About Contemplative Practices for Higher Education (CPHE)
The Tree of Contemplative Practices by Maia Duerr for CMind, the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, provides a great summary of the many practices shared and highlighted at past and future CPHE conferences and symposiums.
Contemplative practices are a reflective process that help individuals to cultivate an acute awareness of themselves, others, and the world around them. It allows people to be fully present with their experiences, in the moment, allowing for an intimate connection with the topic or content at hand. While diverse, the common core of contemplative practices is useful to cultivate insight, concentration, and reflection on how ideas or concepts have a personal connection. Through the application of contemplative practices, an academic community can foster an environment where all participants are fully present, open to possibility, have space to breathe, and are better able to listen for understanding, and act in more meaningful ways.
Organizing Committee
Lance Brunner
Director of Graduate Studies in Music, Associate Professor of Music, University of Kentucky
Ralph Byers
Executive Director of Government Relations, Emeritus, Virginia Tech
Cotter Christian
Associate Dean, School of Constructed Environments, Parsons School of Design, The New School University
Sharon Doetsch-Kidder
Term Assistant Professor of English & Assistant Pathways Program Coordinator, George Mason University
Erin Hopkins
Assistant Professor of Property Management, Virginia Tech
Stephanie Sebolt
Associate Professor, College of Education, Mary Baldwin University
Laurie Seidel
Instructor, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Coordinator for Mindfulness Programs, Roanoke City Public Schools
Ernest Solar
Associate Professor of Special Education, Mount St. Mary’s University
Juliet Trail
Founder and Director, Courageous Compassion Connection and Contemplative Instructor, InStill Mindfulness
Jo Trelfa
Director, Iron Mill College, Exeter, UK
Gini Weisz
Associate Professor, School of Nursing, Waldron College of Health and Human Services, Radford University