SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ, April 01, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Rev. Dr. Edward Reading has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Rev. Reading has dedicated more than five decades to advancing the field of addiction treatment and education in New Jersey beginning in 1969 at Straight and Narrow, Inc, in Paterson, NJ. From 1980 to 1984 he began NJ Prevention, Inc, in Morris County, NJ. Prevention, Inc. provided prevention services using no state or federal dollars.

In 1982 he was named Assistant Director of the Impaired Physicians Program of the Medical Society of New Jersey. It was the first state program to identify and treat physicians with addiction and mental health impairments. That same program has grown into the Professionals Assistance Program of New Jersey. In Princeton, where he still works part time in that role.

A central achievement in Rev. Reading's career is his longstanding service to the New Jersey State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners where he has chaired the Alcohol and Drug Counselors Committee. This position underscores his commitment to professional standards and regulatory oversight within the counseling profession. He has been recognized as the longest-serving licensing board member of any state in the country, beginning in 1995.

He continues to serve as a board member and past President of the International Coalition for Addiction Studies Education in colleges and universities. He also was a founding commissioner of the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission, which accredits colleges and universities teaching Addiction Studies.

Rev. Reading's academic background has been instrumental in shaping his holistic approach to counseling and education. He holds a PhD in Pastoral Counseling from La Salle University in Louisiana, an MDiv from Seton Hall University and a Master's in Pastoral Counseling from New York Theological Seminary, a protestant institution. His undergraduate studies at Seton Hall in philosophy and classical languages laid the foundation for his lifelong engagement with ethical inquiry and communication. He attributes his success to a distinctive personality that enables him to blend scientific knowledge with a comprehensive understanding of spirituality and human experience. This unique perspective has informed both his clinical work and educational philosophy. His clinical license was the first LCADC issued in New Jersey.

Teaching has become increasingly central to Rev. Reading's life. He has instructed students at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. He has taught Addiction Counseling at several colleges and universities in New Jersey since 1980. He is currently preparing the next generation of counselors at Ocean County College in New Jersey.

In addition to his professional commitments, he has maintained an active role as a Catholic Priest of the Diocese of Paterson, NJ since 1972. His ministry is reflected through his work in Counseling and Education while he has never been a parish priest. He supports himself through his professional work and has a small private practice at the "Matt Talbot Institute for Addiction Studies."

Born in 1946 in Paterson, NJ to now deceased Edward and Dorothy (Hack) Reading, there were three other siblings, Patrick, Lynn (deceased) and Thomas.

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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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