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Tchiki Davis, M.A., Ph.D.Founder
Tchiki Davis, Ph.D., is a writer, program creator, and well-being expert. Her content has helped more than a million people worldwide find a bit more happiness. She also enjoys gardening, playing board games, and making art.
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Education
- 2015 – Ph.D. Social & Personality Psychology – University of California, Berkeley
- 2015 – Ph.D. Certificate – Management of Technology Innovation – University of California, Berkeley
- 2012 – M.A. Emotion Science – University of Denver, Colorado
- 2005 – B.A. Psychology & Visual Art – University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado
How The Berkeley Well-Being Institute Came to Be
Growing up, so many people I knew struggled with emotions and unhealthy habits. Somewhere along the way, my life’s mission became to help people manage negative emotions, engage in healthier behaviors, and build the skills that would help them live happier, more fulfilling lives.
Still a fifteen-year-old kid, my best friend and I started organizing drug-free social events for teens in my town. In college, I worked with at-risk youth and taught arts and crafts classes at a local store. And when I got into grad school—I started studying emotions, self-destructive behavior, and positive psychology.
After many years of unsuccessful grad school applications, I finally got my M.A. in emotion science from The University of Denver, and my Ph.D. in social psychology from UC Berkeley. While completing my PhD, I continued pursuing my mission, learning everything I could about emotions, happiness, and well-being. I received training in clinical psychology from The National Institute of Health and training from the Summer Institute of Social and Personality Psychology in Neuroendocrinology (hormones and mental health) at The University of California, Davis.
At the same time, I was highly active in the entrepreneurship community and co-founded my first business, Lifenik (games to to help kids improve their emotional skills). We won a few awards for Lifenik but ultimately dissolved the business.
Still a fifteen-year-old kid, my best friend and I started organizing drug-free social events for teens in my town. In college, I worked with at-risk youth and taught arts and crafts classes at a local store. And when I got into grad school—I started studying emotions, self-destructive behavior, and positive psychology.
After many years of unsuccessful grad school applications, I finally got my M.A. in emotion science from The University of Denver, and my Ph.D. in social psychology from UC Berkeley. While completing my PhD, I continued pursuing my mission, learning everything I could about emotions, happiness, and well-being. I received training in clinical psychology from The National Institute of Health and training from the Summer Institute of Social and Personality Psychology in Neuroendocrinology (hormones and mental health) at The University of California, Davis.
At the same time, I was highly active in the entrepreneurship community and co-founded my first business, Lifenik (games to to help kids improve their emotional skills). We won a few awards for Lifenik but ultimately dissolved the business.
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After graduating, I started my a consulting business with the goal of helping wellness entrepreneurs make higher impact content, apps, and programs. During this time, I worked with many businesses—including silicon valley tech companies like Facebook all the way to small wellness start-ups. I also wrote a book called Outsmart Your Smartphone to help people interact with technology in ways that help rather than hurt well-being.
In 2015, I founded The Berkeley Well-Being Institute as a side project to translate the science of well-being into useful content and programs for the general public. In 2020, I started growing The Berkeley Well-Being Institute and brought on additional writers. It is my hope that we can provide high-impact, useful, and relatable information for anyone who wants it. If you want to join us on this journey towards well-being, subscribe to our newsletter. |