Positive Cultural Change is Possible
We’re a non-profit dedicated to enabling individual and collective action for positive cultural change and widespread cooperation through our unique framework built on science and compassion.
What makes us unique?
We’ve been working on the theory and practice of a ProSocial framework since 2011. We decided it was time to expand our efforts and founded our non-profit in 2020.
While many organizations have a prosocial mission and vision, what makes us unique is our focus on bringing together modern evolutionary and behavioral science with Elinor Ostrom’s Nobel prize-winning design principles to inform our process. Our work focuses on empowering individuals, groups, and communities at all contexts and sizes to make positive cultural change possible.
While many organizations have a prosocial mission and vision, what makes us unique is our focus on bringing together modern evolutionary and behavioral science with Elinor Ostrom’s Nobel prize-winning design principles to inform our process. Our work focuses on empowering individuals, groups, and communities at all contexts and sizes to make positive cultural change possible.
Meet the Team
Board of Directors
David Sloan Wilson
Co-founder and President of ProSocial World
David Sloan Wilson is president of ProSocial World and SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University. He applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity in addition to the rest of life, through ProSocial World and in his own research and writing.
A complete archive of his work is available at http://www.davidsloanwilson.world/
His most recent books include his first novel, Atlas Hugged: The Autobiography of John Galt III and a memoir, A Life Informed by Evolution.
A complete archive of his work is available at http://www.davidsloanwilson.world/
His most recent books include his first novel, Atlas Hugged: The Autobiography of John Galt III and a memoir, A Life Informed by Evolution.
Heinrich Volmink
Medical doctor and public health medicine specialist
Heinrich is a medical doctor and public health medicine specialist based at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and the Department of Community Health at University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. He is also Senior Lecturer Extraordinary in the Division of Health Systems and Public Health of the Department of Global Health at Stellenbosch University. He previously served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the National Assembly of South Africa, where he sat on the Portfolio Committee on Health. He has also been active in civil society (with a focus on anti-corruption work). Heinrich has had experience in the private sector, previously consulting as Public Health Specialist Advisor to Anglo American plc. He has been part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers initiative which aims to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He is also an Associate Fellow of the Ubuntu Global Network. Heinrich holds his medical degree from the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine. He also has master’s degrees in public administration (University of Warwick, United Kingdom) and medicine (University of the Witwatersrand), and has obtained a Fellowship of the College of Public Health Medicine of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa.
Jeff Genung
Managing Director of ProSocial World
Jeff serves as Managing Director and Chief Architect of ProSocial World. Previously he co-founded Contemplative Life, a non-profit organization and digital hub connecting people and communities with transformative practices. He also co-founded Transformation365.org, an experiential practice network. Most recently, he helped launch ProSocial Spirituality, a learning and research initiative exploring the integration of evolutionary science and evolutionary spirituality. Jeff spent many years as an entrepreneur and technology executive. His current focus is exploring the intersection of science, spirituality, the arts, and technology in service of a compassionate and cooperative world.
Kiran Bali
Board Chairperson of ProSocial World
Kiran was Awarded the Member of the British Empire Honour in 2007 by HM Queen Elizabeth II for exceptional interfaith leadership, Kiran has led global interfaith cooperation and impact for over a decade through extraordinvary global leadership and selfless service. In 2022, Kiran Bali MBE JP has been honored by New York State Assemblyman Hon. Nader Sayegh for her distinguished Interfaith achievements and embodying excellence exceptionally consistent with the values of New York State. In 2022, she was honored with the Interfaith Leadership Award by the Board of Directors of the World Yoga Community (peaceful coexistence), affiliated with the United Nations. She is well known internationally as an inspirational spokesperson in the areas of interfaith impact, environmental justice, women’s empowerment, and community cohesion. Kiran has given inspiring speeches in over 25 countries on women’s empowerment, environmental action, and interfaith impact. As a Hindu Scholar for over 20 years, Kiran teaches Hinduism and Hindu values to students of all ages. Her regular interfaith initiatives reinforce the important role of interfaith cooperation through uniting people of all faiths and of no faith whilst promoting solidarity and devising viable solutions to challenges.
