Adele Diamond, PhD, FRSC, FAPA, FAPS, FSEP, ScD (honoris causa), DPhil (honoris causa), is the Head of the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Program at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, BC, Canada. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, she has been recognized as one of the “2000 Outstanding Women of the 20th Century,” listed among the 15 most influential neuroscientists alive today, and recently ranked in the top 0.01% of all scientists across disciplines. She earned her BA from Swarthmore College (Phi Beta Kappa), her PhD from Harvard University, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale Medical School. Prof. Diamond has had a profound impact on the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and education.
As a co-founder of the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience, Prof. Diamond has made pioneering contributions to understanding the development of executive functions and how they can be enhanced through targeted interventions, even in early childhood. Executive functions include working memory, selective attention, self-control, and the cognitive flexibility needed for creative problem-solving.
Prof. Diamond’s research focuses on the prefrontal cortex and other interconnected brain regions that underpin these cognitive abilities. Her ground-breaking work shows that executive functions emerge as early as the first year of life and can be improved with the right interventions. Prof. Diamond advocates for a holistic approach that integrates social, emotional, spiritual, physical, and cognitive well-being, bridging medical and educational practices to optimize outcomes.
With over 59,000 citations, numerous prestigious awards, and more than $24 million in research funding, Prof. Diamond’s influence spans multiple disciplines and continents. She has delivered over 600 keynote talks, including at the White House.
Beyond academia, her humanitarian efforts have been so impactful that a foundation supporting quality education for Maasai children, the Adele Diamond Foundation, was established in her honor.
View Professor Diamond’s featured presentations
Diamond, A. (July 17, 2024). What research tells us about executive functions and how that can be translated into practical strategies for teachers in everyday classrooms. Invited talk. Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning’s virtual Science of Teaching and School Leadership Academy at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. Potomac, MD.
Diamond, A. (Nov. 8, 2022). What young children need is you! You are enough. Keynote Address. Parenting is Heart Work Conference, Child and Family Collaborative in York Region, ON.
