Dr. Ann S. Masten is a distinguished scholar renowned for her groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of resilience in child development. She served as a Regents Professor, Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Development, and Distinguished McKnight University Professor at the University of Minnesota's Institute of Child Development until her retirement in May 2025. Dr. Masten earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Minnesota and spent her entire academic career at her alma mater, establishing herself as a leading authority in developmental science. During her tenure, she became the first woman to direct the Institute of Child Development from 1999 to 2005, demonstrating exceptional leadership in shaping one of the world's premier child development research centers.
Dr. Masten's seminal research has fundamentally reshaped the field's understanding of resilience through her concept of ordinary magic, which emphasizes that children's capacity to adapt to adversity stems from common adaptive processes and supportive relationships rather than extraordinary traits. Her influential book Ordinary Magic Resilience in Development provided an optimistic perspective on children's natural resilience and has been among the most cited works in the literature on child development. She directed the Project Competence Research on Risk and Resilience, conducting studies with children facing diverse adversities including homelessness, war, natural disasters, and migration, revealing key malleable protective processes like parenting and self-regulation skills. Dr. Masten's work has informed science, practice, and policy aimed at promoting positive adaptation in children and families threatened by adversity across multiple continents and cultural contexts.
Beyond her research, Dr. Masten has profoundly influenced the field through leadership roles including serving as President of the Society for Research in Child Development and Division 7 Developmental of the American Psychological Association. She has collaborated extensively with international organizations, delivering keynotes at the United Nations and the International Congress of Psychology, and advocating for evidence-based interventions that foster resilience in vulnerable children worldwide. Her work with the U.S. National Academies on investing in young children globally has shaped policy discussions about early childhood development on a global scale. Dr. Masten's legacy continues to inspire researchers and practitioners who seek to understand and promote resilience in children facing adversity, with her frameworks providing enduring guidance for creating supportive environments that enable all children to thrive.
