Dr. Ron Bonnstetter
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CO-HOST OF THE MINDSCIENCE PLAYBOOK PODCAST + NEUROSYSTEMS SCIENTIST + SCIENCE EDUCATOR + AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR AND EDUCATOR + SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT + DIRECTOR MINDSCIENCE CENTER
Get to Know Dr. Ron
Dr. Ron Bonnstetter serves as the co-host of The MindScience Playbook podcast and the senior vice president of research and development for Target Training International, Ltd. He is also the Executive Director of the MindScience Center and a Professor Emeritus of University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Every event we host is designed with intention, from the atmosphere we create to the way each session flows.
Dr. Ron
DR. RON’S PHILOSOPHY
When we better understand ourselves, we gain the freedom to become more intentional about who we are, how we connect with others, and the legacy we leave behind.
Ron’s life work, whether it involved education, neuroscience, assessment, leadership, or storytelling, has focused on this one key idea.
The most important journey we undertake is the path to understanding ourselves. Science gives us powerful tools to examine human behavior and the brain. Data alone, however, cannot fully explain who we are. Understanding self only emerges when we combine data with reflection—when we understand how our biology, behavior, motivations, experiences, and defining moments come together to shape the stories we tell ourselves. Self-awareness, therefore, is not just an exercise in introspection; it is the foundation for growth, better decisions, stronger relationships, and more authentic leadership.
Ron also believes that who we have been does not have to determine who we will become. Throughout life, we accumulate labels, successes, failures, expectations, and moments that quietly shape our identity. Wisdom comes from having the courage to revisit those moments, rethink the meaning we assigned to them, and, when necessary, redefine our story.
Ron’s life work, whether it involved education, neuroscience, assessment, leadership, or storytelling, has focused on this one key idea.
The most important journey we undertake is the path to understanding ourselves. Science gives us powerful tools to examine human behavior and the brain. Data alone, however, cannot fully explain who we are. Understanding self only emerges when we combine data with reflection—when we understand how our biology, behavior, motivations, experiences, and defining moments come together to shape the stories we tell ourselves. Self-awareness, therefore, is not just an exercise in introspection; it is the foundation for growth, better decisions, stronger relationships, and more authentic leadership.
Ron’s life work, whether it involved Ron also believes that who we have been does not have to determine who we will become. Throughout life, we accumulate labels, successes, failures, expectations, and moments that quietly shape our identity. Wisdom comes from having the courage to revisit those moments, rethink the meaning we assigned to them, and, when necessary, redefine our story.
Dr. Bonnstetter has amassed an arsenal of recognition and research even before entering the field of cognitive neurology, including the first recipient of the National Senior Outstanding Science Educator of the Year Award and the only secondary science preparation program recognized in the national Search for Excellence in Science Education. His current gamma asymmetry electroencephalography (EEG) research has resulted in two patents. Plus, he was honored with the 2019 Joe Kamiya First-Person Science Award during the annual conference of the International Society of Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR). This award is named in honor of Dr. Joe Kamiya who was the first to document the ability to noninvasively alter brain wave activity by using a simple reward system and is considered the father of modern neurofeedback. Current research pursuits include the development of biology-based communication strategies, peak performance and the brain, development of personal attribute soft skills, and brain-based findings that inform human interactions. His cutting-edge Prefrontal Cortex Gamma Asymmetry research is impacting ipsative assessments and appraisal research protocols world-wide. He is the co-author of The Five Sciences of Self: How Personal Insights Create Transformative Impact with colleague Carissa Gwerder Collazo.
Ron’s Story
Dr. Bonnstetter has amassed an arsenal of recognition and research even before entering the field of cognitive neurology, including the first recipient of the National Senior Outstanding Science Educator of the Year Award and the only secondary science preparation program recognized in the national Search for Excellence in Science Education. His current gamma asymmetry electroencephalography (EEG) research has resulted in two patents. Plus, he was honored with the 2019 Joe Kamiya First-Person Science Award during the annual conference of the International Society of Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR). This award is named in honor of Dr. Joe Kamiya who was the first to document the ability to noninvasively alter brain wave activity by using a simple reward system and is considered the father of modern neurofeedback.
