The History of the Foundation for Pyschocultural Research Hampshire College Program in Culture, Brain, and Development (FPR-HC CBD)

In 2003, under the direction of Hampshire College alum and psychological anthropologist Dr. Robert Lemelson, The Foundation for Psychocultural Research provided Hampshire College with a five-year gift to create a Program in Culture, Brain, and Development.

During its first funding cycle (2003-2008), founding director Dr. Barbara Yngvesson established CBD as a vital campus-wide program that facilitated student and faculty work at the intersection of the studies of culture, mind/brain, and human development. Dr. Yngvesson and the founding Steering Committee implemented the staple CBD initiatives that we still enjoy today, including: the annual conference and lecture series, funding for student internships and research, CBD course development, and a core CBD curriculum.

In July 2008, The Foundation for Psychocultural Research generously made a $1 million dollar gift to Hampshire College to implement a second cycle of CBD. That year, Dr. Laura Sizer took over directorship from founding director Dr. Barbara Yngvesson. Over the course of the second funding cycle, CBD and its programs have continued to expand and broaden their reach across Hampshire's five interdisciplinary schools. In the summer of 2011, Dr. Jane Couperus assumed directorship of CBD when Dr. Sizer was appointed dean of the School of Cognitive Science. From 2013-2019, Dr. Pamela K. Stone (86F) joined CBD as the new director. Dr. Stone is also a senior faculty associate in the School of Critical and Social Inquiry. Amy Dryansky, former assistant director, stepped into the director's role in July of 2019.

The Foundation for Psychocultural Research also supports a graduate level Center for Culture, Brain, and Development and a Program for Culture, Brain, Development, and Mental Health (CBDMH) at UCLA.

Click here for more information on the history of The Foundation for Psycholcultural Research.