The Longevity Project

About the Authors

HOWARD S. FRIEDMAN is Distinguished Professor at the University of California in Riverside. LESLIE R. MARTIN is Professor of Psychology at La Sierra University, and Research Psychologist at UC Riverside. They met when Leslie began graduate study in 1991 at UC Riverside, where she became a key and continuing associate in Howard’s then-launching lifespan longevity studies. Here are some facts about their work, their interests, and their qualifications.

As Researchers

Their scientific research on health and longevity has been published in over 150 influential and often-cited scientific articles and chapters in leading books and scientific journals. In addition, Professor Friedman has authored or edited ten academic books about health and one prior trade book, The Self-Healing Personality. His textbook on Personality is now in its 6th edition. He served as Editor-in-chief of the Encyclopedia of Mental Health, which received recognition as a "Best Reference Source of 1998" from Library Journal. His edited book, Foundations of Health Psychology was named a CHOICE Magazine Outstanding Academic Title. Professor Martin’s books include Health Behavior Change And Treatment Adherence, and a textbook in health psychology.

For Fun

Putting the research findings into practice, Leslie is passionate about adventure travel that stretches her past achievements. She climbed Kilimanjaro (to the summit), and she completed the Marathon des Sables. This ultra-marathon is a 151-mile self-sustaining endurance race across the Moroccan Sahara, in which runners must carry all food and clothing for the entire marathon (in their backpacks). (See picture.) Always interested in a challenge, in her early 30’s Leslie became a champion for her age group in high-jumping. When she is not in the lab or writing about health, she is planning which mountains she will next climb.

Less extreme in his physical adventures, Howard prefers swimming, hiking, and cultural travel. In addition to his research and teaching, he writes every day, including a “My Turn” column published in Newsweek, and a new blog.

Leslie and Howard have spent 30 years collaborating on the research described in The Longevity Project.

Credentials

Dr. Friedman is the recipient of two major career awards for his health psychology research. In 1999, he received the Outstanding Contributions to Health Psychology Award from the American Psychological Association; and in 2008, he was honored with the James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award from the Association for Psychological Science (APS), an international award and the most prestigious in his field of applied research. See: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/members/awards-and-honors/cattell-award/past-award-winners/friedman

A graduate of Yale University (magna cum laude with Honors in psychology), Dr. Friedman was awarded a National Science Foundation graduate fellowship for his doctoral study at Harvard University. He is a thrice-elected Fellow of the American Psychological Association (in Personality and Social Psychology, Health Psychology, and in Media Psychology) and an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Society of Behavioral Medicine.

Dr. Martin graduated summa cum laude from the California State University and received her Ph.D. from the University of California in Riverside. She has received the Distinguished Researcher Award, and the Anderson Award for Excellence in Teaching, both at La Sierra University. Former department chair, Dr. Martin has also received awards for outstanding advising and for service learning. Leslie has lectured widely throughout the world.

Leslie in the Sahara desert running the Marathon des Sables, a 151-mile self-sustaining endurance race across the Moroccan Sahara, in which runners must carry all their food and clothing.

To see the authors discussing The Longevity Project click here. (3 minute video)

Back to: The Longevity Project: Surprising Discoveries for Health and Long Life from the Landmark Eight-Decade Study