Hall of Fame Member Biographies

Chan M. Hellman

Chan M. Hellman is a professor at the University of Oklahoma and director of The Hope Research Center. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Health Promotion Science in the College of Public Health. Before joining OU in 2002, he earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Northwestern Oklahoma State University, a master’s in experimental psychology from the University of Central Oklahoma, and a Ph.D. in educational psychology from OSU.

Chan has over 80 scholarly publications, and his research is focused on hope as a psychological strength that helps children and adults overcome trauma and adversity. This research led to the development of the “Hope Centered and Trauma Informed” training program used to promote Hope Centered Organizations across the US. Chan co-founded Hope Rising Oklahoma along with First Lady Sarah Stitt in their effort to make Oklahoma a hope-centered state. He is also the co-author of the award-winning book “Hope Rising: How the Science of Hope Can Change Your Life” published by Morgan James.

Chan has presented his work on hope on TEDx and delivered keynote addresses across the US, Europe, and the Middle East. He was one of five scholars invited to present workshops for Jane Goodall’s Activating Hope Summit in 2021. In 2023, Chan was invited to present on the main stage at the American Psychological Association convention and his work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, American Psychological Association Monitor, CNN, and TIME Magazine. In 2024, the OU Hope Research Center received the “Building Knowledge Through Research” award from the U.S. Department of Justice – Office for Victims of Crime, based on the effect the science of hope has on helping organizations under the DOJ’s umbrella serve victims of crime.