Western Positive Psychology Association – 11th Annual Conference
April 14-16, 2027
(Friday evening, Saturday all day, and Sunday morning)
Dominguez Hills, CA, USA, Hosted by California State University – Dominguez Hills and Supported by the Rekhi Singh Foundation for Happiness
Positive Psychology for the Greater Good: Reimagining Healing and Growth for Humanity
The 2027 WPPA Conference invites scholars, practitioners, students, and community partners to reimagine how positive psychology can contribute to a more hopeful, humane, and sustainable world.
This year’s theme challenges us to think beyond conventional boundaries, explore new perspectives, and forge connections across disciplines to advance human flourishing. We welcome research and applied work from all areas of psychology and related fields – including education, counseling, communication, public health, organizational and community studies – that explore how individuals, communities, and societies heal and grow.
At a time when social divisions and global challenges threaten our collective well-being, positive psychology has an important role to play in helping humanity thrive. How can we harness scientific knowledge, innovative practices, and interdisciplinary collaboration to promote resilience, connection, and quality of life for all?
As an association, WPPA is dedicated to creating a collaborative scientific community of faculty, students, scholars, researchers, and practitioners to advance and support the field of positive psychology. Our vision is to increase scientific research, integrative investigations, and recognition of positive psychology’s contributions by creating an impactful and sustainable academic presence of positive psychology in the western region of the United States and beyond.
Harnessing Positive Psychology for the Greater Good: Reimagining Healing and Growth for Humanity
Announced last May, we are very proud and grateful Giacomo Bono, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills, will be the Faculty Chair of our 11th Annual Conference. He brings boundless enthusiasm, leadership, wisdom, and heart to every endeavor. Shared in his conference theme highlighting interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific contribution, and increasing quality of life for all – together – we are looking forward to an exceptional year ahead working with many community organizations in and around our western region and across disciplines.
Dr. Giacomo Bono, Psychology Professor at CSUDH, is developing gratitude measures for young children (age 4-6), preteens (ages 7-11), and teens (12-18). His research explores the effects of a gratitude curriculum for preK and grades 4-12 and is helping identify strength-based practices for teaching as well as motivating the whole child. The big goal of this curriculum is to provide gratitude practices as a way of improving and personalizing social emotional learning (SEL) efforts in schools.
Dr. Bono directs the Youth Gratitude Project, a research project funded by the John Templeton Foundation that has received approx. $2.5 million in grant funding since 2011. The broad aims of this work are to create measures of gratitude designed especially for youth, understand how gratitude develops, and identify best practices for promoting gratitude in youth. His current research is achieving these goals by investigating how gratitude is related with school and social factors, mental health and wellbeing, and achievement in students across the educational pipeline (in preK, elementary, middle and high school) in schools throughout the country. Dr. Bono’s book (2014/2015)along written with co-author Jeffrey Froh, titled Making Grateful Kids: The Science of Building Character continues to be a strong go-to book for parents and educators. This book set the foundation for his work summarizing the many of the research findings on youth gratitude and outlines strategies and examples for harnessing the power of gratitude.
THE PROGRAM
WPPA’s 11th Annual conference will be held in person at California State University – Dominguez Hills, California, USA from April 16-18, 2027 with virtual attendance opportunities in progress.
Friday, April 16, we will begin with our WPPA 2027 greetings, invited speaker, and traditional Welcome Reception hosted at the beautiful Innovation and Instruction Building – CSUDH. Saturday, April 17th will feature our full academic research program with positive psychology researchers, speakers, symposia, posters, and poster competition, and award winners including announcement of the 2027 Faculty Mentor Award and Teaching Award.
Our Saturday NOON Invited Keynote NOON speaker will be Sarah Pressman – award-winning Professor of Psychology, Researcher & Director Stress, Emotion & Physical Health (STEP) Laboratory, and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education at the University of California, Irvine! Professor Pressman’s class – Positive Psychology – is one of the most popular on campus with her many interactive dynamic experiences featured in her new book More Activities for Teaching Positive Psychology: A Guide for Instructors. Sunday, April 18, brings exciting workshops for practitioners and clinicians, faculty, students, and community members using science as a force for good, helping humanity flourish.
