Dacher Keltner

Dacher Keltner received his BA in Psychology and Sociology from UC Santa Barbara in 1984 and his PhD in Social Psychology from Stanford University in 1989. He then was a post-doctoral fellow for three years at UC San Francisco working with Paul Ekman. In 1992 he took his first academic job, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and then returned to Berkeley's Psychology Department in 1996, where he is now a full professor.

Dacher's research focuses on the biological and evolutionary origins of human goodenss, with a special concentration on compassion, awe, love, and beauty, as well as the study of power, status and social class, and the nature of moral intuitions.

Dacher has received numerous national prizes and grants for his research, and for his teaching and mentoring was selected as the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor in 2002, and the Outstanding Teacher, Division of Social Sciences, in 2002 as well.

Dacher also serves as the Director of the Berkeley Center for the Development of Peace and Well-being and co-editor of the Center’s magazine, Greater Good.

Dacher lives in Berkeley with his wife, an alumna of Berkeley, and their two daughters.