People

Robin Albertson-Wren is CSC mindfulness instructor, author, workshop leader, and conference speaker. 

His research interests involve the use of non-pharmacological therapies and interventions, including Healing Touch and other mind-body therapies, to improve patient-reported and patient-centered outcomes in chronic disease populations and the health care setting.

Jinan is a student intern at the Contemplative Sciences Center. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, she is a second-year student at the University of Virginia and is planning on majoring in Cognitive Science. 

Nia Augustine is a student intern at CSC and she also serves as the Vice-President of the CIO, Contemplation at UVA. 

In her role as a faculty/educational developer, she facilitates a variety of events and programs designed to enhance the University’s teaching mission. Intensive multi-day workshops, year-long programs, and learning communities include the TRC’s Course Design Institute, the Excellence in Diversity Fellows Program, and the Contemplative Pedagogy Program, among others. She consults nationally and internationally on higher education teaching and learning. Her research focuses on early and mid-career faculty development, course design, learning portfolios, contemplative pedagogy, using social media for learning, transformational learning, and community engagement. A list of her workshops and publications can be found on her TRC webpage.

Thomas Ball studied finance and economics at the College of William and Mary and then earned an M.S. in Accounting from the McIntire School of Commerce in 2008. After work experience for an investment banking mergers and acquisitions firm and a large consultancy, he returned to school for a self-directed post baccalaureate pre-med course of study. He volunteered as an EMT for the fire department in his hometown where he meditated on route to respond to 911 calls. During this time, he was fortunate to become a mentee of an Oxford educated minister with knowledge and practice in the contemplative Christian traditions.

In his courses on leadership—offered through the McIntire School of Commerce, but a minor open to all students of the University—Professor Tom Bateman contextualizes the oft-used term ‘mindfulness’ through discussing how leaders can make decisions which consider long-term consequences for multiple stakeholders. Pausing and being fully aware of the wide array of all of an organization’s goals and opportunities allows leaders to rationally and proactively make decisions without merely reacting instinctively and without thought.

Ms. Batten is currently the President of the D.N. Batten Foundation and DTMP, LLC, a real estate investment company.

Benji is a student intern at the Contemplative Sciences Center (CSC). Originally from Waterloo, Belgium, he is a fourth-year student majoring in Leadership and Public Policy at the Batten School.

In order to combat the overwhelming size of the 350-person Science, Technology, and Contemporary Issues course—as well as the apparent indifference of the majority first-year students—Dr. Berne began introducing contemplative techniques to focus students’ attention on their experience in the here and now. In order to further develop her students’ understanding of how technology is affecting our lives, Dr. Berne combines this contemplative silence with an explicit emphasis on meaning-making which encourages her many engineering students to consider how their work and research can influence the larger society. Dr. Berne explains that this process has helped her to grow as an educator through generating a powerful vulnerability which leaves her open to her students’ particular needs.

Jason graduated from the University of Virginia in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. 

Owsley graduated from the University of Virginia in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology.

John Bultman is the Ashtanga Yoga Program Director for the Contemplative Sciences Center. He has been practicing Ashtanga yoga daily over 12 years and has been studying Science, the Arts, and spiritual practices his entire life.

Through training students in the Specific Affect Coding System (the SPAFF), an independently developed research tool for psychologists and neuroscientists—and a tool that functions as a contemplative practice in itself—Dr. Coan is eager to explore the effects of contemplation in a way that is independent of the many cultural trappings associated with it. Although this work is still in its early stages, Dr. Coan especially hopes to analyze how “SPAFF coding”—the focused observation of emotional behavior in others—affects coders themselves in their everyday lives. With this approach, Dr. Coan hopes to broaden common western views of contemplative practice to include concentration, focused attention, and deliberate action—not merely stress reduction.

Elyse offers customized yoga practices that range from restorative to intensive Hatha practices while integrating pranayama and mindfulness techniques.

Geoff is is an acupuncturist, meditation teacher, and Integral Coach who teaches embodied leadership through meditation, qi gong, and mindful communication. 

