Dr. Richard J Davidson
William James & Vilas Research Professor of Psychology & Psychiatry | Founder & Director of the Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin Madison | Founder & Chief Visionary for Healthy Minds Innovations, Inc.
Davidson received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in Psychology in 1976. Davidson’s research is broadly focused on the neural bases of emotion and emotional style and methods to promote human flourishing including meditation and related contemplative practices. He has published over 650 articles, numerous chapters and reviews and edited 17 books. He is the author (with Sharon Begley) of "The Emotional Life of Your Brain" published in 2012 and co-author with Daniel Goleman of “Altered Traits” published in 2017.
He was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in 2006. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2017 and appointed to the Governing Board of UNESCO’s Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) in 2018. In 2014, Davidson founded the non-profit, Healthy Minds Innovations, which translates science into tools to cultivate and measure well-being.
WHY MENTAL HEALTH?
Over 20% of the population lives with a mental health or substance use disorder.
From academic achievement to economic mobility and overall equality, mental health and addiction play a central role in every major social issue.
Mindful Philanthropy envisions a world in which all funders are invested in solutions that integrate mental health and well-being so that all people have equitable access to the tools and resources they need to be well.
ABOUT
Mindful Philanthropy was founded in 2020 with the mission to catalyze impactful funding in mental health, addiction, and well-being. We envision a world in which all funders are invested in solutions that integrate mental health and well-being so that all people have equitable access to the tools and resources they need to be well.