Dr. Paul Parkin is a teacher, speaker, and researcher who focuses on connection and happiness. He received a Master’s Degree from California State University, Sacramento in Leadership and Instructional communication, and a Ph.D. from the University of Utah in Relational communication. He has given a TEDx Talk on his doctoral dissertation research which focused on the transformative nature of empathy, and is currently finishing a book about the connection between empathy and happiness. In addition, he has won multiple teaching awards, the most recent being the Faculty Senate Adjunct Award of Excellence at UVU. Paul has a passion for teaching and facilitating positive change in and out of the classroom. He is a firm believer that people can change their lives for the better by changing the way they relate to themselves and to others. When he is not working, Paul enjoys short walks on the beach, candlelit breakfasts, and cooking, that is, delicious meals cooked by other people. But most of all, Paul enjoys spending time with his family.