After working as an elementary administrator for 12 years, she decided to once again return to the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia, where she earned her Ed.D. In the Fall of 2016, Lynne opened her own school, Orion Academy, with a mindfulness foundation in Charlottesville, Virginia. She also teaches “Introduction to Mindfulness” to U.Va. undergraduate and graduate students.

Sandra specializes in creative mind-body strategies for groups.

Ellen is the Assistant Director of Communications at UVA’s Contemplative Sciences Center.

Martin’s captivating and thought-provoking teaching style has earned him praise and recognition from MBA students and Executive Education participants he has impacted at two of the top-ranked business schools in the country—currently at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, and previously at the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College.

Xara Davies is the Communications Intern for CSC. She is a third-year student from England majoring in Modern Literature and Culture. 

As Executive Director for Student Resilience & Leadership Development, Tim provides strategic direction on the University’s efforts to foster strengths and build leadership potential in the student community. 

Anthony DeMauro, Ph.D. is the Associate Director of the Dalai Lama Fellows Program and he also serves as Assistant Director of Student Initiatives for the Contemplative Sciences Center.

Susannah is a Night Owl Yoga instructor with CSC. 

Megan Downey in the Contemplative Schools Coordinator for the Contemplative Sciences Center.

Kauri is a yoga instructor for the Contemplative Sciences Center’s Night Owl Yoga Class. 

Trisha Elcan currently serves on the Board of The Frist Foundation and is Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Ensworth School.

Austin England is the Development Associate for the Contemplative Sciences Center.

With support from the Contemplative Sciences Center, Asa’s research titled “Landscapes of Longevity” has been investigating physical aspects of landscape that enable healthy communities, as well as the importance of a “sense of place” in fostering mental, spiritual, and social well-being. With research partner Harriett Jameson, this research will culminate in publications and a documentary film scheduled for the spring of 2014.

A PhD student within the School of Nursing and focused within the Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, Tamara’s dissertation project examines the feasibility of using restorative yoga to assist in symptom management for individuals diagnosed with the chronic disease of fibromyalgia. This research creates the cornerstone for her future work in complementary health-enhancing approaches within chronic disease populations.

Courtney Floyd, Ph.D. is Associate Director of Learning Technologies and Digital Humanities at the Contemplative Sciences Center. 

Isabelle Foley is a research assistant for the Contemplative Sciences Center. 

After a transformational experience at the Upaya Zen center funded through the generosity of Tussi Kluge, Dorrie Fontaine—Dean of the Nursing School—introduced the Compassionate Care Initiative to help nursing students, faculty and Medical Center colleagues become better healthcare providers for both their patients and themselves. Through yoga, meditation, and other activities focused on developing mindful awareness, nursing students and others develop the tools to create a compassionate healthcare system with a genuine concern for patient well-being.

He is the Assistant Vice President responsible for both HR Consulting Services and Employee Development. With nearly 20 years of human resources experience, he has worked in higher education as well as in nonprofit and corporate sectors. As a consultant and facilitator, he has worked with individuals and organizations all over the country on strategic planning, assessments, team building, change-management, and other development efforts.

He incorporates mindfulness and yoga into his daily life and has introduced contemplative practices into Employee Development programming available to all U.Va. faculty and staff through the Human Resources Leadership Development Center.

While teaching in the Department of Religious Studies, where he has advised many doctoral students, Germano is the Executive Director of the Contemplative Sciences Center, the Faculty director of the Tibet Center, and SHANTI (Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts Network of Technological Initiatives) at the University of Virginia. He has lived for many years in Tibetan communities in Tibet, where he has also worked extensively on programs of scholarly engagement, community service, participatory knowledge, and digital technology initiatives. He is currently focused on the exploration of contemplative ideas, values, and practices involving scientific methodologies and new applications in diverse fields in the professional schools, and in higher education overall.

Than Grove is the web programmer for the Contemplative Sciences Center. 

Erin Hall is the Director of Advancement for the Contemplative Sciences Center.

Alexis Harris is the Compassionate Schools Project Director for the Contemplative Sciences Center and a Research Assistant Professor for the Curry School of Education. 