Sarah Pressman, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology at UC Irvine, studies how our everyday psychological experiences get under the skin to influence physical health. She directs UC Irvine’s Stress, Emotion & Physical Health (STEP) Lab and serves as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education. Popular professor and speaker, Dr. Pressman’s research focuses on the science of well-being, health, and human flourishing, bringing the newest findings to us all and enriching our everyday lives.
WPPA Conference CALL for Abstracts Coming Soon
We welcome research and applied submissions from all areas of psychology and related fields – including education, counseling, communication, sociology, business and leadership, public health, organizational, and community studies. Building on our 2027 conference theme Positive Psychology for the Greater Good: Reimagining Healing and Growth for Humanity, we look to explore how individuals, communities, and societies resolve conflicts, build common ground for the future as they heal and grow.
Please consult Guidelines for all WPPA 2027 Presentations including podium, symposia, workshops, and posters with additional Instructions for WPPA 2027 Poster Preparation and Presentation.
We are busy creating an exciting program of podium presentations, symposia, posters, and workshops bringing together the newest research, cutting edge findings, and evidence based applications from around the world.
PLUS +
The line-up of keynote speakers is shaping up to be one of the most outstanding ever!
REGISTER to ATTEND Links Coming Soon
Regular Registration
$75 – Student
$150 – Non-Student
Last day to register online: April 16,, 2027 (Friday, Conference Start Date)
Please note that ALL registration fees are non-refundable.
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WPPA Rekhi Singh Positive Psychology Teaching Award
Thanks to the generous support of Rekhi Singh—whose enthusiasm for education and positive psychology shines as brightly as a gratitude journal on a good day—the Western Positive Psychology Association (WPPA) is delighted to announce the establishment of the Rekhi Singh Positive Psychology Teaching Award.
This award celebrates excellence in teaching in the field of positive psychology at the undergraduate and/or graduate level. It honors educators who make the science of happiness and well-being come alive in the classroom—those whose creativity, compassion, and commitment inspire the next generation of positive psychology scholars and practitioners.
Self-nominations are encouraged, as are nominations of colleagues who exemplify excellence in teaching (surprise someone who deserves it!).
Award Criteria and Submission Guidelines
Eligibility
This award will be given annually and recognizes excellence in teaching in the field of positive psychology (e.g., courses such as Psychology of Happiness, Positive Psychology, Health & Well-Being, or related subjects) at the undergraduate and/or graduate level as well as contributing to building the science of positive psychology.
We proudly announce the Rekhi Singh Positive Psychology Teaching Award competition to be awarded at our 11th Annual Conference – 2027!
Please help us advertise this Rekhi Singh Positive Psychology Teaching Award (2027).
WPPA Rekhi Singh Positive Psychology Teaching Award Guidelines for Nomination-Submission
WPPA Rekhi Singh Positive Psychology Faculty Research Teaching Award
The 10th Anniversary Conference, WPPA honored the many faculty members who mentor, support, guide, and bring student researcher studies to our conferences. Bringing student researchers in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024, 2025, 2026 conferences – other than our Claremont Graduate University faculty members – one (1) exceptional university professor attended all the Annual Conferences and brought any mstudent researchers as podium, symposia, and/or poster presentations across the years.
Giacomo Bono, Ph.D., Psychology Professor at Cal State Dominguez Hill, received the WPPA Psychology Research Mentoring Award – 1st Place.
Rekhi Singh Positive Psychology Teaching Award (2027) competition.
For 2026-2027, we ask you to help us get the word out about our new annual Rekhi Singh Positive Psychology Teaching Award (2027) competition.
The winner to be on stage with an engraved award commemorative crystal and photos at the 11th WPPA Annual Conference culmination celebration.
Please consult the guidelines for the Rekhi Singh Positive Psychology Teaching Award (2027) Nomination Process to be given in 2027 at the 11th WPPA Conference are available here.
Moreover, WPPA wants to o honor all those who teach Positive Psychology and mentor students to do contributive research. We sincerely understand what it means to guide students toward purpose, meaning, well-being, and flourishing, as well as contribute to building the science of positive psychology. We are grateful for you and your work.
