Faculty, Mentors, Advisors, Affiliates
1,500 years of experience
Natureza Gabriel Kram
IS A CONNECTION PHENOMENOLOGIST AND NEURAL CARTOGRAPHER. HE IS THE AUTHOR OF THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF CONNECTION: AN AUTONOMICALLY-INFORMED APPROACH TO THE CREATION OF ENDURING WELLBEING, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES OF WELLBEING, AND KEYWORDS: A FIELD GUIDE TO THE MISSING WORDS. HE IS FOUNDER AND CEO OF HEARTH SCIENCE, INC, AND CONVENER OF THE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES ALLIANCE. HE IS DESIGNER AND PRINCIPAL CONTENT ARCHITECT OF THE AUTONOMICALLY-INFORMED TREATMENT ATLAS, WHICH IS VERY LIKELY THE WORLD'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE INTERACTIVE DATABASE OF INTERVENTIONS FOR TREATING STRESS-RELATED DISORDERS AND COMPLEX CHRONIC ILLNESS, AND ACTIVATING THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF CONNECTION.
Skeena Rathor
IS A MOTHER OF THREE GIRLS, AND A SPOKESPERSON, CO-FOUNDER, AND LEAD STRATEGIST OF EXTINCTION REBELLION UK, BEING THE FOUNDER OF THE VISIONING TEAM AND THE VISIONARY BEHIND THE GROUNDBREAKING CO-LIBERATION MOVEMENT. DEEPLY GROUNDED IN HER KASHMIRI SUFI HERITAGE, WHICH PUTS LOVE, TRUTH, AND BEAUTY AT ITS CENTER, SKEENA HOLDS 13 CERTIFICATES IN BODY WISDOM, PSYCHO-SENSORY, BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, AND TRAUMA INTEGRATION WORK. SHE HAS BEEN A SOCIAL AND RACIAL JUSTICE ACTIVIST SINCE THE AGE OF 9 AND HAS ALSO HELD ELECTED OFFICE IN MAINSTREAM POLITICS. SHE IS CO-FOUNDER OF COMPASSIONATE STROUD, AND THE POLITICS KITCHEN, WHICH CALLS FOR A REVOLUTION OF THE HEART IN POLITICS. SHE IS CO-CONVENER OF THE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES ALLIANCE.
Ilarion 'Kuuyux' Merculieff
WAS RAISED IN A TRADITIONAL UNANGAN (ALEUT) WAY AND RECEIVED HIS UNANGAN NAME “KUUYUX” AT AGE 4. THE NAME IS GIVEN TO ONE PERSON IN EACH LIFETIME AMONGST HIS PEOPLE. KUUYUX MEANS AN ARM EXTENDING OUT FROM THE BODY, A CARRIER OF ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE INTO MODERN TIMES, A MESSENGER. HE IS THE FOUNDING VISIONARY OF WISDOMWEAVERS, A GLOBAL CONVENING OF INDIGENOUS ELDERS CREATE TO RE-WEAVE THE ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOW TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE. HE IS THE AUTHOR OF WISDOM KEEPER, AND OTHER BOOKS. HE IS OUR CHAIR OF INDIGENOUS LIFEWAYS.
Stephen W. Porges PhD
CREATOR OF THE POLYVAGAL THEORY IS HONORARY FACULTY OF THE ACADEMY OF APPLIED SOCIAL MEDICINE AND CHAIR OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY.
Karla D. Scott PhD
IS PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATIONS. HER BLACK FEMINIST TEACHING AND RESEARCH FOCUSES ON RACE, LANGUAGE, AND COMMUNICATION ACROSS CONTEXTS AND SOCIAL IDENTITIES IN DIALOGUE ACROSS DIVISIONS. SHE IS CHAIR OF COMMUNICATIONS.
Tabatha Parker ND
IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ACADEMY OF INTEGRATIVE HEALTH AND MEDICINE, THE LARGEST INTER-PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF HOLISTIC HEALTH PRACTITIONERS IN THE WORLD.
John Stokes
FOUNDER OF THE TRACKING PROJECT, HAS TRAINED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN TRACKING AND THE ARTS OF LIFE. HE IS THE CURATOR OF OUR DEEP NATURE AWARENESS CONTENT AND CHAIR OF NATURE AND CULTURE.
