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Faculty Spotlight: On Teaching Presence—New Publication

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Professor Lee Worley has recently published a book (Teaching Presence: Field Notes for Players) with Naropa University Press. The book documents her pioneering work in developing the contemplative education program, featuring embodied pedagogies and practices for the classroom and everyday life.

After retiring from Naropa in July 2017, Lee has been on the road teaching mindfulness and meditation, space awareness and performance studies nationally and internationally. She is also the author of Coming From Nothing: The Sacred Art of Acting.

To order a copy of Teaching Presence, send a check for $20 to:

Lee Worley
c/o Contemplative Education Department
Naropa University
2130 Arapahoe
Boulder, CO. 80302

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Lee Worley book 1

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Lee Worley with Stephanie Johnston, the book’s graphic designer.

Copies of Coming from Nothing: The Sacred Art of Acting (Turquoise Dragon Press) are also available for $20.

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Located in Boulder, Colorado, Naropa University is a Buddhist-inspired, nonsectarian liberal arts university that is recognized as the birthplace of the mindfulness movement. Naropa offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs that emphasize professional and personal growth, intellectual development, and cultivating compassion. 

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Contemplative education brings together the best of Western scholarship and Eastern world wisdom traditions. Therefore, your pursuit of wisdom at Naropa means learning both about academic subjects and about your own place in the world. This innovative approach places Naropa on the cutting edge of the newest and most effective methods of teaching and learning.  

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If you’re seeking an education that resonates with both personal fulfillment and global impact, Naropa could be your top choice. At Naropa, you will experience a comprehensive curriculum that integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational approaches. Explore how Naropa can fuel your journey of intellectual and spiritual development.

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Through its incredibly vibrant and welcoming community,  “Naropa offers a home for those who aren’t willing to conform to convention—the mystic, the healer, the prophet, the rebel, the artist, the revolutionary, the oddball—those who are incredible contributors to the evolution of society and of our planet.”—Core Associate Professor Zvi Ish-Shalom

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How is Naropa different from other universities? At Naropa, a liberal arts education balances rigorous academics with powerful interpersonal skills and self-awareness to educate the whole person. Naropa’s contemplative approach is inspired by Buddhist philosophy and the conviction that we can build a diverse, contemplative, enlightened society when we have transformed education to affirm the basic goodness of every person. 

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Naropa University campuses are closed on 05/06/2026. 

From Naropa University: Due to adverse weather conditions, all Naropa campuses will be closed on 05/06/26. All classes that require a physical presence on campus will be canceled. Classes that are delivered online in our low-residency programs are to meet as scheduled.

Regardless of Naropa University’s decision, if you ever believe the weather conditions are unsafe, please contact your supervisor and professors.