Heather C Lench is an affective scientist, and professor and head in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Texas A&M University. Her research focuses on emotions as the foundation of cognitive and social processes, particularly how people think about their futures. Her work has been covered in multiple outlets such as Wired and Business Insider, awarded by the American Psychological Association, and supported by the National Science Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation working group on Virtue, Happiness, and Meaning in Life.