Paul Atkins
Co-founder and Vice President of ProSocial World
Paul Atkins supports ProSocial World on our courses and learning journeys, in addition to his role as Co-Founder and Vice President. He is a researcher, speaker, and facilitator trainer. He is a Visiting Associate Professor with the Crawford School of Public Policy (Australian National University). His research has focused on interventions to reduce stress while enhancing relationships, wellbeing, perspective-taking, and cooperation in groups and organizations.
Paul is a registered organizational psychologist with a Ph.D. in Psychology from Cambridge University. He is the lead author of the recently published book <em id="">Prosocial: Using Evolutionary Science to Build Productive, Equitable, and Collaborative Groups</em> and co-founder and Vice President of Prosocial World, a not for profit organization focused on enhancing cooperation and trust in purpose-driven groups globally. The Prosocial process has been used to help improve group effectiveness in contexts as diverse as slowing the spread of Ebola in Sierra Leone, enhancing performance in Australian government agencies, and improving cooperation in public schools.</p>
Paul is a registered organizational psychologist with a Ph.D. in Psychology from Cambridge University. He is the lead author of the recently published book <em id="">Prosocial: Using Evolutionary Science to Build Productive, Equitable, and Collaborative Groups</em> and co-founder and Vice President of Prosocial World, a not for profit organization focused on enhancing cooperation and trust in purpose-driven groups globally. The Prosocial process has been used to help improve group effectiveness in contexts as diverse as slowing the spread of Ebola in Sierra Leone, enhancing performance in Australian government agencies, and improving cooperation in public schools.</p>
Tanuja Prasad
Co-Founder and CEO of Regenerative Investing
Tanuja Prasad is the Co-Founder and CEO of Regenerative Investing, a think tank dedicated to advancing the theory and practice of regenerative investing. With a background in electrical engineering, software, and financial services technology, she leverages her expertise to address contemporary global challenges. Her work focuses on applying the emerging science of complexity to develop innovative strategies, models, and heuristics for promoting regeneration and socio-economic-ecological impact. Additionally, she explores the underlying complexity frameworks within Indian and Chinese medical systems.Tanuja is deeply guided by her belief in the interconnectedness and unity of the universe, a principle she strives to embody in both her personal and professional endeavors.
Thomas Gilreath
Treasurer of ProSocial World
Mr. Gilreath is a senior finance executive with over 40 years experience as COO, CFO, and management consultant in a variety of industries including manufacturing, publishing, retail, health care, commercial real estate, and government.
During his career, he evaluated and negotiated several merger and acquisition transactions and led senior executive teams in strategic planning. He led the development of Quick Response strategies and the enabling technologies of UPC and EDI in the retail soft goods value chain and served on the Quick Response Leadership Committee of the American Apparel Manufacturers Association. He has served as a frequent speaker for the retail industry and authored several articles.
Mr. Gilreath also founded a cooperative venture with six Mississippi banks dedicated to recovering deteriorating neighborhoods and increasing affordable home ownership opportunities in North Mississippi and led the organization to become first federal NeighborWorks partner in Mississippi and recipient of numerous major grants.
He received his MBA from the University of Tennessee and holds Bachelor degrees in Accountancy and Political Science from Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi. He is a graduate of the NACS Financial Leadership Program at Wharton and earned the Certificate in Advanced Valuation with High Honors from the New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business.
Prior to his retirement June 1, 2024, he served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of The Dutch Group of companies where he was responsible for all financial functions, including accounting, treasury, and corporate finance, and he continues on retainer as Senior Advisor to executive leadership. He also served as Chief Accounting Officer of the Victory Companies, a joint venture operating more than 100 convenience stores under the Sprint Mart brand.
During his career, he evaluated and negotiated several merger and acquisition transactions and led senior executive teams in strategic planning. He led the development of Quick Response strategies and the enabling technologies of UPC and EDI in the retail soft goods value chain and served on the Quick Response Leadership Committee of the American Apparel Manufacturers Association. He has served as a frequent speaker for the retail industry and authored several articles.
Mr. Gilreath also founded a cooperative venture with six Mississippi banks dedicated to recovering deteriorating neighborhoods and increasing affordable home ownership opportunities in North Mississippi and led the organization to become first federal NeighborWorks partner in Mississippi and recipient of numerous major grants.
