“Gratitude: Amplifier of the Good” will be the topic as Bellevue College (BC) and Eastern Washington University (EWU) team up to present a free, public “positive psychology” symposium on the BC main campus Nov. 12.

The symposium will feature EWU Professor of Psychology Dr. Philip Watkins, a published researcher who has investigated the impact of gratitude on happiness over the past 10 years.

Watkins’ presentation begins at 10:30 a.m. in room 201 of the college’s N Building (located at the south end of BC’s main campus).

“Although neglected in the past, recently gratitude has come to the forefront of research pertaining to the good life,” Watkins says. “Experimental studies support the idea that gratitude actually causes increased happiness.”

Watkins’ work has been covered in popular media such as Psychology Today, Self, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, and The Washington Post, and published in academic journals including Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology and Journal of Positive Psychology.

Eastern Washington University and Bellevue College have collaborated since 2003 to provide central Puget Sound residents with career advancement opportunities through high-quality bachelor’s degree completion programs on the BC campus.

The Eastern @ Bellevue College university center offers upper division courses leading to EWU bachelor’s degrees in psychology, business administration (management major), children’s studies (early childhood education option), interdisciplinary studies (social and behavioral science) and applied technology.

Bellevue College’s main campus is located at 3000 Landerholm Circle S.E., Bellevue, at the intersection of S.E. 28th St. and 148th Ave. S.E.

For further information on the symposium, please email htaylor@bellevuecollege.edu