Christine Whelan

Dr. Christine B. Whelan is a professor, author, and keynote speaker specializing in purpose, happiness, and well-being. At Emory University, Whelan leads Advances through the Emory Purpose Project and is known to students as the purpose professor. She also serves as a fellow at the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she is referred to as the happy professor. Whelan focuses on helping individuals and organizations identify what matters most, why it matters, and how to implement purpose-driven strategies in both personal and professional contexts.

Whelan holds a master's and doctorate from the University of Oxford and graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University. At Princeton, she served as editor-in-chief of the Daily Princetonian and received the Daniel M. Sachs Scholarship to attend Worcester College at the University of Oxford. She has held teaching positions at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Iowa, and Princeton University. Her academic background supports her ability to translate research on well-being and purpose into practical guidance.

Whelan is the author of the Audible Original Great Courses lecture series "Finding Your Purpose," as well as "The Big Picture: A Guide to Finding Your Purpose in Life," "Generation WTF: From 'What the #%$&' to a Wise, Tenacious, and Fearless You," "Marry Smart: The Intelligent Woman's Guide to True Love," and "Why Smart Men Marry Smart Women." Her books are published by Simon & Schuster and Templeton Press, and her Audible Original lecture series is featured on American Airlines in-flight entertainment.

Whelan teaches classes on happiness and well-being, guiding groups and individuals to build purposeful lives through daily actions. She also works to address the purpose gap between front-line workers and executive leadership. Whelan has collaborated with organizations such as the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, the DeBruce Foundation, AARP's Life Reimagined, Jackson National, and Hackensack-Meridian Health on purpose-focused approaches to health, financial wellness, and self-improvement strategies for life transitions.

Whelan contributes to outlets including The Wall Street Journal, the TODAY Show, and NPR's Marketplace, sharing research-based strategies for thriving in everyday life. She has delivered a TEDx Talk, Authentic Purpose: A Roadmap, at TEDxUWMadison. Through keynote presentations, classroom teaching, books, and audio series, Whelan provides evidence-based insights into the pursuit of a meaningful life.