Summer Research Institute 2025 Faculty

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! )

Angel Acosta, EdD

Teachers College, Columbia University

Convening Faculty

Dr. Angel Acosta recently completed his doctorate degree in the Curriculum and Teaching Department at Teachers College, Columbia University. For the last decade, Angel has worked to bridge the fields … MORE

Linda Darling-Hammond, EdD

Learning Policy Institute

Convening Faculty

Linda Darling-Hammond is the Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education Emeritus at Stanford University and founding president of the Learning Policy Institute, created to provide high-quality research for policies that … MORE

Mark Greenberg, PhD

Pennsylvania State University

Convening Faculty, Fellow, Planning Committee Member, Reviewer

Mark Greenberg, Ph.D. is the Emeritus Bennett Chair of Prevention Science at Penn State University. He is one of the founders of CASEL. He is the author of over 350 … MORE

Yuki Imoto, PhD

Keio University

Convening Faculty

Yuki Imoto teaches anthropology in the liberal arts program at Keio University’s Faculty of Science and Technology. She completed her doctorate degree in social and cultural anthropology from the University … MORE

Chiara Mascarello

Ca’ Foscari University of Venice

Convening Faculty

Chiara Mascarello holds a research grant at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, where she also teaches Tibetan language. She is a founder and board member of the Contemplative Studies program … MORE

Monique Gray Smith

Royal Roads University

Convening Faculty

Monique Gray Smith is an award-winning, best-selling author. Her books cover a broad spectrum of ages, topics and emotions. Woven into all of Monique’s writing, speaking engagements and online courses … MORE

Michelle Chatman

University of the District of Columbia

Convening Faculty

Dr. Michelle Chatman is a visionary educator, scholar, and community advocate dedicated to fostering transformative educational experiences and social change. As an Associate Professor at the University of the District … MORE

Robert Roeser, PhD, MSW

Pennsylvania State University

Convening Faculty, Planning Committee Member, Research and Programs Council Member, Reviewer

Robert W. Roeser is the Bennett Pierce Professor of Caring and Compassion in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Health and Human Development, at Penn State … MORE

Kimberly Schonert-Reichl, PhD

University of British Columbia

Convening Faculty, Planning Committee Member, Reviewer

Kimberly Schonert-Reichl is an applied developmental psychologist and a professor in the Human Development, Learning, and Culture area in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and Special Education at … MORE

Meena Srinivasan

Transformative Educational Leadership

Convening Faculty, Planning Committee Member

Meena Srinivasan is a celebrated speaker, author, and edupreneur with over 20 years of expertise in integrating Mindfulness, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), and Belonging. With over 2 million views, … MORE

Felipe Mercado

California State University, Fresno

Convening Faculty, Mentee, Planning Committee Member

Dr. Felipe Mercado is a professor in the Department of Social Work at California State University, Fresno, and the founder of Wise Soul LLC, a consulting firm focused on integrating … MORE

Patricia (Tish) Jennings, MEd, PhD

University of Virginia

Convening Faculty, Fellow, Grantee, Reviewer

Prof. Jennings is a Professor of Education at the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. She is an internationally recognized leader in the fields of social and … MORE

Brendan Ozawa-de Silva, PhD

Emory University

Convening Faculty, Grantee

Brendan Ozawa de-Silva is an Associate Teaching Professor at Emory University’s Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics. His research and teaching focus on compassion, empathy, and secular ethics, with … MORE

Alexis Harris

Compassionate Schools Project

Convening Faculty

Alexis Harris is the Compassionate Schools Project (CSP) Director and affiliate in the UVA Youth-Nex Center to Promote Effective Youth Development in the School of Education and Human Development. She … MORE

Owsley Brown III

Owsley Brown Presents

Board Member, Fellow

Owsley Brown is devoted to sustaining healthy communities by enhancing cultural, spiritual, and civic life. He is a documentary filmmaker, a director of foundations and nonprofit boards, a student of … MORE

Gábor Karsai

Mind & Life Europe, Dharma Gate Buddhist College

Convening Faculty

Gábor Karsai, based near Budapest, Hungary, is a long-standing member of the MLE Association, and presently serves as Rector of the Dharma Gate Buddhist College in Budapest, as well as … 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.

Hawah Kasat

Roots to Sky Sanctuary

Convening Faculty, Discussant

Hawah Kasat is an author, educator, non-profit leader, TEDx speaker, and yogi. For over 20 years, Hawah has been teaching violence prevention, social-emotional literacy, conflict transformation, yoga, mindfulness, the healing … MORE

Valerie Brown

Lead Smart Coaching

Convening Faculty

Valerie Brown is an acclaimed international facilitator, leadership coach, speaker, and award-winning author dedicated to fostering personal and societal transformation. As the founder of Lead Smart Coaching, LLC, Valerie integrates … MORE

Keiryu Liên Shutt

Convening Faculty

Rev. Liên Shutt is a lineage holder in the Shunryu Suzuki tradition. Born to a Buddhist family in Vietnam, she received her meditation training in the Insight and Zen traditions … MORE

Srinivas Reddy

IIT Gandhinagar

Convening Faculty

Srinivas Reddy is a scholar, translator and musician. He studied classical South Asian languages and literatures at UC Berkeley and currently teaches at Brown University and IIT Gandhinagar. Srinivas is … 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.