Dana Klisanin

08/02/2025 Ap-Fi Curators

Summary

Psychologist · Futures Strategist · Cultural Innovator

I work at the intersection of systems thinking, ecological intelligence, and moral imagination—helping individuals, organizations, and creative teams design futures that support human and planetary flourishing through applied psychology.

My work bridges research, wellness, technology, and the arts. Whether I’m consulting with leaders on ethical innovation, guiding people into deeper relationship with the more-than-human world, or creating immersive story systems for social transformation, my purpose is the same:

To help us remember how to be fully human in an accelerating world.

Source: Website

OnAir Post: Dana Klisanin

About

Biography

There was a time I believed that if we designed our technologies with human values–empathy, altruism, compassion–we could shift the arc of human consciousness. And I still believe that. But I’ve come to see it’s only half the equation.

My early work in Psychology focused on designing tools for the ethical design of information and communication systems. In 2005, I introduced the concept of transception—a term I coined to describe cyberception infused with moral imagination, drawing from systems theory and Buddhist psychology. It became a foundational principle in my exploration of conscious media and the Evolutionary Guidance Media framework, designed to support the development of social impact media (before it was called that). I was invited to contribute this research to a special issue of Futures. Later, I applied Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory to the Evolutionary Guidance Media framework, designing a meta-theory for designing ethical media and technology. It resulted in the EGM-Integral Framework.

I coined the term digital altruism to describe early expressions of altruism online and developed the Cyberhero archetype as a new model of prosocial identity in a networked world. My research on cyber-kindness, and collaborative heroism contributed to some of the earliest frameworks for understanding how emerging technologies might nurture compassion and social responsibility supporting digital citizenship and advancing consciousness.

These ideas weren’t just theoretical. I brought them to life through collaborations with dynamic, interdisciplinary teams—including interactive media labs, government bodies, and nonprofits. An in-house example is the Cyberhero League® platform, an award-winning edtech adventure, helping children cultivate heroic qualities through real-world impact. It’s currently undergoing an exciting new upgrade. We launched one of the early Indiegogo campaigns for gaming and learned firsthand about the power of crowd-sourced fundraising.

Over time, my work began to stretch into new terrain. Empathy by design—while powerful—is only sustainable if we’re also attending to our relationships with nature, with community, and with our own inner lives. I began exploring what it means to rewild the human psyche and to design future systems capable of restoring our innate capacities for resilience, sensory intelligence, and ecological awareness.

Today, through ReWilding: Lab, I bring together psychology, the arts, and nature-based practices to help individuals and organizations restore human-nature relationships and expand the realm of imagination and future possibilities.

Throughout, I’ve continued working at the intersection of psychology and technology. My research has long emphasized youth development in digital environments, and I’ve contributed to initiatives led by UNESCO, Stanford’s Existential Risk Initiative (SERI), and Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center. I write regularly for Psychology Today, and my work has been featured by the American Psychological Association, Forbes,  BBC Radio, and Time.

I grew up in a family of artists and readers. My sister, Melisca Klisanin, is an award-winning designer of retail spaces and products (who also paints and designs gardens). She is my business partner and the creative superpower at EGM R&D. We lost our younger sister to mental illness—she was a dancer, musician, and visual artist. Her life and work continues to inspire us.

My own art often has a participatory component. I am currently exploring human-nature connection through the Wild Twins project and exploring new models through Wild Willpower . I enjoy writing poetry and fiction. In my Chronicles of G.A.I.A. book series, I imagine a future shaped by youth—with support from AI. The series features B.E.L.A.—a Benevolent-Expertise Learning-based Artificial Intelligence Assistant—who helps guide children through a rapidly changing world. It’s fiction rooted in foresight: a vision of AI designed not to replace us, but to remind us of what makes us beautifully human.

We hold more than the capacity to process data or create content in the blink of an eye. We are living beings in a living system—where our choices shape the well-being of future generations. The rapid evolution of AI is not just a technological milestone—it’s a call to consciousness.

Which brings me full circle. Our collaborative potential to co-create compassionate futures for all beings is what drive my work.

Source: Website

Web Links

ReWilding: Lab,

Vision

Source: website

At ReWilding: Lab, we envision a future where human well-being is rooted in relationship—with the living Earth and with the innate intelligence of the body and mind.

We support this vision by integrating scientific research, nature-based practices, and the transformative power of the arts. Our work bridges disciplines and sectors—offering individuals, organizations, and communities a path toward whole health, creative renewal, and ecological belonging.

We call this approach human rewilding: a multidimensional practice designed to restore connection, foster resilience, and activate the full spectrum of human potential in harmony with the natural world.

The Practice

Source: Website

For those seeking connection, clarity, or creative renewal…

One-on-One sessions provide a quiet space to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with what nurtures your flourishing. Whether you’re navigating change, feeling creatively blocked or burnt out, or simply longing to reconnect with yourself or the natural world, this one-on-one support fosters your unfolding path.

Rooted in ecotherapy, mindfulness, and the expressive arts, our time together is spacious, intuitive, and centered on deep presence. It’s a return to a more soulful way of being.

