Steven Hickman, PsyD, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and founding director of the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. He is an associate clinical professor in the UCSD Department of Family Medicine and Public Health. Hickman is also the executive director of the nonprofit Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, which is dedicated to disseminating the practice of self-compassion throughout the world.

Steven Hickman is a certified teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindful Self-Compassion, and is a teacher trainer for both programs. His area of specialty is the training of teachers of mindfulness and self-compassion and he founded the UC San Diego Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute dedicated to providing professional training and certification in the full spectrum of mindfulness-based programs. He is married and has three young adult children, affording him ample opportunities to practice what he teaches.