Dr. Peter E. Nathan, a pioneering researcher whose studies demonstrated the power of psychological interventions to treat alcoholism and other substance abuse, died on May 8 in Iowa City, Iowa, after a brief illness. He was 81.
At the time of his death, Nathan was the University of Iowa Foundation Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Public Health Emeritus.
Nathan received his B.A. In 1957 from Harvard College and his PhD in Clinical Psychology in 1962 from Washington University. After a distinguished career at Rutgers University, he joined the University of Iowa as the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculties in 1990 and served as Provost from 1993-95. He was the Acting President of the University of Iowa in 1995, after which he joined the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences (formerly the Department of Psychology) as a full-time faculty member.
Nathan was active in many professional societies, including extensive service to the American Psychological Association. He also was part of the DSM-IV Alcohol and Drug Abuse Work Group (1988-94). He was very well known for his research on alcohol and drug addiction and in 1998 was honored with the APA Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Applied Research.