Quoting Albert Bandura: “Students are our future.”
Heartfelt thanks to Rekhi Singh for making this celebration of teaching excellence possible.
We are seeking the most inspiring, creative, and contributive Positive Psychology Teachers (undergraduate and/or graduate).
PLEASE – present and past students, colleagues, and faculty chairs/deans, PLEASE NOMINATE the Positive Psychology Teacher you believe is among the best of the best!
Let the nominations begin!
Questions and nominations to:
Thing to Do in the Greater Los Angeles Area, Airports, and Accommodations
Things to Do
Founded at Claremont Graduate University (CGU), Claremont, California in 2013, CGU is located in Southern California in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area along with many many other universities, colleges, and research institutions including California State University, Dominguez-Hills (CSUDH) and University of California, Irvine (UCI). An academic hub, we invite all faculty and students to share the information about our 11th Annual Conference being held at CSU-DH. Spread the word! We are ar proud to support student – faculty research collaborations within and between educational institutions.
Considered the Entertainment Capital of the World, we invite you will visit Discover LA California to see the many sights and things there are to do in the greater LA area. Please begin gathering ideas for things to do on your trip.
There are so many sights to see, places to visit, and activities to consider – from the beautiful Santa Monica/Malibu beaches (pictured above) to the San Bernardino Mountains, from the Hollywood and San Fernando Valley movie studios to the many 
universities, colleges, and cutting edge scientific research institutions, from the world-renowned Getty Museum and The Getty Center to hiking in Historic Will Rogers State Park (Pacific Palisades), Discover LA is a great place to visit offering so many exciting opportunities.
Consider:
- Universal Studios Hollywood
- The Grove and the LA’s Original Farmer’s Market
- Venice Beach
- Griffith Observatory
- Hollywood Walk of Fame
- and so much more!
Airports
California State University – Dominguez Hills (CSU-DH) is located in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area. The nearest airports are Long Beach Airport (LGB- 7-10 miles) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX- 10-13 miles) with Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and John Wayne Airport (SNA) not far away. Ground Transportation (Metrolink trains, auto, bus, Uber, Lyft services) are readily available. Some hotels provide shuttle buses as well.
Accommodations
There are many affordable options for accommodations close to Claremont.
- WPPA Hotels nearby – Reserve Your Room – More Coming soon.
- Priceline, Expedia, Booking.com, and Hotels.com offer many affordable accommodations for May 29-31, 2026. You may also check out AirbnB.com and Vrbo.
Quick View of Conference Site – Interactive Map – California State University Dominguez Hills – Coming Soon.
We are looking forward to seeing you at our WPPA 10th Anniversary Conference celebrating and building the science of positive psychology together!
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WPPA 11th Anniversary Conference Sponsors
We are deeply grateful to our 10 Anniversary Conference Sponsors for supporting and guiding our celebration culminating 10 years – furthering our mission through collaborative student-faculty research within and between institutions building the science of positive psychology!
Donating to the Conference
If you would like to make a tax-free donation to support this conference, you can donate to the conference fund when you register. Your donation will be used to support students and presentations. For donations, please use the Group Registration portal and specify the donation you wish to make. When you register group of WPPA attendees, please pay the the number of participants you wish to register (note: student vs. professional rate) and add you donation amount to the total. Please email shari@wppanetwork.org and specify the registrants’ names, their status (student, general), academic/organization affiliation, their email, and the amount you are paying for each (note student vs. professional rate). If you wish to add additional money to support the conference, we thank you. All donations will be put toward students’ attendance and additional conference expenses. If you are a DONOR, Thank you! We will have your registered individual’s name tags available at check in and your name tag will show you as a CONFERENCE DONOR.
We are pleased to announce that our 11th Conference Chair is:
Giacomo Bono, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills,
WPPA 11th Al=nnual Conference 2026-2027
The Conference Team includes (left to right):
Giacomo Bono, Ph.D. Academic Conference Chair
Mel Ganus, Ph.D.
Erin Barrett, Ph.D.
Shari Young Kuchenbecker, Ph.D.
WPPA Conference Past Chair (2017-2023) & Advisor (2024-2027)
WPPA Co-Founder & Executive Director