Deborah Young, Co-Chair of Contemplative Education BFA, BA, BS, MA, University of Colorado
MEdS, University of Colorado
Deborah Young began her career life as a juvenile probation officer with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Department. Understanding the challenges and limitations of the justice system, she moved into the educational system hoping to give a stronger voice to children. She trained with Dr. Caspari in Montessori’s work in the development of children and peace education. She also trained with Dr. Glenn Doman in brain development at the Philadelphia Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential. She continues her passion of research in the area around the special needs of single mothers and the impact of poverty on families and children. For the last twenty-eight years Deborah has set up programs to serve children and their families impacted by poverty locally and internationally providing education and community development opportunities for the empowerment for women and children. Deborah has founded many schools (18) during the past twenty-seven years including a middle school based on service learning. She founded a nonprofit initiative called The Americas Association for the Care of Children (AACC) in 1997. AACC designs and directs formal and informal educational and community development programs in rural villages as well as impoverished urban areas of Central America, Africa, and Asia. Deborah’s classes at Naropa involve a commitment to service learning and opportunities for international travel. Deborah’s latest research is in Bhutan, developing a Gross National Happiness Classroom Model with the Royal University of Bhutan.
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.
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.
Darlene Lorrain BA, Dance, Naropa University
A master teacher at Alaya Preschool, Naropa University’s lab school, Darlene has been developing and teaching innovative children’s programs for the past twenty-five years. She has also been adjunct faculty in Naropa’s Early Childhood Education Department from its inception. Currently she trains teachers and interns and is a family coach. As an early childhood education specialist, she is recognized for her creative approach in meeting and guiding the energetic needs of young children.
Mindy Upton
BS, State University of New York
Graduate work: Hunter College,
Rudolf Steiner College, CA
Sunbridge College
Rudolf Steiner Institute, NY
Spatial Dynamics Study/Bothmer Gymnastics, NY
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
Daniel Staniforth