Plenary Faculty and Discussants

Plenary faculty deliver lectures and are available to answer attendee questions throughout the week, often leading breakout sessions and participating in panel discussions. Their lectures expand on the week’s theme, deepening and broadening our shared knowledge from a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and disciplines. The faculty includes scientists, researchers, contemplative practitioners, scholars, changemakers and teachers from a variety of disciplines. ( More to be updated as we confirm faculty soon! )

Molly Crockett, PhD

Princeton University

Convening Faculty, Discussant, Fellow

Dr. Molly Crockett is an Associate Professor at Princeton University’s Department of Psychology and University Center for Human Values. Crockett’s lab investigates moral cognition: how people decide whether to help … MORE

David DeSteno

Northeastern University

Convening Faculty, Planning Committee Member

David DeSteno is a professor of psychology at Northeastern University. At the broadest level, his work examines the mechanisms of the mind that shape vice and virtue. Studying honesty and … MORE

Andrew Dreitcer, MDiv, PhD

Claremont School of Theology

Convening Faculty, Planning Committee Member

Andrew Dreitcer is Professor of Spirituality, Director of Spiritual Formation, Director of the D.Min in “Spiritual Renewal, Contemplative Practice, and Strategic Leadership,” and co-directs the Center for Engaged Compassion at … MORE

Tyralynn Frazier, PhD, MPH

Emory University

Convening Faculty, Grantee, Reviewer

Tyralynn Frazier, Ph.D., MPH, is Lead Scientist for SEE Learning at the Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics at Emory University. In her current role, she guides the center … MORE

Reginald Hubbard

Founder/Chief Serving Officer of Active Peace Yoga

Convening Faculty, Discussant, Planning Committee Member

Reggie began his yoga journey in November 2014 seeking to alchemize and navigate extreme professional adversity.  Through disciplined practice, ruthless focus and surrender to inner peace he has adopted the … MORE

Sará King, M.A., Ph.D.

Convening Faculty

Dr. Sará King is an internationally recognized neuroscientist, artist, political and learning scientist, education philosopher, social impact entrepreneur, and public speaker. She has completed her YTT-200 and YTT-300 hr. yoga … MORE

James Kirby, PhD

The University of Queensland

Convening Faculty, Fellow, Grantee

James N. Kirby, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer, Clinical Psychologist, and the Co-Director of the Compassionate Mind Research Group at the University of Queensland. He has broad research interests in … MORE

Jennifer Mascaro, PhD

Science & Grants Consultant, Mind & Life Institute; Emory University

Convening Faculty, Fellow, Grantee, Reviewer

Jenny Mascaro is an applied biological anthropologist whose research focuses on investigating the impact of mindfulness and compassion meditation practices on the well-being, compassion, and health of both hospitalized patients … MORE

Oneika Mays

Convening Faculty

Oneika Mays, she/her, LMT, E-RYT, is a multi-hyphenate facilitator who leads with joy, passion, and wisdom. She is a grounded leader with lived experience that centers on mindfulness and transformation. … MORE

Dina Nayeri

University of St. Andrews

Discussant

Dina Nayeri is the author of two novels and two books of creative nonfiction, Who Gets Believed? (2023) and The Ungrateful Refugee (2019), winner of the Geschwister Scholl Preis and finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book … MORE

Pir Zia Inayat-Khan, Pir of the Inayatiyya

Pir of the Inayatiyya and founder of Sulūk Academy

Convening Faculty, Discussant

Pir Zia Inayat Khan, PH.D., is a scholar of religion and teacher of Sufism in the universalist Sufi lineage of his grandfather, Hazrat Inayat Khan. Pir Zia is president of … MORE

Geoffrey Mitelman

Sinai and Synapses

Discussant

Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman is the Founding Director of Sinai and Synapses, an organization that bridges the scientific and religious worlds, and is being incubated at Clal – The National … MORE

Liz Grant

University of Edinburgh

Convening Faculty

Liz Grant is one of the Assistant Principals ( Presidents)  of the University of Edinburgh with a remit for global health, Professor of Global Health and Development, Director of the … MORE

Emiliana Simon-Thomas, PhD

Greater Good Science Center, University of California–Berkeley

Convening Faculty, Planning Committee Member, Reviewer

Emiliana Simon-Thomas is the Science Director at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. A Berkeley native, she earned her PhD in Psychology studying how emotional and cognitive processes interact to shape … MORE

Contemplative Faculty

Contemplative faculty guide participants through practices that integrate their first-person experience with themes being explored, interspersing contemplative art and practice sessions with free time for personal reflection. In addition to daily practice, the contemplative faculty lead the retreat time.

Larry Ward

Executive director of The Lotus Institute

Convening Faculty

Dr. Larry Ward is the co-founder of The Lotus Institute, a senior teacher in Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village tradition of Engaged Buddhism, the author of America’s Racial … MORE

Peggy Rowe-Ward

Founder and Director of The Lotus Institute

Convening Faculty

Peggy’s joyful spirit enables her students to discover and embody their most creative and authentic selves. She offers a path of deep insight through methods such as movement, writing, art … MORE

Oneika Mays

Convening Faculty

Oneika Mays, she/her, LMT, E-RYT, is a multi-hyphenate facilitator who leads with joy, passion, and wisdom. She is a grounded leader with lived experience that centers on mindfulness and transformation. … MORE

Peter Wayne, PhD

Harvard Medical School

Convening Faculty, Fellow

Peter Wayne, PhD, is a researcher and practitioner in the field of mind-body and integrative medicine.  Dr. Wayne is the Bernard Osher Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School … MORE

Program Planning Committee

The Program Planning Committee (PPC) is a committee of invited specialists from diverse disciplines and perspectives who bring their expertise to curate and produce the content of the conference. In addition to developing the overall theme and narrative arc of the program, the members of the PPC actively participate and serve in leadership and plenary roles throughout the conference.

Nilanjana (Buju) Dasgupta, PhD

University of Massachusetts–Amherst

Fellow, Planning Committee Member, Research and Programs Council Member

Nilanjana (Buju) Dasgupta is Professor of Psychology and the Director of Faculty Equity and Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts–Amherst. Her research is on implicit bias. Whereas past work had … MORE

David DeSteno

Northeastern University

Convening Faculty, Planning Committee Member

David DeSteno is a professor of psychology at Northeastern University. At the broadest level, his work examines the mechanisms of the mind that shape vice and virtue. Studying honesty and … MORE

Reginald Hubbard

Founder/Chief Serving Officer of Active Peace Yoga

Convening Faculty, Discussant, Planning Committee Member

Reggie began his yoga journey in November 2014 seeking to alchemize and navigate extreme professional adversity.  Through disciplined practice, ruthless focus and surrender to inner peace he has adopted the … MORE

Jenny Mascaro

Associate Professor, Emory University School of Medicine

Convening Faculty, Fellow, Planning Committee Member, Reviewer

Jenny Mascaro is an applied biological anthropologist whose research focuses on investigating the impact of mindfulness and compassion meditation practices on the well-being, compassion, and health of both hospitalized patients … MORE

Malena Price

University of Miami

Grantee, Planning Committee Member

Malena Price is a fourth-year Clinical Psychology PhD student at the University of Miami studying the impacts of mindfulness training on psychological health outcomes, such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. … MORE