Dr. Harris brings a passion for understanding a single issue’s multiple perspectives to his self-designed course Critical Thinking on Business Issues—an undergraduate seminar which uses detailed discussions on complex topics to give students practice in the process of thinking deeply and critically. While the belief in the value of critical thinking skills is becoming increasingly evident throughout the business world, universities are not responding quickly to train their students; Dr. Harris and the University of Virginia, therefore, are forerunners in providing students the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the skills of critical thinking.

Currently teaching a doctoral seminar this semester entitled: "Being and God: Contemplation" and is also writing a book on contemplation.

Emily Haugh is an undergraduate research assistant exploring the intersection of contemplation and ecology.

Madison is a third year student from Cincinnati, Ohio majoring in Neuroscience and English at the University of Virginia. She is a student intern at the CSC, allowing her to gain and spread knowledge concerning contemplative practices. In addition to her position at the center, Madison also serves as the Financial Officer of the CIO, Contemplation at UVA. 

Her personal quiet and reflective experience in re-examining her own life has led her to want to create similar experiences for others at U.Va. Thanks to the continuing support of Human Resources, she offers multiple retreats throughout the year. Employees spend the day at a beautiful and restorative setting (The International Center) and soak in various rejuvenating and reflective “tastings”. These include meditation, journaling, laughter yoga, Nia, guided imagery, music and a creative project. Most recently one participant stated that this experience left her “totally stress free, focused and ready to face the world again”.

Erin Lee Henshaw is an entrepreneur and mindfulness facilitator specializing in trauma-informed yoga, breath work and mindset programs.

Leslie Hubbard is the CSC Program Director for Student Learning and Initiatives.

Karen Kurotsuchi Inkelas is the Research Director for Undergraduate Initiatives for the Contemplative Sciences Center.

Harriett’s design and research interests include understanding how place works synthetically to foster well-being and incorporating holistic ideas of health—including spiritual, mental, and non-Western concepts—into design and planning. Her current MLA thesis is using the Landscapes of Longevity research to cultivate design strategies for public places that can support healthy aging. She is also a researcher for the Biophilic Cities Project.

Jennings is a Professor of Education at the Curry School of Education and Human Development  at the University of Virginia.

Hiromi believes that one of her missions is to help increase awareness of the health benefits of T’ai Chi and Ch’i Kung. 

Jason Jones is Assistant Director of the Office of Diversity and Engagement at the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science. 

Mr. Jones is founder, Co-Chairman, Chief Investment Officer and the controlling principal of Tudor Investment Corporation. Mr. Jones formed Tudor in 1980 and serves as its principal risk taker. Mr. Jones is a global macro discretionary trader and the primary risk taker for the firm’s flagship fund, Tudor BVI Global Fund, and the sole risk taker for Tudor Futures Fund.

Sonia Jones is a wellness advocate, impact philanthropist, founder of Sonima Wellness and the health and wellness website sonima.com.

He is Dean of the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, where he has taught advanced courses on leadership theory and global leadership. He is interested in exploring the application of contemplative principles and practices to leadership, particularly in the public sphere.

Karolyn Kinane, Ph.D., is Associate Director of Faculty Engagement and Pedagogy at the Contemplative Sciences Center.

After being introduced to mindfulness practices through her participation in Jon Kabat-Zinn’s visit to University of Virginia in 2010, Rebecca Kneedler realized that such techniques could have a profound impact on future teachers and educators. In her course Characteristics of Emotional Disturbances and Behavioral Disorders, Dr. Kneedler includes a lengthy section on mindfulness practices, which she hopes will provide her students the tools to help children with behavioral problems, while also protecting themselves from the self-recrimination and blame face by many inexperienced teachers. Through hiring a full-time coordinator, Dr. Kneedler plans to expand the mindfulness programs in the Curry School in the future.

Marty Krasney is an educator and organizational executive who served as the first Executive Director of Dalai Lama Fellows, from the its inception until its relocation to CSC.

Neha is a second-year UVA student and a student intern at CSC.  She enjoys working with students to integrate contemplative practices into their lives.

Karen Leshner is the founder of Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation, a family foundation focused on education in the San Francisco Bay Area. Intrepid’s mission is to identify, recruit, mentor and recognize superior teachers and school leaders.