Tiokasin Ghosthorse
IS AN ENROLLED MEMBER OF THE CHEYENNE RIVER LAKOTA. AN INTERNATIONAL ACTIVIST ON BEHALF OF PEACE, INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, AND MOTHER EARTH, HE IS A MASTER OF THE RED CEDAR FLUTE AND HOST AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF FIRST VOICES RADIO, SYNDICATED TO MORE THAN 108 RADIO STATIONS AROUND THE WORLD. HE IS LEADING OUR CULTURAL LINGUISTICS AND LIVING LANGUAGE ADVISORY. HE IS FOUNDER OF THE AKANTU INSTITUTE.
Earl Simms
REGIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TIMELIST GROUP IS OUR HEART OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, A CERTIFIED LIFE COACH, AND A CERTIFIED APPLIED MINDFULNESS FACILITATOR.
Darcia Narvaez PhD
IS PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY EMERITA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME. A PIONEER IN LINKING NEUROBIOLOGY AND MORALITY, SHE FOUNDED EVOLVEDNEST.ORG, A NONPROFIT WHOSE MISSION IS TO SHARE SCIENCE AND WISDOM-BASED BASELINES FOR INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETAL THRIVING BY MEETING HUMANITY’S BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDS.
Pete Jackson
IS A VISIONARY SURREALIST PAINTER, BRAZILIAN MARTIAL ARTS (CAPOEIRA) INSTRUCTOR AND MASTER OF THE SCIENCE OF NUMEROLOGY.
Tiara Maldonaldo
HEART OF TRAINING AT APPLIED MINDFULNESS, INC. IS A CERTIFIED RESTORATIVE PRACTICES FACILITATOR. SHE COMBINES DEEP AWARENESS, PERSONAL PRACTICE, AND LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH TRAINING AS AN EDUCATOR, INCLUSION FACILITATOR, AND APPLIED MINDFULNESS TRAINER. LIVING THE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES MODEL ISN'T AN ACADEMIC EXERCISE FOR HER: IT IS HOW SHE NAVIGATES LIFE AND CREATES WELLNESS AS A BLACK WOMAN IN AMERICA. SHE IS CHAIR OF TRAINING.
Lee Mun Wah
FOUNDER OF STIRFRY SEMINARS, MASTER MINDFULNESS AND DIVERSITY TRAINER, AND AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER OF SOME OF THE MOST SEMINAL DOCUMENTARY FILMS ABOUT RACE AND GENDER IN THE UNITED STATES (E.G., THE COLOR OF FEAR) IS OUR ADVISOR IN RELATIONAL MINDFULNESS AND ANTI-RACISM.
David Mars PhD
IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIVE THERAPY. IN 2007 HE DEVELOPED TRANSFORMATIVE COUPLES THERAPY™ (TCT). SINCE 1974, DR. MARS HAS BEEN DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES OF INTEGRATING THE BODY INTO COUPLES THERAPY TO DEEPEN THE RELATIONALLY ATTUNED EXPERIENCE OF COUPLES IN EVOLVING THEIR RELATIONSHIPS.
Paula Ramírez Diazgranados
IS CO-DIRECTOR OF BREATHE INTERNATIONAL, AN ORGANIZATION WHICH COMBINES PEACEBUILDING AND MENTAL HEALTH DRIVEN BY THE RESTORATION OF HUMAN RESILIENCE. WORKING WITH HUMANITARIAN TEAMS DEPLOYED AROUND THE GLOBE, WITH A FOCUS ON MINDFULNESS AND SOMATIC PERSPECTIVES, PAULA BRIDGES TRADITIONAL UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE HUMAN AND MORE-THAN-HUMAN WORLD WITH CONTEMPORARY CRISIS WORK AND TRAUMA INTEGRATION. HER WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS HAS INCLUDED THE UNITED NATIONS (UN) AND THE TIBETAN GOVERNMENT IN EXILE, SUPPORTING POPULATIONS IN CONTEXTS OF WAR AND DISPLACEMENT. PAULA'S GUIDING VISION IS THE EMBODIED AND UNIVERSAL DIGNITY OF ALL BEINGS.
Şerife Wong
IS A TURKISH HAWAIIAN ARTIST AND AI ETHICS ADVOCATE. SHE IS FOUNDER OF ICARUS SALON, AN INITIATIVE TO ENRICH THE DIALOGUE ON THE ETHICS OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGY. SHE WORKS WITH THE CENTER FOR ADVANCED STUDY IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY.
