Founding University Members (alphabetical)

Milica Bakic-Hayden, Ph.D.
Lecturer in Religious Studies
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

Kelly Battle Beck, MS.
PhD Student/Graduate Student Researcher
Rehabilitation Science and Technology
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Denys M. Candy, MSW
Consultant on Organizational and Community Development
Adjunct Faculty, School of Social Work

Fiona Cheong, MFA
Associate Professor of Creative Writing, Department of English
Affiliate Faculty, Women’s Studies Program
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
Co-Director, African Voices Project
Writing Program & UPMC Global Health Program

Clark Chilson, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Religious Studies
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

Kelli Davis, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Health and Physical Activity

Margarita Delgado Creamer, Doctoral Candidate
Department of Religious Studies
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

Art Donsky, Graduate Student
School of Social Work

David Givens, MA, Doctoral Candidate
Dept. of Religious Studies, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
Co-Director, HIV Prevention and Care Project
Infectious Disease and Microbiology, Graduate School of Public Health
Immediate Past President, Graduate and Professional Student Government

Dinnie Goldring, LCSW
Mindfulness Group Leader
UPMC Center for Integrated Medicine

Carol M. Greco, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Licensed Psychologist, Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teacher
UPMC Center for Integrative Medicine

Elizabeth Kennedy, MS, CCLS
Applied Developmental Psychologist, Developmental Healthcare Consultant
Certified Child Life Specialist
Office of Child Development

Mary Lou Klem, PhD, MLIS
Librarian
Health Sciences Library System

Anna L. Marsland, PhD, RN
Associate Professor of Psychology
Director, Behavioral Immunology Laboratory
Department of Psychology

Ryan L. Minster, PhD, MSIS
Assistant Professor of Human Genetics
Graduate School of Public Health

Natalia Morone, MD, MS
Associate Professor of Medicine
School of Medicine

Leah Northrop, MS
K-8 Teacher – Yoga and Mindfulness
The Falk School

Soorakkulame Pemarathana, PhD Candidate
Department of Religious Studies, University of Pittsburgh

Linda Penkower, PhD
Associate Professor of Buddhism and East Asian Religions
Chair, Department of Religious Studies
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

Stephanie Maietta Romero, MA, Doctoral Candidate
Administrative and Policy Studies
School of Education

Rhonda Karlton Rosen, LCSW
Department of Psychology

Anthony Silvestre, PhD
Director, HPCP; Associate Director, Center for LGBT Health
Professor, Infectious Disease and Microbiology
Graduate School of Public Health

Greg Thorkelson, MD
Associate Medical Director, Center for Integrative Medicine Assistant Professor
University of Pittsburgh Departments of Psychiatry and Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition

Rebecca C. Thurston, PhD
Professor of Psychiatry
Director, Women’s Biobehavioral Health Laboratory
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Ransom Towsley, MHA, MBA
Graduate School of Public Health and Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business

Mihnea Vasilescu, MA
School of Social Work & University Counseling Center

Shannon B. Wanless, PhD
Assistant Professor, Program of Applied Developmental Psychology
Department of Psychology in Education
School of Education

Affiliate (Non-University) Members

Linda Despines, RN (Retired)
UPMC and University of Pittsburgh

Tom Menditto, PhB, TCQT
The Dao Center LLC

Debra Messer, MA
Senior Account Manager/Workplace Civility and Mindfulness Consultant
LifeSolutions EAP
University Center

Tina Raspanti, M.Ed., CAPP
AP/Positive Psychology Teacher
Mindfulness/Social Emotional Learning Consultant
Mt. Lebanon School District

Charlotte Tancin
Pittsburgh Shambhala Meditation Center