2020 ALA Annual Conference Keynote Speaker
Dr. Catherine Sanderson
Manwell Family Professor of Life Sciences (Psychology)
Amherst College
The Science of Happiness
This talk presents both surprising and not-so-surprising information on the science behind happiness. What role do money, marriage, friends, children, weather, age, and religion play in making us feel happier? Is happiness stable over time? How can happiness be increased?
Dr. Sanderson will describe cutting-edge research from the field of positive psychology on the factors that do (and do not) predict happiness and provide participants with practical (and relatively easy!) ways to increase their own psychological well-being.
Praise for Dr. Catherine Sanderson’s presentation on The Science of Happiness
"It was great to hear Catherine speak on something so seemingly obvious in a very realistic way. Several ‘aha’ moments."
"Loved this presentation. Great pace and layering of personal anecdotes, scientific evidence, audience interaction and a compelling thesis"
"This was one of the best keynotes I’ve heard!"
"She was amazing and relatable and knowledgeable and just perfect."
"Very engaging, inspiring and thought provoking. Loved the speaker. Great tips I can start implementing to change behavior."
"Wonderful perspective delivered in an interesting way."
"I liked that the presentation was focused on our well being without being hokey. And I learned something!"
"Amazing! Great info and well presented. Entertaining and energetic"
"Catherine was engaging and on point. I thoroughly enjoyed her anecdotes and real life applications for finding and maintaining happiness."
About Dr. Sanderson
She received a bachelor's degree in psychology, with a specialization in Health and Development, from Stanford University, and received both master's and doctoral degrees in psychology from Princeton University.
Her research has received grant funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Health. Professor Sanderson has published over 25 journal articles and book chapters in addition to four college textbooks, middle school and high school health textbooks, and a trade book on parenting. Her latest trade book, The Positive Shift, examines how mindset influences happiness, health, and even how long we live. In 2012, she was named one of the country's top 300 professors by the Princeton Review.
Professor Sanderson speaks regularly for public and corporate audiences on topics such as the science of happiness, the power of emotional intelligence, the mind-body connection, and the psychology of good and evil. These talks have been featured in numerous mainstream media outlets, including The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, CNN, and CBS Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley.
Her latest book, Why We Act: Turning Bystanders Into Moral Rebels (Harvard University Press), examines why good people so often stay silent or do nothing in the face of wrongdoing.