Christopher Congleton, PhD, Chief Executive Officer
Christopher brings over two decades of expertise in applied emergence theory to his vision and leadership. His diverse background spans social science research on collective action problems in transportation at the municipal level, applied behavioral consultation and organizational management to solve human-scale problems and build resilience at the individual, family, and organizational levels. Christopher’s leadership experience in organizational and cultural development and his research experience on collective action and emergence in evolution combine with Iuval’s theoretical discoveries and insights to drive CARE’s innovative research and development. Christopher’s interests include exploring political neurodivergence to bridge divides and promote greater empathy and transpartisan functionality. Driven by a vision for a more adaptable and just world, he helps communities reflect, plan, and act to overcome global challenges, scaling up from the lowest levels.
Iuval Clejan, PhD, Chairman of the Board
Iuval grew up in a rural environment as a free-range child, cultivating a boundless curiosity about human and more-than-human worlds. Fascinated by peeling back the “simple truths” that cloak our collective thinking, he earned a PhD in Statistical Physics from BU to explore the roots of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. A postdoctoral stint in semiconductor process simulation brought him to Motorola, where he helped advance integrated chip production, before he moved on to UNC to research DNA and aging—a leap that tested his agility as a transdisciplinary thinker. Now at CARE, he investigates how collaborators can rebuild the “Missing Middle”—those layers of community connecting individuals and the State—and examines how emergence can supersede reduction as a framework for understanding evolutionary adaptation.
Matthew C. Bronson, PhD, Director of Education and Program Evaluation
Matthew is a social science researcher who bridges worlds by applying design thinking to transform data into actionable wisdom, enabling learning organizations to thrive. He brings 15 years of higher education administration experience, three decades of classroom instruction in fields like English, linguistics, and anthropology, and a talent for establishing new academic departments. Matthew’s role at CARE involves overseeing the design, delivery, and assessment of educational programs and initiatives, building institutional capacity, and ensuring alignment of the mission and strategic goals with organizational output.
Zeve Marcus, Research Fellow
Dr. Fan Xuan Chen, Research Fellow
Dr. Fan Xuan Chen earned his B.A. in Psychology from Nanyang Technological University and his PhD in Psychology from the University of Illinois. His research intersects cognitive, social, and cultural psychology, focusing on how individual and group identities shape behavior and societal dynamics. At CARE, Dr. Chen leverages methodologies from cultural psychology, behavioral economics, and social cognition to examine the links between neuropsychological mechanisms and social structures, fostering collective resilience and understanding.