About

A life across disciplines

Professor Ram Mahalingam's path has moved through engineering, writing, theatre, teaching, psychology, contemplative practice, leadership, art, and social research.

Biography

[Placeholder for a professionally written long-form biography.] The narrative will trace an early life in Tamil Nadu, an education in civil engineering, and years spent in writing and theatre before a decisive turn toward psychology.

[Placeholder.] It will describe the years of working as a teacher, a cook, and a night watchman — experiences that later shaped a scholarly attention to labor that institutions rarely see.

[Placeholder.] It will follow his doctoral work in cultural psychology, his academic career at the University of Michigan, and the development of research on intersectionality, mindfulness, and dignity.
[Placeholder.] It will close with his leadership education work, international speaking, filmmaking, and current public writing.

Timeline

Eight movements

  1. Beginnings

    Engineering

    Civil engineering training in India.

  2. Early work

    Theatre and Writing

    Plays, essays, and storytelling.

  3. Turning

    Psychology

    A move toward the study of mind and culture.

  4. Doctoral work

    Cultural Psychology

    Culture, caste, gender, and belief.

  5. Faculty

    University of Michigan

    Teaching, research, and mentorship.

  6. Development

    Mindfulness and Dignity

    The Mindful Dignity framework.

  7. Institutional

    Leadership Education

    Barger Leadership Institute.

  8. Now

    International Public Work

    Keynotes, film, and public writing.

Current roles

Where the work happens

  • Professor of Psychology

    University of Michigan

  • Director, Barger Leadership Institute

    University of Michigan

  • Chief Learning Officer & Strategic Advisor

    My Safe Spaces

  • Author

    Represented by Glass Literary Management

  • Instructor

    Coursera

  • International Speaker

    Universities, conferences, institutions

    • “How can we become more fully aware of one another — and turn that awareness into dignity?”

    Research philosophy

    Recognition

    Awards and honours

  • 2023 · University of Michigan

    Recognition for excellence in mentorship and teaching.

  • 2021 · International research society

    Award for scholarship on dignity and work.

  • 2019 · Documentary festival

    Selection for a film on invisible labor.

    • Art and filmmaking

    Seeing through other forms

    Film, visual art, photography, poetry, contemplative art, and collaborations with student artists extend the research into other registers of attention.

    Downloads

    Biography, CV, and media kit

    Download Short Biography
    Download Full Biography
    Download Academic CV
    View Media Kit
    Files will be attached once final approved versions are supplied.
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