Ronald A. Beghetto, PhD

Ronald Beghetto is an internationally recognized expert in the psychology of human creativity, GenAI, and possibilities within educational settings. He serves as Professor at Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation, where he holds the Pinnacle West Presidential Chair.

Ranked #63 among the Top 200 University-Based Scholars in Education (2025 Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings by Education Week), Prof. Beghetto has advised globally influential organizations, including the LEGO Foundation and Cartoon Network, and provided national and international keynotes, workshops, and training for K–12 schools, districts, and higher education institutions on creativity and GenAI in education.

Dr. Beghetto’s editorial leadership roles have included serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Creative Behavior, Editor of the Review of Research in Education, and Series Editor for Creative Theory and Action in Education (Springer Books).

He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Society for the Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts (APA Division 10), and the International Society for the Study of Creativity and Innovation (ISSCI).

His scholarly awards include the Rudolf Arnheim Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts (2018) and the Daniel E. Berlyne Award from APA Division 10 (2008). Recognized for excellence in teaching, he earned the University of Oregon’s highest teaching honor for early-career faculty—the Ersted Crystal Apple Award (2006)—as well as the ALD Faculty of the Year Award (University of Connecticut, 2015) and the Provost’s Recognition for Excellence in Teaching (University of Connecticut).

Prior to Arizona State University, Dr. Beghetto served as Professor of Educational Psychology, Director of UConn’s Innovation House, and Graduate Program Coordinator in the Cognition, Instruction, Learning & Technology Program at the University of Connecticut. He also served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Education Studies at the University of Oregon.

Dr. Beghetto earned his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Indiana University, specializing in Learning, Cognition, and Instruction.

Brief summary of key themes covered in his work:

  • using GenAI as a partner in possibility thinking (designing and using custom AI tools and bots);

  • preparing young people for possible futures;

  • encouraging possibility thinking in education;

  • democratizing creative educational experiences;

  • supporting creative agency development;

  • structuring uncertainty for creative action;

  • developing new and dynamic creativity research methods.