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Marc A. Brackett

Professor in the Child Study Center
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Additional Titles

Director, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

Co-Creater, RULER

About

Titles

Professor in the Child Study Center

Director, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence; Co-Creater, RULER

Biography

Marc Brackett, Ph.D. is the founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, a professor in the Child Study Center at Yale University, and the author of the bestselling book, Permission to Feel (now translated into twenty-seven languages), which has transformed how individuals, schools, and organizations understand and apply emotional intelligence.

An award-winning researcher for 25 years, Marc has secured more than $100 million in grant funding and published over 200 scholarly articles on the role of emotional intelligence in learning, decision making, creativity, relationships, physical and mental health, and workplace performance.

He is the lead developer of RULER, an evidence-based framework for cultivating emotional intelligence, now implemented in more than 5,000 schools worldwide, improving the lives of millions of children and adults. RULER enhances the way administrators lead, educators teach, students learn, and families parent. Research shows that it improves academic outcomes, reduces bullying, lowers teacher stress and burnout, and enriches school climate and instructional practice.

Marc’s work is regularly featured in popular media outlets such as the New York Times, The Washington Post, Good Morning America, Today, and The Huberman Lab podcast. He serves on the board of directors for the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) and Narrative 4, and he’s on the program boards for the Mental Health Coalition (founded by Kenneth Cole) and the Rare Beauty Mental Health Council (founded by Selena Gomez).

Marc has headlined more than 700 conferences around the world, including the White House, U.S. Departments of Education and Defense, Surgeon General’s office, New York Times, Aspen Institute, the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and dozens of fortune 500 companies. He also advises Fortune 500 companies—including Google, Amazon, and Microsoft—on integrating emotional intelligence into workplace culture and product design.

Together with Pinterest cofounder Ben Silbermann, Marc co-created the award-winning How We Feel app, which has helped millions build emotional awareness and improve well-being. He is also the producer of the acclaimed documentary America Unfiltered: Portraits and Voices of a Nation.

Marc’s newest book, Dealing with Feeling continues his mission to democratize emotional intelligence. He also hosts a YouTube web series and podcast by the same name, featuring conversations with leading scientists, authors, musicians, and cultural influencers. He lives in Connecticut and New York City.

Appointments

Other Departments & Organizations

Research

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Marc A. Brackett's published research.

Publications

2025

2024

2023

Get In Touch

Contacts

Academic Office Number
Mailing Address

Child Study Center

340 Edwards St

New Haven, CT 06511

United States

Administrative Support

Locations

Events

Jul 202524-25Multiple Days