Shaun McNiff is the founder of the first Expressive Arts Therapy graduate training program at Lesley University and University Professor Emeritus. He established the Institute for Arts and Human Development at Lesley, serving as Director and then Dean from 1974-1988. He is a past president of the American Art Therapy Association and Honorary Life Member. In 2009, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts recognized him as 'Founder and Champion of Expressive Arts Therapy.'