James O. Pawelski is Professor of Practice and Director of Education in the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, where he cofounded the world’s first master of applied positive psychology program with Martin Seligman. An award-winning teacher, he earned his PhD in Philosophy from The Pennsylvania State University.

James is a collaborative leader, having served as the founding executive director of the International Positive Psychology Association and as president of the William James Society. He is the founding director of the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project, which has been designated a National Endowment for the Arts Research Lab. He is the author, coauthor, or coeditor of several books—including The Oxford Handbook of the Positive Humanities—and the editor of the Humanities and Human Flourishing book series with Oxford University Press.

With his wife, Suzann Pileggi Pawelski, James coauthored Happy Together: Using the Science of Positive Psychology to Build Love That Lasts, and together they present Romance and Research™ workshops around the world.

An international keynote speaker, James has presented in more than 20 countries. He is frequently featured in the media, including The New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and TODAY.