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Latest News
Kelly Crace Named Executive Director of the Contemplative Sciences Center
Crace will officially begin his new post in January 2025.
Title
Mission
The mission of the Contemplative Sciences Center (CSC) is combining contemplation, connection, and research to enhance flourishing. We pursue this mission through a variety of programs and initiatives in academic classrooms, residential life, research, scholarship, and social innovation.
We think of flourishing as a process of realizing well-being by achieving deep states of health and actualization of potential in all aspects of life—physical, social, emotional, cognitive, academic, and professional. To flourish also means actively contributing to the well-being and flourishing of other people, other communities, and the natural world and requires authentic connection and engagement with others within our community and beyond.
CSC undertakes and publishes research related to well-being, flourishing, and contemplation in K-12 and higher education including the Compassionate Schools Project and the Journal of Contemplative Studies.
Contemplation is a key facilitator of flourishing. We understand contemplation to be (i) a diverse suite of artful practices that can be learned, and (ii) curated experiences that intentionally transform and enhance persons, communities, and lived worlds.
Jack Korngold, CSC intern, received mentorship from Journal of Contemplative Studies editors and conducted research of the publication interview series, "What is Contemplation." Based on this research and his own experiences, this is how he defines contemplation.
Contemplation is a philosophical practice that goes beyond everyday reasoning or meditation. It involves connecting with the world on a deeper level, using our entire being — mind, body, and spirit — to gain insights and transform ourselves. Thomas Merton likened it to seeing with our whole being rather than just our minds. It is about attentive observation, understanding, and self-awareness, fostering a connection to our surroundings and a deeper understanding of reality. Muhammad Faruque, a professor of Islam, described it as a cognitive and spiritual activity that unites the mind, body, and spirit in personal transformation. Contemplative practices, enveloping meditation and introspection, raise a heightened awareness and appreciation for life’s subtleties, fostering a sense of association with the world around us. This interconnectedness also extends to our society, linking members through shared experiences of contemplation and deeper understanding of each other’s opinions and emotions. Contemplation can also allow us to slow down and seek higher levels of intention and meaning in our lives. Through today’s lens, contemplative studies explore these practices across the many disciplines, emphasizing their extensive human facets and their role in enhancing our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.
