CCP Hosts Conference on Transforming Higher Ed
By Emmi van Zoest
The Center for Contemplative Practices (CCP) hosted people from across the country for its inaugural three-day conference in June to join and listen to presentations centered on the theme “Transforming Higher Education Through Contemplative Practices.”
Ranjeeta Basu, faculty director of the CCP, noted that “the unprecedented events of the last several years have made it evident that we need to prepare ourselves and our students to be resilient in the face of constant uncertainty. Research has demonstrated that contemplative practices can expand our capacity for compassion, focus and resilience.”
There were 20 presentations that included 20-minute research presentations, 30-minute interactive practice sessions and 90-minute workshops or sessions that combined practice with research findings. Nine of the presentations were by CSUSM faculty and students and 11 were by faculty and students from other universities across the country. The program also included eight student presenters.
The conference also feature a keynote speaker, Rhonda Magee, a professor of law at the University of San Francisco who is also trained in sociology and mindfulness-based stress reduction.
The long-term goal of the conference was to create a contemplative community of educators, scholars and practitioners that can nourish and sustain teaching, research, service and personal practice. Some other common themes that were discussed centered on connection, compassion, social justice and community.
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