The training and synchronization of the faculty are integral parts of the program. Our faculty members are committed to personal development, both spiritually and professionally. Beyond that shared vision, their backgrounds and educations are diverse as one can see from their biographies.
The dedication of our faculty to the academic and personal journeys of the students is extraordinary, as one can see from the student testimonials. They are equally devoted to exploring contemplative education as a group. The program faculty members have worked closely since the start of the program in 2001. Some have worked together on developing contemplative education for years before that. Over the years they have devoted scores of extra hours to planning this program, not only their individual courses, but also the interplay among the courses. It is not unusual to have more than one faculty member in a given class during the summers. The passion of faculty to learn from each other and from the students is inspiring. Online faculty, too, often visit the summer program, particularly during the opening weekend.
Core Faculty:
Richard C. Brown, Co-Chair, Department of Contemplative Education rbrown@naropa.edu BA, Knox College
MA, The Naropa Institute
Graduate Study, Earlham School of Religion
Certificate in Elementary Education, University of Denver
Richard C. Brown founded the Contemplative Education Department at Naropa University in 1990. The department adapts wisdom, compassion, and skillful means drawn from Buddhist and holistic traditions to non-sectarian teacher education. After teaching public elementary school, Richard taught seven years at a Buddhist-inspired K-12 in Boulder, Colordao. He has been involved in the formation of several contemplative schools, has helped develop rites of passage programs, and has published a Buddhist view of child and adolescent spiritual development. Richard has written on various areas of contemplative teacher education including mindfulness, emotional awareness, and observation. He has consulted on three continents with educational organizations about how to bring mindfulness and contemplative education to teachers and schools. Most recently, Richard worked with the government of Bhutan as it launched the reform of the country’s education system.
Lee Worley BA, Mount Holyoke College
MA, Naropa University
Lee Worley founded the Theatre Studies program at Naropa in 1974. She has developed contemplative exercises for arts in education and contemplative education programs throughout her career at Naropa. She also taught theatre at a Buddhist-inspired middle school in Boulder for many years. She is one of a very few holders of the Mudra Space Awareness lineage—a performance training derived from Tibetan Yoga. She was a founding member, actress and teacher in Joseph Chaikin's Open Theater and is a senior student of Tibetan Buddhism. Her recent book, Coming from Nothing: The Sacred Art of Acting, outlines her contemplative acting method.
Michele Blumberg has graduate and undergraduate degrees in education, as well as Montessori certification. Michele has trained and taught in Montessori and Waldorf schools, directed her own small school and worked as an educator in social service agencies. Currently, she teaches at Global Village School, a progressive high school for homeschoolers; directs FlyingStart Tutoring in San Diego; and instructs teachers in the Contemplative Education Department at Naropa University. Michele is also an educational consultant for Jewish Family Service of San Diego in their youth services and school-based programs department.
Michael Girodo BA, Psychology, Naropa University
MA Contemplative Education, Naropa University
Michael’s background is in Early Education, where he has been trained in the philosophies of Maria Montessori, Rudolf Steiner, and other Holistic educators and traditions. He has taught in the field for more than ten years. After finishing his BA in 1987, Michael worked in the fields of International Education and Performing Arts with Naropa. In 1999 he began his tenure with the Contemplative Education Department as the administrative director, and eventually became adjunct faculty in both the BA and MA Education programs. Michael completed his MA in Contemplative Education in 2010 and focused his studies on the intersection of Social and Emotional Teacher Training and Contemplative Practice. He lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his life partner, Joan; their dog, Ruby; and his amazing son, Sean.
Gene-Elaine Hooley
BA, Psychology, University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
MEd, Early Childhood Education, Antioch University
MA, Contemplative Education, Naropa University
Gene-Elaine Hooley is Co-Director of Alaya Preschool, the lab school for Naropa’s Early Childhood Education program and the Contemplative Education Department. She is adjunct faculty in Naropa's Early Childhood and Contemplative Education programs. Gene has been involved in the field of early care and education since 1974, as a teacher of young children, an administrator of early childhood centers, and as a presenter and instructor in early childhood education programs. She was honored with the Frances Hawkins Lifetime Achievement Award by the Boulder County Association for the Education of Young Children. She is a member of the Early Care and Education the Council of Boulder County, Professional Pathways committee, working to provide professional development opportunities and training to the local early childhood community. She is especially interested in issues surrounding quality of care for young children, and how professional development and those in leadership roles inspire and support quality programs.
