Barbara Tversky

Barbara Tversky is a distinguished psychologist, who’s research interests include language and communication, memory, design, comprehension of events and narratives and spatial cognition. Barbara is the Professor Emerita of Psychology at Stanford University and a Professor of Psychology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. 

Barbara’s career in psychology began with a B.A. in psychology from the University of Michigan, followed by her Ph.D. in 1969, after which she worked at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem before joining the faculty at Stanford University. Her expertise has always been held in high-regard and throughout her career Barbara has served on the editorial boards of multiple academic journals, including “Cognitive Psychology” and the “Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory and Cognition.”

Honoured with the Phi Beta Kappa Excellence in Teaching Award, Barbara has been celebrated for her ability to turn complex psychology ideas into understandable and digestible ideas. A Society of Experimental Psychologists Fellow, winner of the Kampé de Fériet Award and elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Barbara is a celebrated expert in her field. In 2019, she published “Mind in Motion: How Action Shapes Thought,” outlining insights from her research and exploring the question: is movement, not language, the foundation of human thought? 

A leading thinker in cognitive psychology, Barbara has published over 200 scholarly papers and collaborated with linguists, philosophers, neuroscientists, architects, designers, artists and computer scientists. Her ability to translate complicated psychological concepts makes her a sought-after speaker for academics and businesses looking to expand their knowledge on how people think.