History

The Life Purpose Lab was created in 2020 out of angst. For some time, Bradley Wright had a nagging feeling that publishing peer-reviewed articles in an academic journals wasn't really making the world a better place. He cast about for new approaches to research that would be illuminate something important and make a difference in people's lives, and he settled on the study of life purpose. He wondered if a training program could be created that would significantly increase people's understanding of their onw purpose in life. Such a program could be used in research as an experimental intervention. It would also meaningfully impact participants' lives. Along with a team of remarkably talented students and staff, he created the Life Purpose Lab, and over two years--and two pilot tests--they created the current training programs.

Staff

Photograph of Bradley Wright

Bradley Wright (Director)

Professor of Sociology at the University of Connecticut. Research on well-being, purpose & meaning, and spirituality. Website Email

Photograph of Eran Peterson

Todd Gibbs

Assistant Director, Health Promotion and Community Impact, Student Health and Wellness. LinkedIn Email

Photograph of Wendy Kopp

Wendy Kopp

Corporate Partner Relationships Coordinator, Center for Career Development at University of Connecticut. LinkedIn Email

Photograph of Chelsea (Cichocki) McTigue

Chelsea (Cichocki) McTigue

Associate Director, Center for Academic Programs (CAP) at University of Connecticut. Access to higher education for high-potential students who are first generation to college, from low-socioeconomic backgrounds and/or from populations underrepresented in higher education. LinkedIn Email

P:hotograph of Jordan Ochs

Jordan Ochs

Director, First Year Experience Program & Assistant Director of FYP, LC, AAC, & IZ at the University of Connecticut. LinkedIn Email

Photograph of Emily Pagano

Emily Pagano

Assistant Director, Health Promotion and Community Impact, Student Health and Wellness. LinkedIn Email

Photograph of Eran Peterson

Eran Peterson

Associate Director, Student Engagement, Center for Career Development at University of Connecticut. Oversite of the one-on-one career coaching program. Includes training and discussion programs for coaches on diversity, equity, and inclusion topics. LinkedIn Email

2023-24 Students

Purpose Lab Interns

Tiago Rossetto Basso LI, Taylor Bryan, Riley Fallon LI, Alysia Ma LI, Lourdes Mollica LI, Shannon O'Connor LI, Samuel Voghell LI

Alumni

2022-23

Jenn Dean LI, Keshav Desibhatla LI, Brady Noniewicz LI.

2021-22

Brynley Allen, Sheylian Berrios, Elena Boyington, Dylan Champagne, Kylie Desorbo, Tiera Everitt, Musa Hussain, Katherine Jimenez Cruz, Jess Lockwood, Katherine Mccrohan, Sara Oba, Venkat Paruchuru, Monika Rydzewski, Grace Smith, Rylee Thomas.

2020-21

Helena DeBald (Staff) LI, Nidhi Nair LI, Nicholas Parent LI,

2019-20

Nick Copenhaver LI, Anthony D'Andrea LI, Sheroz Din, Lily Forand LI, Paige Long LI, Irene Soteriou LI, Nicole Zatserkovniy LI

 

Purpose Lab People