Tim Tai

Former University President Peter Salovey plans to make a return to teaching next year.

In an email to the News, Salovey wrote that he is “leaning toward” teaching a seminar on the psychology of leadership in higher education and a lecture on emotional intelligence. 

“I do plan to resume teaching at Yale next year,” Salovey wrote. “Back in the day, I used to teach large lecture courses such as Introduction to Psychology, and Psychology and Law. But I think I will now focus on courses that are a little more manageable.”

Since joining the faculty in 1986, Salovey taught “Introduction to Psychology,” known to students as “Psych 101,” nearly every year until 2003, when he was appointed the dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. 

After leading the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences from 2003 to 2004, Salovey served as the dean of Yale College from 2004 to 2008, as University provost from 2008 to 2013 and as University president from 2013 to 2024. The last time Salovey taught was in fall 2012, according to CourseTable, a student course planning website. 

While Salovey wrote that he misses teaching “Introduction to Psychology,” which he estimates 6,000 to 8,000 students took with him over the years, he does not plan to teach it again.

“But the field of psychology has changed so much, and I would have a lot to learn before I could offer an excellent introduction to it again,” he wrote. “I love it when alumni come up to me at a reunions and tell me that they pursued a career in psychology or use psychology in other kinds of work because of my ‘Intro’ course.  That kind of feedback is very gratifying for any educator.”

Salovey also taught “Psychology and the Law,” which, according to alumni, was so popular it was taught in Battell Chapel. Most recently –– in 2011 and 2012 –– he taught “Great Big Ideas,” an “experimental residential college seminar” that he led during his provostship.

According to Salovey, he has worked on several projects since the end of his presidency, including an article on emotional intelligence, research on human jealousy and envy, and essays discussing controversies in higher education from a psychological perspective. Salovey has also edited a book of his speeches as dean and president, which will be published in 2026, he wrote. 

Alumni recall fond memories of ‘Easy A Salovey’ 

Alumni who took Salovey’s courses as undergraduates expressed enthusiasm for his return to the classroom, fondly recounting his dynamic teaching style and friendly personality.

Charlie Knoll ’92, who took “Introduction to Psychology” and “Psychology and the Law” with Salovey, wrote in an email to the News that Salovey and his “engaging, energetic, and funny” teaching style influenced him to major in psychology.

“I remember one time he brought a brain to class and held it aloft for us,” Knoll wrote. “I loved it. Since then, I’ve gone on to a career in Medicine and the brain and neurological system have been key aspects of my work. I can still picture his holding the brain.”

James Mattucci ’90 –– who took “Introduction to Psychology” in fall 1986, Salovey’s first time teaching the course –– described the former University president’s teaching as “half-teaching, half-stand-up.”

According to Phoebe Roberts ’95, “Psychology and the Law” met at a different location every session until the end of add/drop period due to its popularity, eventually settling at Battell Chapel.

James Borin ’93 MED ’98, who took the class, wrote in an email to the News that while students staged various pranks in the memorably large lecture –– including dressing up as secret service agents to escort students to seats, unfurling a “huge banner” from above the lecture stage and streaking naked through the aisles –– Salovey handled the interruptions with grace and kept “everyone’s attention rapt.”

According to Abbe Walter ’92, “Psychology and the Law” was so popular that outside of the class, students sold t-shirts that read, “One in Four maybe more,” an apparent reference to a phrase traditionally used to describe the LGBTQ+ demographic at Yale and, according to Walter, a tribute to the course’s popularity. 

“Considering there was no social media or internet at the time, this class was definitely ‘a thing’ and that can be wholly attributed to how great a teacher Peter Salovey was,” Walter wrote in an email to the News.

The former president was also dubbed “Easy A Salovey,” according to seven alumni.

Cheryl Green ’93, who was Salovey’s mentee for the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, praised Salovey’s kind personality. When she, who is in a wheelchair, couldn’t attend class because of a broken elevator, Salovey came to her residential college, Jonathan Edwards, and taught her one-on-one until the elevator was fixed, she wrote in an email to the News.

Dozens of alumni agreed that Yalies will be lucky to learn from Salovey. 

“I am happy that Dr. Salovey is returning to teaching –– it’s a wonderful coda to his tenure as University President and it will benefit so many Yalies,” Lauren Mangini ’03 wrote in an email to the News.

Salovey was Yale’s 23rd president.