Douglas Woodson LMFT
IS A MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST WHO GREW UP AS A MIXED CHILD IN SEGREGATED SOUTH VIRGINIA AND SERVED IN THE NAVY. FOR MUCH OF HIS LIFE HE SUFFERED FROM PANIC ATTACKS, ADHD AND PTSD UNTIL HE RECONNECTED WITH HIS MIND AND BODY THROUGH MEDITATION, NATURE, THERAPY, AND REFLECTION.
Michael Stocker
IS AN ACOUSTICIAN, NATURALIST, AND MUSICIAN. HE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OCEAN CONSERVATION RESEARCH AND AUTHOR OF 'HEAR WHERE YOU ARE.'
Sam Himelstein PhD
IS FOUNDER OF THE CENTER FOR ADOLESCENT STUDIES AND CHAIR OF OUR ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH TEAM.
Gloria Yamato
WITH A MASTER OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES, GLORIA IS AT HER BEST IN THOSE PLACES WHERE THE ARTS, COMMUNITY AND PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT INSTERSECT. SHE HAS A BROAD RANGE OF SKILL SETS, ACQUIRED OVER MANY YEARS OF WORKING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. SHE UNDERSTANDS THE PROCESS OF GENERATING AND SUPPORTING LEADERSHIP TO BUILD, RETROFIT AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND NETWORKS THAT WORK TO BRING ABOUT CONSCIOUS SOCIAL CHANGE. SHE EXCELS AT LISTENING AND FACILITATING EFFECTIVE, ENGAGING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES. SHE SEES 'DIFFERENCE' AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE DISTRIBUTED KNOWLEDGE FOR A BROADER, DEEPER VIEW OF BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES.
Beverly Kyer
SERVES THOSE WHO HELP OTHERS AS A COMPASSION FATIGUE AND VICARIOUS TRAUMA SPECIALIST. HER SPECIALTY IS IN TRAINING HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS; HELPING THEM EMPLOY SELF-CARE RECOVERY AND NEURO-PHYSIOLOGICAL REGULATION STRATEGIES. '
Anacaria Myrra
TEACHES THE PRACTICAL MAGIC OF ORGANIZATION OF TIME, ENERGY, ATTITUDES, AND OBJECTS. HER BOOK AN INVITATION TO AN EXTRA-ORDINARY LIFE TEACHES ORGANIZATION AS AN EXPRESSION OF LIFE PURPOSE.
Kumu Sabra Kauka
IS HAWAIIAN STUDIES KUMU OF ISLAND SCHOOL ON KAUA’I, KUMU HULA OF NA PUA O KAMAILE, KAUA’I. SHE IS COORDINATOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION’S HAWAIIAN STUDIES KUPUNA PROGRAM. SHE HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR YEARS TO RESTORE AND PRESERVE CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT SITES.
Joanna Herrera PsyD, RPsy
IS A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST IN THE PHILIPPINES AND IN CALIFORNIA. SHE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER OF CIRCLE OF HOPE COMMUNITY SERVICES, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN THAT PROVIDES MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR UNDERSERVED AND MARGINALIZED SECTORS IN THE PHILIPPINES. DR. HERRERA IS A ZEN PRACTITIONER. SHE IS LEADING THE TEAM TRANSLATING THE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES MODEL INTO FILIPINO.
Wayne Clark
IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OAKLAND IMPACT CENTER, WHOSE MISSION IS TO TRANSFORM UNDERPRIVILEGED AND UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES ONE FAMILY AT A TIME THROUGH EMPOWERMENT. HE IS A FIELD LEADER IN TRANSLATING BETWEEN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. HIS PASSION IS LIFE TRANSFORMATION, WHICH COMES FROM HAVING GROWN UP IN WEST OAKLAND AND EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE, DEVASTATION, HOPELESSNESS, AND LOSS OF LIFE IN HIS COMMUNITY. HE SAYS, “I’M JUST TRYING TO BE WHAT I DIDN’T SEE.”
