Ann S. Masten PhD

Ann S. Masten, PhD, a clinical psychologist and Regents Professor at the University of Minnesota, studies risk and resilience in human development. Her work focuses on understanding how children and youth overcome adversity to do well in life. Her book, Ordinary Magic: Resilience in Development (2nd edition, 2025), synthesizes current knowledge on the ordinary but powerful processes that help children adapt successfully to threats ranging from homelessness to war, disaster, and COVID-19. She has identified protective systems in individuals, families, schools, and communities that support resilience in children, with implications for parenting, practice, education, and policy. Professor Masten is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences who has won numerous awards for research and teaching, including the 2024 Grawemeyer Award in Psychology for the idea of "ordinary magic."