Mary Lanza
BA, Spanish, Carroll College, Montana
Certificate in Teaching: Seattle University
MA, Contemplative Education, Naropa University
National Board Certified Teacher (World Languages)
Mary began her teaching career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador in 1980 and since that time, continues to enjoy her work as a classroom middle school teacher with Seattle Public Schools. Her Master’s Thesis, “The Art of Teacher Leadership: The Five Wisdom Energy Mandala Project,” is based on research and work with integrating the principle of maitri in a regular public school setting. In addition to teaching, Mary has taken on various leadership roles in education. She is a facilitator for teachers pursuing their National Board Teaching Certification and an adjunct faculty member with Naropa University. She is currently teaching “Perspectives in Sacred Learning” and serves as a thesis advisor for students in the MA in Contemplative Education program.
Alexandra MacKay Shenpen BA, Naropa University
MA, Expressive Arts in Psychotherapy, Lesley College
PhD, The Creative Arts, The Union Institute
LPC, REAT
Alexandra MacKay Shenpen has been teaching in various capacities at Naropa since 1986. Some of the areas include the arts, psychology, meditation and Space Awareness or Maitri practice. In addition, she has held several clinical positions in the Boulder area, including an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment unit and Boulder County's inpatient eating disorders program.
Genét Simone BA, Education, Western Washington University
MS, Women's Studies, Mankato State University, Minnesota
PhD, Social Foundations of Education, Policy and Practice, University of Colorado, Boulder
Her research focused on the inner work and professional development of teachers in a program called "The Courage to Teach." While in Boulder, Dr. Simone became involved with Naropa University, assisting with the development and implementation of their Master's in Contemplative Education program. She is still actively involved in the on-going process of program development.
Currently, Dr. Simone works as faculty and Site Director (Kitsap/Olympic Peninsula) for Western Washington University, Woodring College of Education. She teaches a variety of classes to undergraduate and masters-level students pursing their teaching degree and certification. Her research with the Courage to Teach and Naropa's Contemplative Education program inform her work with students at all levels; she is constantly striving to find ways to empower and nurture teachers so they can establish genuine and healthy relationships with their students and colleagues.
Dr. Simone lives in West Seattle. She thoroughly enjoys being near the ocean and all of Seattle's renowned coffee shops.
Staff
Daniel Staniforth
BA English (Point Loma University)
MA Literature (Miami University)
Honour Certificates in Violoncello, Piano, & Music Theory (Royal Academy of Music)
Administrative Director (Contemplative Education & Environmental Studies)
Originally from England, Daniel Staniforth is a writer, composer, and teacher now residing in Lafayette, CO. After three years as the Event Manager to Naropa University’s prestigious Summer Writing Program, Daniel now serves as the Administrative Director for the Environmental Studies and Contemplative Education departments. In addition to his position there, he is in his fourth year as a part-time English faculty member of the Metropolitan State College of Denver. Daniel earned a Master’s degree in Literature from Miami University (of Ohio) and writes poetry, fiction and theoretical work. His full book of poetry, Weaver in the Sluices, was published in December, 2010. Other publications have featured in journals such as Rogue Poetry Review, The Houston Literary Review, Bombay Gin, Monkey Puzzle, Trickhouse, Not Enough Night, and InStereo Press. His short story collection, Diddle, is forthcoming from Skylight Press. As a multi-instrumentalist and composer, he writes, records, and produces alternative, classical, and experimental music (including “sonic poet-scapes”). He has written music for film and theatre, including an upcoming UK production of Under Milkwood by Dylan Thomas.
Richard C. Brown, Co-Chair, Department of Contemplative Education
Lee Worley
Gene-Elaine Hooley
Mary Lanza 
Daniel Staniforth