Kasley Killam

Kasley Killam, MPH, is a social scientist who specializes in human connection and health. The author of "The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier," she is a Harvard-trained social scientist, award-winning innovator, and leading expert in social health: the dimension of well-being that stems from relationships. Drawing from over a decade of studying, sharing, and applying the science of human connection, Killam champions social health as a strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and founder of Social Health Labs, a national nonprofit that empowers community builders.

As a sought-after advisor and speaker, Killam partners with teams across sectors to improve well-being through connection and community, collaborating with organizations like Google, AARP, and the US Government. She is an Impact Fellow at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and an advisor for the Aspen Institute’s Weave: The Social Fabric Project, while serving on the Board of Directors for the Community Living Campaign and the Scientific Advisory Board for Only7Seconds.

Killam earned a master’s at the Harvard School of Public Health specializing in solutions for loneliness and a bachelor’s in psychology at Queen’s University in Canada. Her background spans technology, healthcare, academia, and social entrepreneurship, equipping her with unique insight when collaborating with partners. Previously, Killam oversaw a national community engagement strategy for Verily (Google Life Sciences), conducted research on positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, and launched a campaign and app to promote empathy and kindness that won an award at Stanford University.

Killam is passionate about translating the research on relationships so people can live more socially healthy lives. Her expertise has been featured in major outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, NPR, Scientific American, Health Affairs, Washington Post, Vox, and Boston Globe, and she pens the Social Health Blog for Psychology Today.

For her dedication and impact, Killam has been recognized as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, Encore Public Voices Fellow, Columbia University Age Boom Fellow, and Mind & Life Institute Visiting Scholar, and she was invited to the White House during the Obama presidency. Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, she now calls California home.