Sonja Lyubomirsky

Sonja Lyubomirsky is Distinguished Professor and Vice Chair of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside. Originally from Russia, she received her A.B., summa cum laude, from Harvard University and her Ph.D. in Social & Personality Psychology from Stanford University. Lyubomirsky currently teaches courses in social psychology and well-being science. Her teaching and mentoring of students have been recognized with two Faculty of the Year awards and a Faculty Mentor of the Year award.

Lyubomirsky’s research on the possibility of permanently increasing happiness has been honored with Fellow status from three different scientific societies, the Diener Award for Outstanding Midcareer Contributions in Personality Psychology, the Christopher J. Peterson Gold Medal, the Distinguished Research Lecturer Award, a Templeton Positive Psychology Prize, and a variety of grants, including from the John Templeton Foundation, Character Lab, and NIH.

Lyubomirsky’s best-selling book, "The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want" and her second book, "The Myths of Happiness: What Should Make You Happy, But Doesn’t, What Shouldn’t Make You Happy, But Does", have been published in 36 countries. Her work has been written up in hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles, and she has appeared on TV shows, radio shows, and feature documentaries in North America, South America, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.