Daren Dickson LMFT
IS CHIEF CULTURE OFFICER AT VALOR COLLEGIATE, THE FIRST FREE PUBLIC COLLEGE PREPARATORY CHARTER IN NASHVILLE, TN, AND A PIONEER IN BRINGING CIRCLE AND RESTORATIVE PRACTICES INTO DIVERSE EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS.
Pete Eschen MS
IS A CERTIFIED TRAINER WITH STIRFRY SEMINARS. HE HAS WORKED FOR TWENTY YEARS IN ACADEMIA, MOSTLY AT PACIFIC UNIVERSITY, WHERE HE SERVED AS CHAIR OF THE UNIVERSITY DIVERSITY COMMITTEE AND WAS INTERIM CO-DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION. COMING OUT AS A GAY MAN WHILE IN COLLEGE WAS ONE IMPORTANT PART OF HIS JOURNEY TOWARD LIBERATION.
Bruce Cryer
WAS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF HEARTMATH, WHOSE RESEARCH HELPED TO IGNITE THE FIELD OF NEUROCARDIOLOGY.
José Roberto (Beto) Borges
IS CURRENTLY THE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITIES AND TERRITORIAL GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE AT FOREST TRENDS. HE HAS OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH INDIGENOUS AND OTHER TRADITIONAL FOREST COMMUNITIES TO BENEFIT FROM ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR REWARDING THEIR FOREST STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES. HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL, AND HOLDS DEGREES IN CONSERVATION AND RESOURCES STUDIES AND STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP. HE HAS CONSULTED INTERNATIONALLY AND LECTURED AT THE UNIVERSITIES OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY, STANFORD, AND YALE. HE IS PICTURED WITH OUR FRIEND AND ALLY Tashka Yawanawa, CHIEF OF THE YAWANAWA PEOPLE IN ACRE, BRASIL.
Jahan Khalighi
IS AN EDUCATOR, COMMUNITY ARTS ORGANIZER, AND POET. HIS DEDICATION IS TOWARD PERSONAL AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION THROUGH THE ARTS IN CONNECTION TO EARTH AND CULTURE.
Jeff Rockwell DC, MA, DOMP
IS A HEALTH EDUCATOR AND MANUAL THERAPIST WITH MORE THAN 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE. HE IS THE DEVELOPER OF POLYVAGAL TOUCH.
Ayssar Arida
AYSSAR'S FIRST BOOK, QUANTUM CITY, EXPLORES URBAN DESIGN THROUGH THE LENS OF QUANTUM THEORY. IN THE BOOK HE COINED THE TERM 'DIVENTITY': THE DENSITY OF DIVERSITY THAT YIELDS NOVEL IDENTITIES. A GROUND-BREAKING THINKER, TRANS-DISCIPLINARY ARCHITECT, MAKER, AND TECHNOLOGIST, AYSSAR STUDIES SPACE AND THE SPACES BETWEEN.
Michael Forlenza PhD
CAME TO COACHING BY WAY OF MIND-BODY MEDICINE. HE HOLDS A DOCTORAL DEGREE IN BIOLOGICAL AND HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY, WHERE HE FOCUSED ON PSYCHO-NEURO-IMMUNOLOGY, STUDYING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STRESS AND CANCER. HIS PASSION IS WELLNESS COACHING, WHERE HE IS HELPING RESTORATIVE PRACTICES ALLIANCE CONCEPTUALIZE OUR CURATION FRAMEWORK FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.
Neil Davis
IS A SOUND HEALER BASED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
Meisha Vella LCSW
IS A SOCIAL WORKER, PSYCHOTHERAPIST, ARTIST, AND FOUNDER OF MARIPOSA COUNSELING. SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF A CHEROKEE MOTHER AND A MALTESE IMMIGRANT FATHER. HER EXPERTISE INCLUDES NEURO-PHYSIOLOGICALLY INFORMED CARE, EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH, BURNOUT PREVENTION AND CROSS-CULTURAL FACILITATION. HER WORK INTEGRATES SOCIAL JUSTICE, INTEGRITY, ANTI-RACISM, AND MINDFULNESS. SHE HAS DEEP CONNECTIONS TO INDIGENOUS AND LATINO COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S. AND MEXICO. SHE BELIEVES IN WORKING FROM THE HEART AND CREATING SACRED SPACES TO HEAL FROM TRAUMA: PERSONAL, INTERGENERATIONAL, AND COLLECTIVE.