Professor Derek Cabrera, PhD (Cornell), is a systems scientist and cognitive scientist. Cabrera is a member of the faculty at Cornell University and Faculty Director for the Graduate Certification Program in Systems Thinking, Modeling, and Leadership (STML). He oversees the world's largest Systems Thinking Conference at Cornell and is co-host of the Cabrera Lab Podcast, currently in the top 2% of all podcasts worldwide. In 2021, he was inducted into the International Academy for Systems and Cybernetic Sciences (IASCYS) for his outstanding contributions to the field. In 2025, he was elected Secretary General of IASCYS. His work is supported through numerous grants from the National Science Foundation. He serves on the Systems Engineering Advisory Board at the United States Military Academy at West Point, was Research Fellow at the Santa Fe Institute (SFI), a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow in Nonlinear Systems in the Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics at Cornell University. He is on the Science Board of the Systems Thinking Standards Institute (STSI)—the accrediting body for systems thinking standards based on scientific evidence of what works.

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As co-founder of the "science to society" Cabrera Research Lab , Derek leads efforts in basic and applied research in complexity and cognition and promotes public understanding of systems thinking. Derek has delivered two TED Talks, holds two US patents, and has authored a rap song and a children's book on cognition. His extensive publications include numerous book chapters, peer-reviewed journal articles, and ten books, including the award-winning "Systems Thinking Made Simple," "Thinking at Every Desk," and "Flock Not Clock" and his newest book, "Connect the Dots." 

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Derek's contributions have been recognized with numerous National Science Foundation and USDA grants including the two Innovation Research grants. He co-edited the "Handbook of Systems Thinking," serves on the editorial board of the journal "Systems," and is the Editor-in-Chief of the "Journal of Systems Thinking." He is renowned for discovering cognitive universals (DSRP Theory) and organizational universals (VMCL Theory). His work is featured in peer-reviewed journals, trade magazines, and popular publications, and documented in the full-length film "RE:Thinking."

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Derek was invited to develop online courses for the general public on LinkedIn Learning and eCornell and co-founded Plectica, where he created innovative software applications for systems mapping. As a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow, he advanced systems approaches in STEM evaluation and received the AAC&U's K. Patricia Cross Future Educational Leaders Award. His systems models are utilized in numerous programs, organizations, and educational institutions, including Silicon Valley companies, Cornell University, the US Military Academy at West Point, special forces, professional athletes, and the US Army War College.

 

Beyond academia, Derek has 35 years of experience as a mountain guide, having worked globally with Outward Bound and other organizations since 1988. He remains active in guiding and has a background in the Conservation Corps and Restorative Justice movements. Derek holds a PhD from Cornell University and resides in Ithaca, NY, with his wife, Laura Cabrera, their three children, and their three dogs.

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