Boston College students and faculty gathered alongside artists, scholars, and practitioners from around the globe for the 2026 Attention and Flourishing Conference. Co-organized by the Boston College Center for Psychological Humanities and Ethics, the international conference was held from June 11 to June 13 on the University of Navarra campus.
Madeleine Hadinoto
Over three days, a variety of moderated discussion sessions and symposiums based in Pamplona, Spain encouraged attendees to explore the undertheorized relationship between “the virtue of attention, mental health, and the flourishing of individuals and communities.” The majority of materials accepted by the conference committee were contributed by academics, faculty members, and experts with a graduate level education or higher.
The year’s precedent for student participation shifted with the acceptance of a paper written by a Lynch School student. As the sole undergraduate student selected to present at the 2026 conference, Madeleine Hadinoto ‘27 (Applied Psychology and Human Development) presented in the company of prominent scholars and plenary speakers.
Hadinoto’s presentation of her paper “Becoming: Attention as an Artistic Process” was featured during a session moderated by Boston College faculty member and Conference Chair Matthew Clemente.
“To be part of a resonant dialogue responding to human suffering is an incredible honor,” Hadinoto reflects. “Revisiting and drawing connections to a collection of thoughts I had not believed would matter, in ways I never imagined, was deeply special. I am grateful for every moment and person who guided me towards this opportunity—especially Dean DeVoy.”
The thesis of Hadinoto’s paper is rooted in the understanding of attention as a “dynamic artistic process.” Through a range of teachings from thought leaders such as Rainer Maria Rilke, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and the Dalai Lama, she explores the intersection of metacognition, artistic intent, and human flourishing.
Joined by community members from the Boston College Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, Hadinoto connected with attendees in the shared exploration of how attention comes into play in both artistic practices and dedicated artistic spaces. As the first student at Boston College to declare a minor in Psychological Humanities, Hadinoto demonstrates a profound interest in fostering fuller notions of mental health and well-being.
Joined by community members from the Boston College Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, Hadinoto connected with attendees in the shared exploration of how attention comes into play in both artistic practices and dedicated artistic spaces. As the first student at Boston College to declare a minor in Psychological Humanities, Hadinoto demonstrates a profound interest in fostering fuller notions of mental health and well-being.
Hadinoto’s conference presentation and continued interest in the psychological humanities exemplify the Lynch School’s mission commitment to enhancing the human condition.