Dr. Niobe Way Introduced to Malvern Prep Community

On Friday, March 20, Malvern Preparatory School officially introduced Dr. Niobe Way as the School’s 2026-2027 Scholar in Residence and launched her partnership with the Malvern Prep Community, one that will deepen our understanding of the young men we mentor and teach every day. Dr. Way is an internationally recognized Professor of Developmental Psychology and founder of the Project for the Advancement of our Common Humanity (PACH).

The introductory Conversation with Dr. Niobe Way fittingly took place during Learning Demonstration Day - an annual celebration when our community comes together to celebrate learning in all its shapes and forms. Dr. Way was joined on stage by Dr. Patrick Sillup, Rev. Bill Gabriel, O.S.A., Mac Crawford ’26, and Donnie Sadoff ’26. Sharing information about the research she has conducted over the past 40 years, Dr. Way noted that when she began her research, she really started listening to young people, “all they wanted to talk about, particularly the boys, was friendships, and the struggle to find friendships and to hold on to meaningful friendships.” Dr. Way pointed out that, contrary to the stereotypes our culture has created, all humans desire close friendships, and that desire is not reserved solely for young women.

Connecting Dr. Way’s important work to our School’s Augustinian mission, Fr. Gabriel commented, “When you look at Augustine’s life, all he talks about is the power of friendship and how much that is needed in the world … we [MalvernPrep] hope to be the antidote to provide a pro-social culture.” 

This introductory event is the first in a year-long series of engagements with Dr. Way and provided our community the opportunity to hear more about her research and what her residency at Malvern Prep will look like in practice.

About Dr. Niobe Way
Dr. Way has authored or co-authored over 100 journal articles and eight books, including Deep Secrets: Boys’ Friendships and the Crisis of Connection. Her latest book, Rebels with a Cause: Reimagining Boys, Ourselves, and Our Culture, is the result of nearly 40 years spent conducting studies with teenagers, particularly boys and young men from diverse backgrounds. Her research examines how culture shapes the way children develop emotionally and socially. This work has made her a leading authority on everything from friendship and loneliness to gender stereotypes, masculinity, and the roots of violence. Dr. Way’s insightful research draws a direct line from her subjects’ insights to a much wider crisis that is impacting us all, and what is in our power to change.  

About the Scholar-in-Residence Program at Malvern Prep
The Scholar-in-Residence Program at Malvern Prep launched during the 2023-24 academic year. The program is essential to Malvern's trusted and transformational Augustinian experience. The main goals of the program are to connect the Malvern Prep Community with individuals who have achieved true excellence in a particular field by inviting them to serve as a Scholar in Residence for a full academic school year and to provide living examples of excellence for students, faculty, and staff to learn with and from this individual through a variety of events throughout the school year, including all-school assemblies, classroom visits, teacher professional development days, and microcourses. 

View Photos from Dr. Way's Visit