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?
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.
Board of Directors
Co-founder and President of ProSocial World
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.
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.
Managing Director of ProSocial World
Board Chairperson of ProSocial World
Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Professor of Psychology by Courtesy at Stanford University
Michele is a Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Professor of Psychology by Courtesy at Stanford University. Michele uses field, experimental, computational, and neuroscience methods to understand the evolution of culture, as well as its multilevel consequences for human groups. Her work has been cited over 20,000 times. Michele is trained as an organizational and cross-cultural psychologist and has moved to Stanford after a distinguished academic career in the department of psychology at the University of Maryland-College Park. Her pioneering work on an axis of cultural variation, from “tight” to “loose”, is summarized in her book Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire Our World.
Co-founder and Vice President of ProSocial World
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>
Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland College Park and President of CosmosID
Rita is a Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland College Park and President of CosmosID. She served as the 11th director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). She has authored or co-authored 17 books and more than 800 scientific publications. Rita has been awarded 57 honorary degrees from institutions of higher education. She has also produced the award-winning film, Invisible Seas, and has served on the editorial boards of numerous scientific journals. Rita’s scientific training is in microbial ecology and molecular genetics, where she pioneered both groundbreaking techniques and concepts in disease epidemiology. She has also been a fierce and effective advocate for gender and ethnic equality in science, as she recounts in her book A Lab of One’s Own: One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science.
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.
Treasurer of ProSocial World
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
Director of Operations and Marketing
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.
Director of Research
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.
Managing Editor
Eric is based in Canada.
Managing Director of ProSocial World
Executive Assistant
Co-founder and Vice President of ProSocial World
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>
ProSocial Health and Custom Programming Director
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.
Spirituality Initiative and Program Coordinator
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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.
