She is a member of the board of the International Positive Psychology Association. Nakamura helped direct the Good Work Project, a series of studies of excellence and social responsibility in professional life. She has investigated positive psychology in a developmental context, including engagement and creativity, mentoring and good work, and aging well. Her writing and research address motivation and engagement in adulthood, the formative influences of mentoring and the formation of good mentors. Currently, in collaboration with Encore.org, she is conducting research on social innovation after 60 as a model for positive aging.