The University of Chicago Convocation

As the faculty director, Professor Cacioppo helps set the overall direction of the Arete Initiative.

Cacioppo's vision for Arete developed from more than 30 years participating in and leading interdisciplinary research teams. Cacioppo serves as the Tiffany and Margaret Blake Distinguished Service Professor in Psychology and the Director of the Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience. He recently completed a term as the President of the Association for Psychological Science; serves on the scientific advisory boards of ten centers, foundations, and corporations; and previously has served on the Board of Directors of the Ohio State University Research Foundation and on the Department of Health and Human Services National Advisory Council on Aging (NIA Council at NIH).  His current research efforts focus on an interdisciplinary investigation of the potential transduction pathways through which social connection and perceived connections with a higher being or order contributes to the rate of physiological aging and well being in adults.

Ken Olliff oversees project development for the Arete Initiative, working closely with faculty to catalyze large-scale, interdisciplinary initiatives in partnership with major foundations and other funders.

Olliff serves as the Director for Strategic Foundation Initiatives within Alumni Relations and Development, having joined the University of Chicago in 2004. He is adjunct faculty at the University's Graham School where he teaches an annual course on philanthropy and grant writing for professionals. Olliff completed his graduate work in religion, social science, and 20th century American theology at Chicago and Harvard.

Since coming to the University in 2006, Matthew Christian has developed operational structures that support complex scientific teams to facilitate precisely the types of collaborations envisioned by the Arete Initiative.

Christian serves as the Administrative Director for the Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience (CCSN) at the University of Chicago. Outside of the CCSN, he is the co-founder of OrthoAccel Technologies, a biotech startup now in clinical trials, and he has served as a management consultant to several emerging scientific teams and new technology companies.  Christian holds advanced degrees in Literature and Religion from Yale University and has an MBA from the University of Illinois.

Lindsay Wade works with Ken Olliff in seeking foundation support for large-scale initiatives, developing proposals, and managing projects.

Wade is the Assistant Director for Foundation Relations within Alumni Relations and Development.  She recently joined the University of Chicago after completing her M.A. in History from DePaul University. Wade earned her B.A. in Anthropology, History, and Spanish from Indiana University.

Joy Wattawa oversees outreach efforts for the Arete Initiative, developing communication/outreach strategies and publicizing the scientific work of projects associated with Arete.

Wattawa is the Assistant Director of Interdisciplinary Outreach at the Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience.  She brings a strong interdisciplinary research background to her work in academic communications. After earning her B.A. in biochemistry from Reed College, Wattawa received a Fulbright Scholarship to study biophysics in France, and she recently completed an M.A. in Social Sciences, focusing on History of Science, at the University of Chicago.

Jeffrey Darragh works with Matthew Christian managing projects and developing large-scale proposals for federal agency support.  Darragh also oversees the Arete Initiative's operations and outreach events.

Previously, Darragh worked in the Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience (CCSN) and was an independent consultant for Learning Point Associates. Darragh earned his B.A. from Wheaton College in Psychology.