Michele Tugade is a Professor of Psychological Science at Vassar College, where she has taught for over 20 years and previously served as an academic dean. As the Founder and Director of The Resilience Laboratory, she conducts research on positive emotions and resilience, including ongoing collaborative studies on yoga, resilience, and empowerment for women.  

With extensive publications in top academic journals and a column in Psychology Today titled “Everyday Resilience,” Michele is a sought-after speaker for international conferences, podcasts, and public lectures. She also leads wellness retreats worldwide and directs an equine-assisted therapy program for individuals in recovery.

She has won awards for her research, and has worked with a number of organizations, including: NASA, Apple, The University of Global Health Equity (Rwanda, Africa), the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and The United Way. Her published works include numerous scholarly works, including her book, the Handbook of Positive Emotions (Guilford Press). Her research has been featured in NPR, the New York Times, CBS News, CNBC, Thrive Global/ Huffington Post, Psychology Today, Scientific American, and she has served as an advisor for educational textbooks and digital mental health technologies.

Outside of teaching and research, she is an avid equestrian and yoga practitioner, and she finds joy and inspiration from the gifts of nature.