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Boaz Keysar

William Benton Professor in Psychology

University of Chicago

Boaz Keysar is the William Benton Professor in Psychology at the University of Chicago, where he is renowned for his research in the fields of language and communication. Professor Keysar leads the Multilingualism and Decision-Making Lab, where he investigates how language affects thought processes and decision-making.  

Before his current role, Keysar has held various academic and research positions. He served as an Associate Professor and later as a Full Professor at the University of Chicago, contributing significantly to the field of cognitive psychology. His earlier career includes a tenure as a Research Scientist at the University of Illinois, where he conducted pioneering studies on metaphor and pragmatic language use. 

Keysar has published extensively in top-tier academic journals, including "Psychological Science," "Cognitive Psychology," and "Journal of Experimental Psychology." His influential papers cover a wide range of topics, from the cognitive effects of bilingualism to the mechanisms of social cognition.One of his notable publications is "The Foreign-Language Effect: Thinking in a Foreign Tongue Reduces Decision Biases," which has garnered significant attention for its insights into how using a foreign language impacts decision-making processes. Another significant work, "Egocentric Processes in Communication and Miscommunication," explores the common pitfalls in everyday communication and has been widely cited in the field. 

After receiving his B.A. from the Hebrew University in 1984 and his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1989. Keysar served as a visiting scholar at Stanford University. He joined the faculty of the University of Chicago in 1991, where he has since made significant contributions to cognitive psychology. Keysar earned his Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Princeton University in 1989. His doctoral research focused on the intricacies of language comprehension and production, laying the foundation for his future studies on communication. 

Keysar has been honored with the Quantrell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a Fulbright Scholarship. He has obtained substantial funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Additionally, President Clinton awarded him the President's Service Award for his non-profit work. 

Baidoa, Somalia

Makeshift, temporary shelter made of plastic and clothing at a refugee center in Baidoa, Somalia.