Dr. Lillard's research concerns how children manage to live in pretend worlds as well as real ones and how those worlds effect them. Research on the impact of television on executive function, the transfer of information across the real-pretend boundary, the course of pretending over one's lifetime, how children understand to enter and exit pretend frames, how the brain responds to what is only imagined, and what children know about pretending all fall under this. She also studies Montessori education and its outcomes.

Robin Lilly, M.Ed., Viniyoga Therapist, has been a yoga practitioner for over 25 years.

His primary teaching and research interests are in administrative law, environmental law, cost-benefit analysis and executive review of agency decision-making. 

Katherine Ludwig is a Contemplative Sciences Writer for the Contemplative Sciences Center.

Seara is a second-year student pursuing a double major in Biology and Cognitive Science n the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Virginia. She is an intern and assistant researcher for the CSC and plans to advocate for preventative and holistic healing in health public policy.

Andrew Maryniuk is a graduate research assistant at the Contemplative Sciences Center, working with Michael Sheehy to build "Contemplative University", an online repository of indexed knowledge, current research, and practical guides on the contemplative sciences. 

Musicologist Fred Everett Maus is interested in musical experience and its relations to contemplation. Recent courses have included material on embodiment in musical experience, therapeutic uses of music, and experimental art influenced by contemplative practices (such as John Cage, Pauline Oliveros, Fluxus).

Benita Mayo is a CSC yoga instructor.

Through his undergraduate seminar Wisdom and Well-Being, David Mick integrates the study of business cases with contemplative practices to explore how we can become mindful and wise leaders. Dr. Mick’s 25-person seminar guides students through a variety of meditation activities and reflective exercises, ending with a Life Envisionment Project which encourages students to actively contemplate how to live a full life professionally and personally in accordance with their values, virtues, and ideals. These efforts allow students the opportunity to explore what it means to live a mindful life and become self-aware of their own innate wisdom.

Polina Mischenko, M.Ed. is a doctoral candidate at UVA’s Curry School of Education. Polina's research focuses on the experiences of teachers delivering the Compassionate School Project.

Jane currently serves as the Nursing student representative for U.Va. Student Council and is a Trustee for her class.

Eva Natanya is a doctoral candidate in Tibetan Buddhism at the University of Virginia. Previously, she studied Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and yogic practice for over eleven years, principally under Geshe Michael Roach (Lobsang Chunzin), through the Asian Classics Institute and at Diamond Mountain University

Bringing mindfulness and yoga to the International Residential Collage (IRC) since it's inception in the year 2000, Marga Odahowski has led the way for free weekly yoga, workshops, seminars, academic courses and leadership development based on mindfulness and other contemplative practices. Building a compassionate global living learning community with an emphasis of creating a living space that invites contemplation and providing community courses and events that explore compassion and social change has been the corner stone of Marga work with the IRC community. Incorporating mindfulness and other contemplative practices into academic leadership courses and university leadership programs for over 20 years, Marga introduced mindfulness to the Darden School of Business over 16 years ago has been a mindfulness trainer consultant in the MBA Executive Program.

Dr. Jennifer “Kim” Penberthy holds the Chester F. Carlson Professorship Chair in Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences at the UVA School of Medicine. She is clinician, researcher, teacher and innovator using contemplative practices to help people who suffer from deep mental suffering, addiction, and chronic medical conditions, such as cancer and lupus.

Sabrina is a student worker at CSC. She is a second-year student from Shanghai, China studying math and economics at the University of Virginia's College of Arts and Sciences.

Robert C. Pianta is Dean of the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. He also holds positions as the Novartis Professor of Education, Founding Director of the Curry School’s Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL), Professor of Psychology at the UVa College of Arts & Sciences, and Director of the National Center for Research in Early Childhood Education.

Jason Pickard retired from Tudor Investment Corp. where he was partner and portfolio manager focusing on discretionary commodity trading since June 2006.

Dr. Plews-Ogan is an internal medicine physician.  Her area of interest is wisdom, in particular how people develop wisdom.

