Beth Hawkins

About Beth Hawkins

Beth has dedicated her career to the realms of research, education and non-profit management and operations, spanning roles across nonprofit, academic, and federal sectors (University of Tennessee, Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ThreeCubed (a 501c3), and currently with ProSocial World-Has 15+ years of experience advancing social science, program evaluation, and systems-level change to strengthen communities and promote social equity-An expert in designing and leading complex, mixed-methods research projects across nonprofit, academic, and federal sectors, with a focus on prosocial behaviors, collaboration, trust, and compassion-Skilled with the integration of advanced analytics, including hierarchical modeling and natural language, with ethical usage of AI, into research and decision-making-Demonstrated track record in translating evidence into actionable insights, influencing policy, and catalyzing cultural evolution toward more cooperative, just, and thriving communities.Before taking on this pivotal role in her career with ProSocial World, she embarked on a life-changing sabbatical, dedicating herself to a journey of healing, well-being, and spiritual growth. It steered her towards a more compassionate, collaborative, and prosocial environment. Now, Beth is leveraging her extensive research expertise to propel ProSocial World\'s mission forward, inspired by her own journey to promote environments that nurture both individual and collective growth. Previously, Beth\'s research focused on climate justice, energy security, low-income energy efficiency programs, community resilience, innovation adoption, and information diffusion.As a mother, she shares a passion for backpacking with her son. With her husband, she enjoys music festivals, travel, and nature, currently residing at the base of the Smoky Mountains with a few cats. Beth practices meditation and finds much joy in laughter.

Experience

1. Research Director

   Prosocial World

   Oct 2022 — Present · US

   ProSocial World, a global non-profit, is dedicated to the mission of \"consciously evolving a world that works for all.\" At its core, ProSocial\'s science strives to understand and cultivate social environments where the alignment of individual and group interests fosters cooperative over selfish behaviors.As Director of Research at ProSocial World, Beth is at the forefront of this mission. She skillfully manages a wide array of projects, demonstrating her expertise in grant and project management, research development, data analysis, and community research initiatives, including ProSocial Spirituality. She also has a positive track record preparing Institutional Review Board applications for human subject research, ensuring adherence to ethical standards. Beth\'s leadership extends to guiding ProSocial World\'s research scientists in co-developing new methods for analyzing natural language and behavioral data, alongside measuring constructs of prosociality. Her substantial role in funding acquisition and the development of compelling grant proposals is instrumental to ProSocial World\'s achievements, underlining Beth\'s vital contribution to the organization\'s overarching goal of fostering a more cooperative and harmonious world.

Education

• University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  Master of Science - MS, Landscape Architecture

  2008 — 2011

• University of Washington

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Cultural Anthropology and Native American Studies