Sessions may include:

  • Nature-based practices for grounding and awareness

  • Dreamwork and seasonal reflection

  • Story as a tool for insight and healing

  • Personalized rituals and creative expression

  • Space to honor grief, joy, or simply what is

Creative Pathways: For Dreamers, Artists, Writers & Seekers

Some one-on-one journey’s take a creative turn

Creative Pathways sessions are designed for those who feel called to work through story, image, dream, and symbol. These sessions open space for your imagination to lead—whether you’re beginning a project, in transition, or seeking a deeper sense of voice and expression.

Together, we may explore:

  • Dreams, myth, and archetype as sources of insight

  • Writing, movement, or ritual as creative process

  • Nature as collaborator, muse, or mirror

Wikipedia

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    Dana Klisanin is a psychologist, futurist,[1] and author[2] best known for her research and writing in the field of digital altruism[3] and the impact of the digital era on heroism.[4] Her research was recognized in 2012 by the American Psychological Association with an award for Early Career Scientific Contribution to Media Psychology.[5] In 2017, Klisanin was the recipient of the President's Outstanding Woman Futurist Award, as recognized by the World Futures Studies Federation (WFSF).[6] In 2020, Klisanin was named one Forbes' "50 Leading Female Futurists."[7] As a novelist, Klisanin is the author of Future Hack, the first installment in a series entitled Chronicles of G.A.I.A. [8]

    Biography

    Education

    Klisanin graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 2003 with a B.A. in psychology. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology from Saybrook University.[9] At Saybrook she studied evolutionary systems design with Bela H. Banathy. She also worked with humanistic psychologist, Stanley Krippner.

    Career

    Research

    Current studies

    Klisanin's scholarship is characterized by a transdisciplinary attention to theory building, influenced by systems science, transpersonal studies, and integral theory. While much of her previous research has been situated at the nexus of psychology and future studies, more recent work is concentrated on existential risk.

    In the field of existential risk, Kilsanin's research explores expanding the mental health paradigm from a focus on resilience to that of antifragility. Such expansion is necessary, Klisanin argues, to prepare the psyche for the impacts of climate change and other cascading global crises. The research draws upon antifragility described by Nicholas Nassim Taleb and research in post-traumatic growth.[10] In the field of psychology, similarly, Klisinan has recently focused on the antifragile mindset and rewilding the human psyche.[11]

    Research history

    While attending Saybrook University, Klisanin began researching the potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) to promote the development of higher stages of human consciousness and planetary flourishing. She applied systems science and design theories and methodologies to design an impact media framework.[12] Later, she began investigating the positive uses of the Internet and exploring "digital altruism", which she defined as "altruism mediated by digital technology",[13] and divided it into three categories: everyday digital altruism, creative digital altruism, and co-creative digital altruism.

    In 2009, after studying the characteristics of people who engaged in digital altruism,[14] Klisanin defined a new form of the hero archetype, the "cyberhero",[15] an individual who repeatedly uses digital technology to help other people, animals, and the planet, by contributing to world peace, social justice, environmental protection, and/or planetary stewardship.[16][17][18]

    In 2010, Klisanin applied Ken Wilber's integral theory, to her previous media framework, which she called "Integral media", and defined as the "conscious creation, use, and evaluation of media that aims to guide the evolutionary development of the body, mind, and spirit, in self, culture, and nature."[19]

    In the latter part of the 2010s, Klisanin studied the evolution of humanism in networked society, theorizing the concept of "collaborative heroism" to reference in-person and online activities that happen simultaneously and aim to achieve heroic goals. Reflecting on the global connectivity of the contemporary networked society, Klisanin defined heroism in terms of global goals such as those set out in the Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or the Earth Charter.[20]

    Game design and media consulting

    In addition to her research, Kilsanin is known for the development of an interactive adventure game, Cyberhero League, designed to promote the cyberhero archetype in society. The game, selected as a winner of the World Future Society's BetaLaunch Technology competition, enables players to learn about and tackle global challenges through completing apprenticeships with partnering nonprofit organizations.[21] She is the founder and CEO of Evolutionary Guidance Media R&D, Inc. and director of the MindLab at the Center for Conscious Creativity.[22][23]

    Major awards

    In 2012, Klisanin received the Early Career Award for Scientific Achievement in Media Psychology from the Media Psychology division of the American Psychological Association for her research in positive media, digital altruism,[21] and the cyberhero archetype.[24][25] In 2017, she received the President's Outstanding Women Futures Award from the World Futures Studies Federation, for advancement of the philosophies, theories, methods and practices that strengthen and enrich the field of futures studies.[26]

    Professional contributions

    Klisanin serves on the News Media, Public Education and Public Policy Committee, and the Media Watch Video Game Committee for the American Psychological Association's Division of Media Psychology.

