Patricia (Tish) Jennings, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized leader in the fields of social and emotional learning (SEL), mindfulness in education, and teacher well-being. A Professor of Education at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development, her research focuses on how teacher stress impacts classroom climate and student outcomes. Her highly cited theoretical article, The Prosocial Classroom, has shaped the field’s understanding of the central role teachers play in fostering healthy classroom environments. Jennings led the development of CARE (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education), a mindfulness-based professional development program proven to improve teacher well-being, classroom interactions, and student engagement developed at the Garrison Institute when she served as Senior Director for the Initiative on Contemplation and Education. CARE is the focus of two large, federally funded studies: Project ENGAGE, an $8 million effort to develop and evaluate a scalable model across 66 schools, and Project CATALYZE, a $4 million study examining how CARE enhances SEL curriculum effectiveness. CARE was recently recommended by the CDC as a key strategy to promote mental health in schools. Jennings is co-author of Flourish: The Compassionate Schools Project curriculum and co-investigator on its $11 million randomized controlled trial, which found positive outcomes in SEL and attention skills, particularly in high-poverty schools. A former teacher, school director, and teacher educator with over two decades of practical experience, Jennings brings deep insight to her work. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and several books, including the bestselling Mindfulness for Teachers. Her contributions have been recognized with multiple honors, including the 2024 Joseph E. Zins Award from CASEL, the 2023 UVA Distinguished Researcher Award, the 2018 Cathy Kerr Award for Courageous and Compassionate Science from the Mind & Life Institute, and recognition by Mindful Magazine as one of “Ten Mindfulness Researchers You Should Know.” She also served on the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Fostering Healthy Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Development.