Current research pursuits include the development of biology-based communication strategies, peak performance and the brain, development of personal attribute soft skills, and brain-based findings that inform human interactions. His cutting-edge Prefrontal Cortex Gamma Asymmetry research is impacting ipsative assessments and appraisal research protocols world-wide. He is the co-author of The Five Sciences of Self: How Personal Insights Create Transformative Impact with colleague Carissa Gwerder Collazo.
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In Defined by Moments, Dr. Ronald J. Bonnstetter traces his life through vivid, unguarded stories—from growing up a free-range farm kid in Iowa to becoming a global leader in behavioral science. Each chapter captures a pivotal experience that shaped his thinking, followed by a reflection that reveals what it taught him about identity, resilience, and growth.
Sometimes humorous, often raw, and always real, these stories invite you to pause and consider your own. Because when we look back with honesty and curiosity, the moments that once defined us can begin to refine us instead.
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The Five Sciences of Self explores the intricate dynamics of human behavior through five disciplines: DISC, motivation, workplace competencies, emotional intelligence, and the Hartman Value Profile. These disciplines form the basis for transformative assessments that shed light on the underlying motivations and decision-making processes that guide personal and professional growth.
TTI Success Insights’ assessments leverage these five areas of study to offer insights into individual capabilities in both personal and professional contexts. These assessments are essential tools for unlocking individual potential, driving innovation, and ensuring team and organizational success. The insights gained from understanding personal attributes are key to fostering productive, harmonious workplaces and strong relationships.
The book also emphasizes the value of diversity in thought and behavior, showing how assessments can promote empathy and better communication in team settings. By acknowledging diverse perspectives, these tools lead to more innovative and effective collaboration. Backed by empirical research and advanced EEG brain imaging, TTI’s approach validates the assessments’ accuracy in capturing the brain’s response to stimuli, highlighting the sophisticated interplay between psychological theories and practical application in understanding human behavior.
Gold Medal Winner of the 2025 North American Book Awards in Nonfiction: Business Entrepreneurial.
Career highlights
| 2026 | Published Book // Defined by Moments |
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| 2025–Present | Co-launched the MindScience Playbook Podcast with Dr. Dave Gosselin |
| 2024 | Completed Clinical Music Therapy Certification for palliative care |
| Awarded Gold Medal, National Book Awards Association, for The Five Sciences of Self, category of Entrepreneurship | |
| Published Book // Five Sciences of Self | |
| 2023–Present | Appointed Executive Director, The MindScience Center, Scottsdale, AZ |
| 2019 | Received the Joe Kamiya First-Person Science Award, International Society of Neurofeedback and Research annual conference |
| 2015 | Issued U.S. Patent for “Validation Process for Ipsative Assessments,” providing hard-science validation for behavioral assessment tools using EEG neurological data |
| 2012 | Nominated for the National Edison Award. Delivered keynote address, World Council for Science Education, Bangkok |
| 2011 | Retired from UNL as Professor Emeritus after 27 years |
| Joined TTI Success Insights, Scottsdale, AZ as Senior Vice President of Research and Development | |
| 2007 | Appointed Senior Fulbright Specialist |
| 2000 | Promoted to Full Professor of Science Education, UNL |
| 1997 | Hosted “Sixty Second Science,” a weekly science television segment reaching Nebraska families |
| 1994–1998 | Served as Editor, Science Education International |
| 1990 | Promoted to Associate Professor, UNL |
| 1989 | Received NSTA Science Teaching Achievement Recognition (STAR) Award |
| 1987 | Received the National Search for Excellence in Secondary Science Education Award, presented by Dr. Carl Sagan, Washington D.C. The only program in the nation to receive this recognition |
| 1984 | Joined UNL faculty as Assistant Professor. Earned Ph.D. in Science Education and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa |
| 1976–1981 | Director of Environmental Technology Program, Iowa Lakes Community College |
| 1976 | Earned M.S. in Science Education and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa |
| 1973–1975 | 8th Grade Science Teacher, Muscatine Community School, Iowa |
| 1973 | Earned B.S. in Biology and Earth Science, Mankato State University |