Acacia's research focuses on self-help methods for increasing happiness via books and digital technology, with an emphasis on objective/observable outcomes such as physical health indicators. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Reed College, and her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where her graduate research helped build the foundation for research on bringing happiness interventions to the general public. She regularly publishes articles in scientific journals, has edited three books, and is also Associate Editor at the Journal of Positive Psychology. When she isn't doing research with Happify, she is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Hiram College.