Felice Leonard Buscaglia, also known as “Dr. Love”, was an American author, motivational speaker, and a professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Southern California.

He was the first to state and promote the concept of humanity’s need for hugs: 5 to survive, 8 to maintain, and 12 to thrive.[4]

Upon retirement, Buscaglia was named Professor at Large, one of only two such designations on campus at that time.[5]