After teaching the course Management Communication for several years, Dr. Elizabeth Powell of the Darden School of Business became interested in a topic called Leadership Presence, leading her to “wonder if I could develop a course that goes at public speaking and presentation of self in a different way.” Combining techniques from yoga, Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction program, and theater techniques, Dr. Powell created the course Communicating through Leadership Presence for Darden’s Executive MBA program.

Brian Pusser is Associate Professor of Higher Education at the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. 

His present courses focus on the design of various types of healthcare facilities and is also engaged in a number of research projects centering on the design of patient-centered medical facilities and healthy neighborhoods and cities. He is especially interested in the use of meditation in medical facilities and the design of the spaces that accommodate it. He has recently completed a study of the design features of an innovative cancer hospital at the University of Florida, Gainesville.

Georgianna is a 4-th year student studying English and sustainability. She serves as the president of Contemplation at UVA, teaches mindfulness, and is happy to meet with anyone in the community who is curious about meditation or contemplation.

She has spent the last two decades conducting research on elementary school classrooms with the goal of developing roadmaps for administrators and teachers making decisions for teachers and children. Her research examines the interactions between teachers and children and among the students’ themselves. The work pays close attention to school and classroom experiences that support students’ interest in learning, development of self-control, and social and emotional skills. In particular, she has had a steadfast commitment to examining ways of improving school experiences for students most at risk for school failure.

As a former cross-country coach and current sports administrator for over thirty years at the Universities of Virginia, North Alabama and Mississippi, Mr. Rivers has long been a practitioner of integrating contemplative practices which develop the link between the mind and the body for improved performance in wellness, athletics and management. Now as the special assistant to the Athletics Director, Mr. Rivers is continuing his work to bring University of Virginia students the opportunity to explore mind-body practices. For Ed Rivers, supporting contemplative activities at UVa does not only help students while on Grounds, but also provides them with practical life balance and stress coping skills to succeed after their academic careers.

Jenny Roe is the Mary Irene DeShong Professor of Design and Health and the Director of the Center of Design and Health in the School of Architecture, University of Virginia (UVa).

Martha Rouleau is a contemplative practice instructor with CSC. She considers it an honor to be able to practice with others sharing the journey of listening more deeply and compassionately to the true inner wisdom that resides within each of us.

Professor Ruhm’s recent research has focused on examining how various aspects of health are produced – including the rise in obesity and relationship between macroeconomic conditions and health – and on the role of government policies in helping parents with young children balance the competing needs of work and family life.

For the past 10 years Dr. Ruzek has provided psychological care for emerging adults at universities in California and Virginia. She joined UVa’s Student Health Services (SHS) in August 2012 and is currently a Staff Psychologist and Group Services Coordinator for the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) division of SHS. Dr. Ruzek received her PhD from Sofia University (formerly the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology) in 2004.

A graduate of Harvard University's Department of Sanskrit and Indian Studies (2000), Kurtis Schaeffer is Professor in the History of Religions section of the Department of Religious Studies, and currently serves as Associate Chairman of the Department.

Dr. Schorling is eager to integrate mindfulness practices into his life and work as a physician and educator. He is involved with the Mindfulness Center course Mindfulness for Healthcare Providers.  Paired with this course, Dr. Schorling also teaches the course Mindfulness and Motivational Interviewing for students in the University of Virginia School of Medicine, which utilizes mindfulness and contemplative practices.  He also teaches the course Mindfulness and the Brain which combines learning about the mechanisms within the brain that are impacted by meditation, and actually practicing meditation and mindfulness in order to experience them.

Sandy Seidel has served as an Association Dean in the Undergraduate Advising Office in the College of Arts and Sciences since 2005. As Director of Studies for the International Residential College, Sandy works with the Principal, the IRC Professorial and Community Fellows and the IRC Council to build a caring and mindful residential community.

Bela Shah, J.D. is the Interim Program Manager and Contemplative Leadership Coach for the Contemplative Sciences Center (CSC).

Director of Scholarship at the Contemplative Sciences Center, Michael leads the Contemplative University initiative and is research faculty in Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religious Studies.

Kelly is a fourth-year student at the University of Virginia majoring in Cognitive Science and East Asian Studies. Kelly works as a student intern at CSC and serves on the board of the student CIO, Contemplation at UVA with the goal of creating a community and culture of contemplation within the undergraduate space.

