James “Jim” Winston, Jr., Ph.D, is a psychologist and philanthropic leader, with more than 30 years of experience treating and studying addiction. A single father of two teenage sons, Winston brings both a professional and deeply personal perspective to his work on adolescent mental health and the deleterious effects of excessive digital technology exposure and use.
He holds a B.A. and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Letters from the University of Oxford. Early in his career, he worked with an addiction recovery program at a federal correctional institution before moving to Florida to serve as the clinical supervisor of an adolescent sex offender treatment program run by the University of Miami.
Winston’s extensive clinical experience and insights into the brain science of addiction have guided the development of major research initiatives at UNC-Chapel Hill, including founding the Winston National Center on Technology Use, Brain, and Psychological Development. He conceptualized and championed this initiative from its inception, working closely with faculty and researchers to explore how excessive device use and social media affect the developing brain.
His vision has helped position the Winston National Center at the forefront of national efforts to study and understand the effects of excessive technology use on adolescent development and wellbeing.
Winston’s role extends far beyond philanthropy. He has become a leading voice in calling others to join the effort—leveraging his clinical expertise and professional network to build awareness, foster collaboration, and secure buy-in from educators, researchers, and policymakers concerned with children’s long-term mental health, cognitive development, and well-being.