He received his MBA from the University of Tennessee and holds Bachelor degrees in Accountancy and Political Science from Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi. He is a graduate of the NACS Financial Leadership Program at Wharton and earned the Certificate in Advanced Valuation with High Honors from the New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business.
Prior to his retirement June 1, 2024, he served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of The Dutch Group of companies where he was responsible for all financial functions, including accounting, treasury, and corporate finance, and he continues on retainer as Senior Advisor to executive leadership. He also served as Chief Accounting Officer of the Victory Companies, a joint venture operating more than 100 convenience stores under the Sprint Mart brand.
Our Core Team
Ashle Bailey-Gilreath
Director of Operations and Marketing
Ashle is the Director of Operations and Marketing for ProSocial World, where she helps our wonderful team do their jobs with ease. She brings over 14 years of experience from the nonprofit sector, both in the United States and United Kingdom. Her background combines management, the arts, participatory research, and cognitive and evolutionary anthropology. Besides working with non-profits and community spaces, she has worked in academic settings as a research assistant with the University of Oxford and Queen’s University Belfast. She holds a MA in Cognition and Culture and a MA in nonprofit management, with an emphasis on cultural institutions.
She is also at the end of her journey as a PhD researcher at Ulster University's Belfast School of Art. Her research focuses on collaborative and socially engaged photography and its usefulness for exploring the social landscape of collective trauma through visual storytelling. Her research also focuses on photographic co-authorship, ethical considerations in relation to collaborative photography, and participatory research.
Ashle is based in Northern Ireland with her partner and amazing dog, Uni.
She is also at the end of her journey as a PhD researcher at Ulster University's Belfast School of Art. Her research focuses on collaborative and socially engaged photography and its usefulness for exploring the social landscape of collective trauma through visual storytelling. Her research also focuses on photographic co-authorship, ethical considerations in relation to collaborative photography, and participatory research.
Ashle is based in Northern Ireland with her partner and amazing dog, Uni.
Beth Hawkins
Director of Research
Beth is ProSocial World's Research Director, researching love, compassion, resilience, cooperation and collaboration.
She has 15+ years of experience being a thoughtful and culturally aware social science researcher conducting mixed methods, participatory action research. First with the University of Tennessee, then with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and for the last decade a research and education non-profit in East Tennessee. My research has primarily been focused on issues and policies that impact public health and well-being, and social equity. In 2022, I resigned from the non-profit to embark on a spiritual journey, to do some soul-searching, which led me to ProSocial World 6 months later. With the help of the universe, she now find myself part of this beautiful organization that incorporates research, science, and spirituality.
She has 15+ years of experience being a thoughtful and culturally aware social science researcher conducting mixed methods, participatory action research. First with the University of Tennessee, then with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and for the last decade a research and education non-profit in East Tennessee. My research has primarily been focused on issues and policies that impact public health and well-being, and social equity. In 2022, I resigned from the non-profit to embark on a spiritual journey, to do some soul-searching, which led me to ProSocial World 6 months later. With the help of the universe, she now find myself part of this beautiful organization that incorporates research, science, and spirituality.
Eric Michael Johnson
Managing Editor
Eric Michael Johnson is Managing Editor for ProSocial World's This View of Life Magazine. He has a master's degree in evolutionary anthropology focusing on primate behavioral ecology and received his Ph.D. in the history of science from the University of British Columbia. His dissertation, <em id="">The Struggle for Coexistence</em> (<a href="https://evolution-institute.org/on-the-origin-of-socialist-darwinism/" id="">reviewed on <em id="">TVOL</em> here</a>) focused on the debate between 'Social' Darwinism and 'Socialist' Darwinism in England, France, Germany, and Russia in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. In addition to publishing original research in such places as the <em id="">Journal of Human Evolution</em>, <em id="">American Journal of Physical Anthropology</em>, and <em id="">Slavic and East European Review</em> he has written on evolutionary topics for general audiences at <em id="">Slate</em>, <em id="">Times Higher Education</em>, <em id="">Discover</em>, <em id="">Wired</em>, <em id="">Psychology Today</em> and many others (see <a href="http://www.ericmichaeljohnson.net/latest-writing/" id="">his website</a> for more). He is a longtime advocate of science communication online and has spoken at academic as well as social media conferences on how important it is for scientists to reach out to the public by engaging readers with a compelling narrative. He can be found on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/ericmjohnson" id="">@ericmjohnson</a>.</p>
Eric is based in Canada.
