Emily Felt

Communications Engineer

Location: Currently: Davis, CA, Intermittently: Barcelona, Spain

What I do:

My role is to support The Flourishing Center in its communications and outreach efforts.

Professional Experience:

As a writer and editor I love helping people get their ideas out into the world where they can have an impact. I especially enjoy framing science for the public, to inform daily conversations and help improve people’s everyday lives. As a research manager in public health, I’ve worked with a wide range of organizations in the United States, Europe and Latin America to put research results into the hands of community groups, lawmakers and other stakeholders. Some of my favorite organizations to work for include the WHO Collaborating Center for Social Inclusion and Health, the University of California and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, where I have worked as a freelance writer, communications strategist and translator.

My Story:

I came across positive psychology at a difficult time in my life. My daughter had just been diagnosed with a rare disease, and I desperately needed to view my life as a parent to a child with special needs in a positive way. Luckily, positive psychology and other tools helped me to be grateful for the opportunity to grow, change my mindset, and be more compassionate with my family and myself. As my outlook changed my life improved for the better, and I was inspired to learn more about the science and practice of positive psychology. I made a career shift, started working for myself and enrolled in The Flourishing Center’s Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) program in Oakland, in 2017.

Morning Ritual:

I am neither a morning person nor a night owl. I like to ease into the day slowly, by pressing snooze, having coffee and then reading or meditating before my kids get up.

A Little Known Fact About Me…

I love to cook Mediterranean food and took professional cooking classes in Barcelona.