Best 40-Under-40 Professor Nicholas Epley

If Nicholas Epley is one of the most accomplished B-school professors under 40 in the world, he’s also one of the most fascinating. When the Iowa native and former college linebacker is not studying why people think and behave the way they do, he’s feeding chickens, nurturing fruit trees, or splitting wood–in Chicago. The professor of behavioral science turned his home into a veritable urban farm as a way for his family to main a connection with nature.

He tackles his academic life with equal zeal.  The  39-year-old is a prolific researcher and has written more than 50 articles for some two dozen journals, including the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Psychological Science, Psychological Review, and the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. In 2011, the American Psychological Association presented him with the Award for Distinguished Early Career Scientific Contribution to Psychology. 

Research credentials aside, he’s a stellar instructor too. Prior to joining Booth, Epley taught at Harvard as an assistant professor, where he was voted one of the university’s “Favorite Professors” three years in a row. At Booth, he’s known as a down-to-earth, nice guy who knows his stuff. His award-winning research makes a compelling case for studying behavioral science in a field skewed to favor the more traditional finance, economics and operations courses.

Nicholas Epley is among “The World’s 40 Best B-School Profs Under the Age of 40“