SAS 2026 Board Elections

The big problems of our time—political unrest, erosion of trust in science, climate distress, pandemics—are also emotional problems. Like many in SAS, I use the tools of affective science to understand how people can stay socially connected and emotionally well in an uncertain world. A defining feature of my work is testing theory in everyday life, often using experience sampling to capture near real-time psychological processes. Via these methods, I study the benefits of belonging, the costs of secrecy and loneliness, and how emotions can motivate collective action.

SAS thrives for the same reason people do: community. One of our society’s defining strengths is how welcoming it is—especially notable given the diversity of disciplines, methods, and topics SAS members bring to affective science. To me, protecting and growing this community is the central responsibility of SAS leadership.

SAS is in great hands, and I would like us to continue the work of supporting students and trainees, including exploring expansions to hardship support. We could also consider strengthening transparency in awards and recognition, like adopting criteria that account for career interruptions. More broadly, I advocate for fostering a culture that celebrates team science, growing our field through collaboration rather than competition. This might include recognition of joint research, inclusive authorship guidelines, or awards for data sharing and service to the field.

As an Australia-based member, I’m mindful of the structural barriers that shape who can participate fully in SAS. I’m a Professor at the University of Melbourne, where I co-direct the Functions of Emotion in Everyday Life (FEEL) Lab with Associate Professor Elise Kalokerinos and Professor Pete Koval. This context guides my perspective on SAS as a society with international membership and relevance, and my goal to reduce barriers to global participation where possible.

I’ve worked with SAS since 2021 on the Program, Awards, and Outreach Committees, and I currently co-organise the SAS Emotion Regulation Pre-conference. I see society leadership as service: listening and thinking carefully, making space for others, and doing the steady work of improving the structures that shape who can participate, and how. I’d be honoured to continue contributing as SAS President-Elect.

I am a clinical psychologist and affective scientist. I received my PhD in Psychology from the UC Berkeley where I was part of the Predoctoral Training Consortium in Affective Science. After completing my clinical internship, I started as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Yale University and am currently a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder, where I direct the Positive Emotion and Psychopathology Laboratory. Together, my lab members and I seek to understand when, why, and for whom positive emotions can become dysregulated and contribute to psychological disorders, and how positive emotions play an essential role in human well-being.

Since SAS’s inception, I’ve actively participated and served several leadership roles. Early on, I helped shape SAS’s early visibility as Chair of the Positive Emotion Pre-Conference and the inaugural Social Media Outreach Committee. Since then, I have been humbled to support SAS’s next generation of affective scientists as a Flash Talk Judge and Speed Networking Event Mentor. More broadly, I am deeply engaged in disseminating affective science to the broader community, including creating the Experts in Emotion Series (a freely available resource with over 50 interviews), serving as an Associate Editor for Emotion and on the editorial board at Affective Science, and am currently the Editor-in-Chief at Current Directions in Psychological Science, where I aspire to elevate the voice and perspectives of affective scientists globally.

I would be deeply honored to serve as President-Elect of SAS during a period of growth and possibility for our field. I would be especially excited to elevate several important priorities: (1) Strengthening inclusivity and representation across voices, regions, methodologies, and career stages. Our science thrives when it reflects the full diversity of scholars studying emotion; (2) Enhancing public engagement and real-world impact of affective science. Emotions are central to our everyday lives, relationships, and are at the crux of pressing global challenges, from mental health crises and sociopolitical conflict to climate change. I believe SAS can play a strong role in translating affective science for educators, policymakers, educators, and the broader public; and (3) Supporting trainees and the future of SAS. Students and early-career researchers are navigating an increasingly complex academic landscape. I would prioritize initiatives that support mentorship and professional development, to ensure that SAS remains a welcoming and empowering community.

Thank you SAS community for your consideration!

I am faculty at Arizona State University in the College of Health Solutions and Director of the ENGAGE Lab. A social and affective psychologist by training, I earned a joint PhD in Psychology and Business Administration from the University of Michigan, followed by an NIMH-funded Postdoctoral Fellowship in Emotion Research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

SAS is my intellectual home. My research examines emotions and engagement and their impact on health behaviors. I use mixed-methodological approaches to develop innovative person-centered digital just-in-time adaptive interventions that offer the right support at the right time. My research incorporates physiological measures and ecological momentary assessment to study health-related outcomes including stress regulation, substance use, physical activity, and cancer. This work is currently supported by the National Science Foundation, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

I have been actively involved in SAS leadership positions for many years. I joined SAS in 2014 and have served as Co-Chair of the Membership and Outreach Committee since 2020. I served as Co-Chair of the Program Committee for the 2022 Annual Meeting, and I have attended SAS Executive Board meetings since 2024 as a Director-at-Large Representative of the Membership and Outreach Committee. I have worked closely with current and past SAS Treasurers to understand the budgetary needs and constraints when launching and supporting several initiatives, including the SAS listserv, newsletter, inaugural in-person regional event, sponsored virtual events, and repositories for conference recordings and other materials. From these experiences I have familiarity with SAS operations, budgeting considerations, and strategic priorities, as well as a strong appreciation for working together across the leadership and membership to represent the diverse perspectives and needs within SAS.

As SAS Treasurer, I will strive to ensure the Society’s continued financial health while advancing its strategic goals. I plan to support initiatives that expand engagement opportunities for members and to continue growing SAS as a leading affective science organization and hub for research and professional development for members across career stages. I will support efforts that foster collaboration, innovation, mentoring, fair registration rates, and engagement with external stakeholders and funding agencies.

Beyond SAS, I have experience previously serving as Treasurer for the UW–Madison Postdoctoral Association. I would be honored to serve as SAS Treasurer and to contribute to effective stewardship of the Society’s finances in support of SAS’s values and a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable future.