Robert Biswas-Diener, M.S.

Robert Biswas-Diener has a reputation in the world of positive psychology as being a researcher who is able to collect hard-to-get data. Dr. Chris Peterson, from the University of Michigan, has publicly labeled Robert the “Indiana Jones of positive psychology.” The son of Ed Diener, the world’s foremost expert on happiness, Robert’s studies have taken him to such far flung destinations as Greenland, Spain, Kenya, Israel, and India, where he has worked with remote groups of people traditionally overlooked by researchers. Robert is a subjective well-being researcher who has published nearly two dozen articles on happiness, empathy, and character strengths in prestigious psychological journals. Robert has also written a variety of popular articles for print and on-line magazines including an article on attractiveness in Africa, a profile of photographer Andrew Stern, an article about an Inuit group that successfully sued the Danish government, and a profile of comic book illustrator David Hahn.

Robert is a part time instructor at Portland State University, in Oregon. He holds a Master’s degree in clinical psychology from Pacific University and, in 2005, founded Meridian Life Coaching, LLC, to provide life coaching services to a wide range of academics and professionals. Through Meridian Life Coaching, LLC., Robert also leads his unique “Intentional Happiness” workshops and “Finding Happiness After College” workshops for students. Robert lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife and two children.