We are very happy to announce and invite you to the upcoming Rocky Mountain Conference on Contemplative Practices in Higher Education (formerly known as the Rocky Mountain Dialogues on Mindfulness in Higher Education), held in-person at Colorado State University, on Saturday, October 4, 10am-3pm. This is a free event, open to all (faculty, staff and students).

These annual gatherings began over ten years ago with the goal of bringing together faculty, staff, and students from institutions throughout the Rocky Mountain area to share insights, best practices, and fruitful dialogue around the integration of mindfulness and contemplative practices into the university classroom and campus. These gatherings have seeded the development of Centers and programs at many institutions, and serve as a supportive ground for meeting those with a similar vision within and beyond our particular campus.  

This year’s theme is “Creating and re-Dreaming our World,” drawing on the generative capacity of contemplative practices to meet the ever-changing challenges and needs facing higher education today, and its contributions to our broader society. Our keynote speaker is Dr. Judith Simmer-Brown, professor emerita at Naropa University, a leading voice in contemplative education and a well-known Buddhist scholar and teacher. Break-out sessions will include discussions on media and contemplative practice; neurodiversity, meta-cognition, & contemplative practice; guided contemplative practices; student-led conversation; and more. There will also be open sessions available to those who would like to invite others to focus on a topic of particular interest. 

Since we have not convened since Covid, this is a special opportunity to make new connections and deepen existing relationships. 

Refreshments and lunch are provided. Please register in advance to reserve your seat. Register HERE:  REGISTRATION DEADLINE: September 17th

Please share this invitation with your colleagues and students! We look forward to sharing the day with you. 

Sincerely, 

Planning Committee, Rocky Mountain Conference on Contemplative Practices in Higher Education 

Deb Colbert & Margit Hentschel: Colorado State University, Center for Mindfulness

Holly Gayley, Kristina Eklund, Geoffrey Rubinstein & Shubham Sapkota: University of Colorado Boulder

Charlotte Rotterdam & Carla Burns: Naropa University

Mike Kimball & Shammi Gandhi: University of Northern Colorado

Katie Sullivan & Chrissie Bailey: University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Liz Chamberlain: University of Colorado Anschutz

Victoria Watson: University of Colorado Denver