This is a message from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research.
Brian Boyd will serve as interim director for the Winston Center on Technology and Brain Development starting January 16, 2026. Boyd is the William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Education in the School of Education and has served as director of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute — one of the nation’s leading centers on early childhood research — since 2023. In addition to sharing research interests and community, FPG and the Winston Center are co-located in the Spangler Building.
Founded in 2022, the Winston Center was established with transformational gifts from the Winston Family Foundation thanks to the vision and motivation of psychologist and philanthropist James “Jim” Winston, Jr. Winston conceptualized the initiative and remains a strong champion of the center and its research on the effects on excessive technology use on adolescent development and wellbeing.
Under the leadership of founding directors Eva Telzer and Mitch Prinstein, the Winston Center has grown to become a national research leader on the long-term effects of technology and social media use on the adolescent brain and how it impacts relationships, behavior, and well-being. Their contributions have created deep impact across the field, reaching audiences and influencing policy across the world. Telzer and Prinstein will continue in leadership roles within the center, as Chief Neuroscience Officer and Chief Behavioral Science Officer, respectively.
A search for a permanent director will be launched in early 2026.