Katherine Cotter

Katherine Cotter is the Director of Research for the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project at the University of Pennsylvania. With a PhD in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, her research explores how engagement with music, visual arts, and aesthetic experiences contributes to well-being and a flourishing life.

Her personal history in the arts informs her academic pursuits. Having played the flute through college, she developed a deep interest in the vital role the arts play in fostering community and connection, which ultimately led her to study the psychology behind it.

She leads the “Art Museums for Well-Being” initiative, a project specifically examining how visiting museums can enhance human flourishing.