Sustainable Happiness Institute

Facilitated by: Dr. Bill Whitney, Creative Inquiry, & Michelle Spada, Lehigh360

Dates: January 6 - 14, 2025 (followed by LeaderShape January 15 -18) 

Spots Available: 15 

Cost: $800

Overview: Leverage the science of happiness and the praxis of social innovation to imagine, conceptualize and pursue practical actions towards alternative happy futures. At Lehigh University, we prepare students to lead lives of impact. Impact, in terms of building a freer, fairer, friendlier, and more sustainable world. Impact, in terms of orchestrating multiple, large-scale systems changes now (through Lehigh's high-impact programs) and in their future professional careers. Driving such transformation requires that students find their own “ikigai” -- their own reason for being -- that happy intersection between what they love, what they are good at, what the world needs, and what they can be paid for. The Sustainable Happiness Institute is designed to help students develop their awareness of how they want to engage in the world and whom they want to work with to drive that sustainable change.

Students will learn about the science of happiness and what factors lead to a happy life, will hear/read a multitude of perspectives on happiness and creating happiness for oneself and others, and have a chance to co-design a “million smile” social enterprise, aimed at tackling a big complex problem and sustaining happiness on a community and global scale. 

Feedback from SHI 2021

"I loved that SHI focused on self-care and happiness. It also combined such a large spectrum of things to learn from. I really think this institute was unique in that it combined both the science and psychology of happiness, and entrepreneurial concepts to create solutions to promote a sense of happiness for others." 

"I loved noticing my own skills and confidence improving in such a short amount of time. And getting to make an enterprise that felt like it could go out into the world and be successful." 

"I actually felt like a real college student for the first time in my life. I felt like I was doing something that actually meant something, and that might actually change the status quo." 

"I never enjoyed doing a team project like this one I did in SHI. My team and I came up with a rather compelling topic and had so many fascinating ideas. This project really pushed our limits and we learned a lot about how to tackle down a seemingly complex problem. I enjoyed the process a lot; I could really tell the progress we made over the two weeks of working on it. I never imagined myself being able to solve real world problems, but this project gave me a new perspective." 

Favorite Topics 

  • Global Mega-Trends: Vision 2030 
  • Biochemistry of Happiness 
  • Mindfulness 
  • World Happiness Report
  • Authentic Leadership 
  • Habits for a Happy Life 
  • Happiness and Sustainability 
  • How Creativity Happens 
  • Developing Compelling Presentations 
  • Design Thinking 

Apply to Sustainable Happiness Institute

Applications are now OPEN for January 2025! Please fill out the application below to apply. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis but are due by November 18th. 

Apply Now!

FAQs

The two weeks of the program will be high-octane with diverse daily themes and activities including:

  • Large-group activities such as workshops, conversations with happiness experts, project briefings and debriefings, group discussions, etc.

  • Small-team activities and collaborative projects

  • Personal challenges that give you hands-on experience with leveraging happiness techniques for yourself and others 

  • Time devoted to co-design a "million smile" social enterpise with your peers -- an organization that would positively impact 1 million+ people 

 

There are no prerequisite courses for the Sustainable Happiness Institute, and all majors / degree programs (and GPAs!) are invited to apply. We are looking for students with a deep interest in “changing the world” and a desire to explore the multiplicity of pathways to contribute to our collective future. Given the cohort-based and team-centric nature of the program, a deep commitment to actively participate in every component of the institute is essential.