collaborative research endeavors.
Previously at Centerstone’s Research Institute from 2006 to 2009, Schut was Senior Program Evaluator of several federally funded program evaluations, including two SAMHSA grants focused on suicide prevention in youth, and served as co-principal investigator (PI) on an enhanced evaluation of gatekeeper training. He currently serves as PI on a contract with Otsuka Pharmaceuticals conducting a randomized trial to evaluate the clinical application of a brief screener for clients with schizophrenia. He is Site PI for a PCORI grant examining the comparative effectiveness of two programs for clients with co-occurring health and mental health concerns. Schut has more than 20 years of varied research experience in topics relevant to clinical education and research in mental health and substance abuse, with a particular interest in measurement-based care and prevention.
Schut rejoined Centerstone’s Research Institute in 2020 following 11 years as associate professor for a CACREP-accredited counselor education program in Nashville, TN. During his tenure, he taught doctoral level courses in research methodology, measurement, program evaluation, qualitative methods, and dissertation preparation. He guided over 60 students successfully through the dissertation process.
Schut earned his PhD in applied social psychology from Vanderbilt University and a master’s in marriage and family therapy from Trevecca Nazarene University. He also completed his bachelor of arts in psychology from Hope College.