    Selected publications

    • "Heroism in the Networked Society". Handbook of Heroism and Heroic Leadership. Edited by Scott T. Allison. New York: Routledge. (2017).
    • "Collaborative heroism: An empirical investigation". Heroism Science, 1 (1), 1-14. (2016).
    • "The Hero and the Internet: Exploring the Emergence of the Cyberhero Archetype". Media Psychology Review. (2012).
    • "Exploring the design of conscious media". Futures. 42 (10), 1119-1125. doi:10.1016/j.futures.2010.08.012. (2010).
    • "Postformal-Integral-Planetary Scholarship: Insights from the Integral Futures Controversy". Journal of Integral Theory and Practice. 6 (2). 149-156. (2011).
    • "Evolutionary Guidance Media: An Integral Framework for Foresight Communication". Journal of Futures Studies. 17 (1). 99-106. (2012).
    • "A grand synergy: Applying the integral operating system to evolutionary guidance media". Journal of Integral Theory and Practice. 5 (4). (2010).
    • "Archetypes of Change in a Digital Age", The Noetic Post, Institute of Noetic Sciences.
    • "Is the Internet giving rise to new forms of Altruism?" Media Psychology Review. (2011).
    • "Transception: The Dharma of Evolutionary Guidance Media". In J. Wilby (ed), Integrated Systems Sciences: Systems Thinking, Modeling and Practice. Proceedings of the 51st Annual Conference of the International Society for the Systems Sciences, Tokyo, Japan. (2007).

    References

    1. ^ "Dana Klisanin Ph.D. | Psychology Today". www.psychologytoday.com. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
    2. ^ "Futurist, psychologist and author Dana Klisanin empowers next generation to act for the good of the planet | Arkansas Democrat Gazette". www.arkansasonline.com. 2024-01-14. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
    3. ^ "Developing and Piloting a Psychology of Social Media Course". APS Observier, Vol. 27, No. 9, November 2014 by Brian E. Kinghorn
    4. ^ Allison 1, Goethals 2, Kramer 3, Scott 1, George 2, Roderick 3 (2016). Handbook of Heroism and Heroic Leadership. New York: Routledge. pp. 283–299. ISBN 9781138915657.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
    5. ^ "Psychology's top honors". www.apa.org. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
    6. ^ "WFSF Awards – WORLD FUTURES STUDIES FEDERATION". Retrieved 2024-03-06.
    7. ^ Morgan, Blake. "50 Leading Female Futurists". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
    8. ^ "FUTURE HACK: Chronicles of G.A.I.A.". Kirkus Reviews. 92 (2). January 15, 2024 – via Literary Reference Plus.
    9. ^ "The Courier – Your Messenger for the River Valley – Education notes". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-08-13.
    10. ^ Klisanin, Dana (2023). ""Existential Risk: From Resilience to Antifragility"". Proceedings of the Stanford Existential Risks Conference. doi:10.25740/dg438cb5918.
    11. ^ Klisanin, Dana (2023). "Psychological Futures: Antifragility and the imperative of interdependence". In Donnelly, Donnelly; Montuori (eds.). Routledge Handbook for Creative Futures. Routledge. ISBN 9781003020714.
    12. ^ Klisanin, Dana (2016). "Rethinking media design: The dimensions of social impact media" (PDF). Transformation: Exploring the Changing Nature of Design Education in the 21st Century: Design Educators Conference Proceedings, RGD and George Brown College, Toronto: 55–63. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
    13. ^ Paramaguru, Kharunya (December 2, 2013). "Altruism in the Digital Age". Time.
    14. ^ "Developing and Piloting a Psychology of Social Media Course". Observer, November, 2014. Brian E. Kinghorn
    15. ^ "Rise of the Cyberhero". Huffington Post. 11.12.2012. Steven and Michael Meloan.
    16. ^ Jayson, S. Are Football stars really heroes, or just famous. USA Today
    17. ^ Weckerle, A., The hero and the Internet, CiviliNation.
    18. ^ Wach, B. World, Meet the "Cyberhero", The New Existentialist
    19. ^ Klisanin, Dana (2010). "A grand synergy: Applying the integral operating system to evolutionary guidance media". Journal of Integral Theory and Practice. 5 (4): 139–153 – via EBSCO.
    20. ^ "Heroism in the Networked Society Dana Klisanin", Handbook of Heroism and Heroic Leadership, Routledge, 2016, doi:10.4324/9781315690100-23/heroism-networked-society-dana-klisanin, ISBN 978-1-315-69010-0, retrieved 2024-03-16
    21. ^ a b John Havens (20 March 2014). Hacking Happiness: Why Your Personal Data Counts and How Tracking it Can Change the World. Penguin Publishing Group. pp. 118–. ISBN 978-1-101-62195-0.
    22. ^ "Happiness: online and off – By David Wilson" Archived 2016-03-31 at the Wayback Machine. Scribe, April 10, 2015.
    23. ^ Too Much Screen Time Affects Emotional Development in Children" Archived 2017-03-30 at the Wayback Machine. Randall Mayes. September 9, 2014.
    24. ^ "An Invigorating Dialogue on Consciousness"[permanent dead link]. Vuokko Jarva, University of Helsinki
    25. ^ "Awards for the Society for Media Psychology and Technology". The Amplifier Magazine.
    26. ^ "Awards: World Futures Studies Federation". World Futures Studies Federation. March 29, 2017. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
    source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dana_Klisanin
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