Eric is based in Canada.
Jeff Genung
Managing Director of ProSocial World
Jeff serves as Managing Director and Chief Architect of ProSocial World. Previously he co-founded Contemplative Life, a non-profit organization and digital hub connecting people and communities with transformative practices. He also co-founded Transformation365.org, an experiential practice network. Most recently, he helped launch ProSocial Spirituality, a learning and research initiative exploring the integration of evolutionary science and evolutionary spirituality. Jeff spent many years as an entrepreneur and technology executive. His current focus is exploring the intersection of science, spirituality, the arts, and technology in service of a compassionate and cooperative world.
Juliet Buddiga
Executive Assistant
Juliet Buddiga currently serves as Executive Assistant to the president, David Sloan Wilson. She has been working with ProSocial World since graduating Binghamton University, where her studies included work in Environmental policy, evolutionary studies, and research on the application of Ostrom’s core design principles in university classrooms.
Paul Atkins
Co-founder and Vice President of ProSocial World
Paul Atkins supports ProSocial World on our courses and learning journeys, in addition to his role as Co-Founder and Vice President. He is a researcher, speaker, and facilitator trainer. He is a Visiting Associate Professor with the Crawford School of Public Policy (Australian National University). His research has focused on interventions to reduce stress while enhancing relationships, wellbeing, perspective-taking, and cooperation in groups and organizations.
Paul is a registered organizational psychologist with a Ph.D. in Psychology from Cambridge University. He is the lead author of the recently published book <em id="">Prosocial: Using Evolutionary Science to Build Productive, Equitable, and Collaborative Groups</em> and co-founder and Vice President of Prosocial World, a not for profit organization focused on enhancing cooperation and trust in purpose-driven groups globally. The Prosocial process has been used to help improve group effectiveness in contexts as diverse as slowing the spread of Ebola in Sierra Leone, enhancing performance in Australian government agencies, and improving cooperation in public schools.</p>
Paul is a registered organizational psychologist with a Ph.D. in Psychology from Cambridge University. He is the lead author of the recently published book <em id="">Prosocial: Using Evolutionary Science to Build Productive, Equitable, and Collaborative Groups</em> and co-founder and Vice President of Prosocial World, a not for profit organization focused on enhancing cooperation and trust in purpose-driven groups globally. The Prosocial process has been used to help improve group effectiveness in contexts as diverse as slowing the spread of Ebola in Sierra Leone, enhancing performance in Australian government agencies, and improving cooperation in public schools.</p>
Robert Styles
ProSocial Health and Custom Programming Director
Robert supports ProSocial World on our custom programming offerings, co-designing programs and learning journeys with our engaged organziations and groups looking to enhance their cooperation and wellbeing.
Initially trained in music and then, in a later chapter of my life, went on to become an academic doing applied research in the field of Contextual Behavioural Science through the Australian National University. Over the last couple of decades, this stream of activity has led Robert to work with communities, organisations, and governments across the Australian, Pacific, African, Asian, European, and American regions.
Robert is based in Australia.
Initially trained in music and then, in a later chapter of my life, went on to become an academic doing applied research in the field of Contextual Behavioural Science through the Australian National University. Over the last couple of decades, this stream of activity has led Robert to work with communities, organisations, and governments across the Australian, Pacific, African, Asian, European, and American regions.
Robert is based in Australia.
Susan Soleil
Spirituality Initiative and Program Coordinator
Susan is the Director of Spiritual Programs at ProSocial World, as well as providing loving support and expertise throughout our other programs and learning journeys. She enjoys being able to meet people from all around the world without leaving her home office in Utah, USA. She brings 30 years of working with nonprofits to this unique job, along with her passion for compassion and collaboration.
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Our Partners
& Collaborators
ProSocial World works with foundations, international NGOs, nonprofits, and other like minded organizations to address complex challenges on a worldwide scale.
Our partners and collaborators don’t just contribute to our work financially. Their ideas, in-kind support, expertise, and more are making a positive impact in the lives of diverse groups and communities around the world.