Kara Snapp is a yoga instructor for CSC.

Andy Starr is currently a third year medical student at the UVa School of Medicine. Before returning to school, to pursue his MD he received a Master of Acupuncture degree from the Tai Sophia Institute for the Healing Arts in Laurel, MD in 2008 and then ran a private practice in New York City.

Brad focuses on the playfullness in mindfullness, his classes and workshops have people laughing, hugging, (sometimes crying), and always smiling with the realization that innate health is discovered and we all yearn to share with each other.

Elevates uses of contemplative practices for individuals, groups, and communities struggling together for social change.  

Leslie Tanner is an artist, educator, and meditation teacher.

As Dean of the University of Virginia School of Architecture, Kim Tanzer believes that the environment around people—the building, the landscape, and the community—can have a profound influence on their physical and psychological health. In order to better support creating mindful environments which promote health, Dean Tanzer has been central in establishing the Center for Design and Health—an organization within the architecture school whose purpose is to coordinate students’ study of therapeutic environments. In this move, she has been an innovator in the field, extending the art of building healing environments beyond the more traditionally therapeutic buildings like hospitals.

Athreya is currently the Co-President of Compassionate Awareness and Living Mindfully (CALM)

Professor Taylor has been a faculty member and clinical researcher for more than four decades at the University of Virginia.

Judith Thomas is the director of Arts and Media Services for the University of Virginia Library.

Patrick H. Tolan is the Charles S. Robb Professor of Education at the University of Virginia in the Curry School of Education, and in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences in the School of Medicine. He is Director Emeritus of the Youth-Nex Center, the UVA Center to Promote Effective Youth Development.

Juliet Trail is the Director of Education of the Contemplative Sciences Center (CSC). In this role, she oversees the center's direct instruction of academic and co-curricular classes, retreats, events and programs, as well as efforts related to student flourishing in the residential domain. She teaches contemplative courses, manages center research on higher education topics, and has a particular focus on faculty engagement programs designed to connect faculty and classrooms with contemplative and reflective pedagogies.

Trained as a meditation instructor in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Nicholas Trautz has had a central role in leading the contemplative labs for the course Buddhist Meditation where students experiment with a variety of meditation traditions originating in Buddhism, but secularized for a modern context. In addition to weekly practice in the contemplative labs, students are asked to do brief calm-abiding meditations three times a week, while also keeping a journal outlining their experiences and reactions to meditating. Demonstrating the links between creative production and contemplation, these journals have deeply impressed Nicholas and validated the importance of broadening the traditional academic definition of what it means to learn and to know.

Elaine’s yoga classes are focused on building deep strength while maintaining a tenderness toward the body. 

Jeff Walker is Chair of the Advisory Board for the Contemplative Sciences Center. He is Chairman of New Profit, a social change investment fund and is Vice Chair in the United Nations Envoy’s Office focused on front line health.

Zoë grew up in Charlottesville and graduate from U.Va. in 2005 with a degree in History and Religious Studies.

Mick Watson is the director of operations for the Contemplative Sciences Center at UVA, and he handles the fiscal and Human Resources for CSC. 

Lauren is a fourth-year research assistant for the Student Flourishing Initiative.

Sarah recently received her 200 hour yoga teacher certification from Mosaic Yoga in Charlottesville and continues to study and practice the Ashtanga series with her teacher, Jennifer Elliot.

Susanna Williams, PhD is Associate Director of the U.Va. Mindfulness Center, where she is a faculty member and teaches several courses.  She has a background in health care, and has worked both internationally and domestically in the area of designing and implementing health systems with a focus on full wellbeing, and sees mindfulness as both an entryway and a prerequisite for global development.

A current Masters Student in Religion, she studies under several of the Contemplative Science Center's faculty board members, works for the CSC's Ashtanga Yoga program, and teaches yoga at UVa.

Her research interests include Dream Yoga, physical yogic practices that aim at healing and personal development, and philosophy. She hopes to help foster increased communication between Religion, Psychology, Neuroscience, Medicine and Education.