Robert J. Vallerand

Professor Robert J. Vallerand is currently Full Professor of Psychology at the Université du Québec à Montréal where he holds a Canada Research Chair in Motivational Processes and Optimal Functioning and is Director of the Research Laboratory on Social Behavior. He obtained his doctorate from the Université de Montréal and pursued postdoctoral studies at the University of Waterloo. He also obtained a Masters from McGill University and a bachelor’s degree from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. He has also been a Professor at the University of Guelph and McGill University where he also held a Canada Research Chair.

Professor Vallerand is recognized as a leading international expert on motivational processes. He has developed theories and measures dealing with intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, as well as the concept of passion. In fact, his 2003 JPSP paper (Vallerand et al., 2003) opened the field of research on the concept of passion. He has published 12 books and monographs and over 400 scientific articles and book chapters. His research has been cited extensively (over 97,500 citations with a h-index of over 130, GS) and he has received several millions ($) in research grants. Professor Vallerand has presented numerous National and International Keynote addresses and has given colloquia at more than 60 different universities worldwide.

Professor Vallerand has displayed professional and scientific leadership in a number of ways. For instance, he has served as Chair of both the Psychology Department at the Université du Québec à Montréal and the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology at McGill University. He also has served as President of the Quebec Society for Research in Psychology, the Canadian Psychological Association, and the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA). He was Conference Chair of several Canadian Psychological Association Conventions (2006, 2007, 2008) and that of the 2nd World Congress on Positive Psychology held in Philadelphia, USA (2011).