Rebecca Block (she/her) is the current Director of the Mindful University Project. In this role, she leads the strategic development, implementation, and evaluation of all Mindful University Project initiatives for the campus community. She also leads the advanced meditation classes and co-facilitates the half-day silent retreats. In her role, Rebecca works closely with schools and departments to integrate a culture of mindfulness across the campus. In addition, she offers evidence-informed trainings to faculty and staff members that offer practical skills to promote well-being in their classrooms and / or office to support the students they serve.
Rebecca is the Health Promotion Specialist – Student Well-Being at the UHS Health Promotion Office. She holds a BA in Health, Behavior, and Society from the University of Rochester and an MS in Community Health Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®), a College Health and Wellness Professional (CHWP), Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200), and a Certified Koru Mindfulness Teacher.
founding director
Amy McDonald (she / her) is the founding director and creator of the Mindful University Project. In the Fall of 2017, Amy began a small pilot program to offer meditation instruction to students, following the curriculum outlined in the book Mindfulness for the Next Generation by Holly Rogers and Margaret Maytan. The pilot was well received, but Amy struggled to figure out how to scale the program to reach more students and make a greater impact on campus. The stars must have been in alignment because by the spring 2018 semester, a donor contributed funds with the intention to support student mental health through mindfulness initiatives.
Amy began creating the foundation of the Mindful University Project throughout the 2018 – 2019 academic year. She brought together key stakeholders, leaders, and contemplative teachers from across the University to form the Advisory Committee. This committee worked to create the project’s mission and recruit the first cohort of certified Koru Mindfulness teachers in June 2019. Since then, the Mindful University Project continued to grow into a robust offering for students as well as the faculty and staff who support them.
Caitlin Davie (she/her), is the current Graduate Program Assistant for the Mindful University Project and a mental health counseling student at the Warner School of Education. To attain her master’s degree, she is also counseling as an intern at Strong Memorial Hospital’s HEAL Collaborative, a trauma-focused counseling clinic for survivors of interpersonal and intimate partner violence. Doing this work, Caitlin became interested in the effects of mindfulness on the nervous system and neurobiology of trauma survivors. Caitlin is dedicated to integrating the beneficial practices of mindfulness into the current infrastructure of the evidence-based medical model, while simultaneously learning about and respecting the spiritual and cultural histories from which these practices originate.
Caitlin has been involved on the University of Rochester campus since 2015. She received her bachelor’s degree in English and psychology in 2019 before beginning her mental health counseling graduate studies at Warner in 2020. Her academic background also focuses heavily on communication, including but not limited to: tutoring in academic writing, research in writing studies, proofreading, news writing, and non-profit social media management. Caitlin hopes to blend her passion for communications and mental health by conveying complex information in an accessible way which cultivates active engagement from the study body.
Undergraduate Program Assistant
Ezra (they/them) is the current Undergraduate Program Assistant for the Mindful University Project and is studying psychology and music. Introduced to mindfulness at an early age by their parents, Ezra has continued to deepen their understanding through a consistent practice of meditation, yoga, and the study of Eastern religions.
As a member of the Rochester Zen Center, Ezra aims to highlight the spiritual aspect of mindfulness that is often lost in modern-day wellness culture. Their goal is to demystify mindful practices while staying true to their rich history and roots. Ezra’s work is fueled by the firm belief that mindfulness and meditation are much more than mere stress-reduction tactics. Ezra is excited to continue expanding their knowledge of mindfulness and eagerly sharing it with the community at U of R.
CONSULTANT
Mindful Leadership Consultant
Dr. Lisa Critchley is the Founder and President, Kirk Partners Consulting LLC. Kirk Partners Consulting LLC provides mindfulness-based organizational and leadership coaching to drive leadership excellence and promote overall well-being. Focus areas include organization-wide culture change, presence-based mindful leadership development, coaching, and strategy. Dr. Lisa Critchley earned her doctorate in Executive Leadership at St. John Fisher College. Her dissertation entitled, “The Leader’s Mind Matters: The Effect of Mindful Leadership Development Programs on Leadership Effectiveness, Mindfulness and Well-Being Among Global Manufacturing Leaders” was awarded the Exemplary Scholarship Award. Lisa is conducting independent research to advance awareness of mindfulness to enhance well-being and leadership effectiveness and understand the intersection of mindfulness, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Mindfulness Teachers
Rebecca Block (she/her)
Health Promotion Specialist – Student Well-Being
Health Promotion Office
Rebecca is the Health Promotion Specialist for Student Well-Being at the UHS Health Promotion Office, a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200), Certified Wellness Champion, and a Certified Koru Mindfulness teacher.. Her passion for mindfulness developed during her early days during her undergraduate at the University of Rochester. As Rebecca was going through her undergrad experience, she liked to relax through practicing yoga, but as demands increased for her, she wanted to learn about different practices that she could add to her toolbox to help decrease stress and anxiety. She then signed up for one of Debra Core’s mindfulness courses offered through the Program of Dance and Movement and she found her love for the practice. Knowing how mindfulness deeply impacted her, as a Peer Health Advocate with the UHS Health Promotion Office intern and member of a campus meditation group, she began leading meditations to students to help them to regulate their emotions and stress. In her mindfulness teaching, Rebecca is particularly passionate about trauma-informed practices, somatics, nervous system regulation, and the practice of self-compassion.
Debra Corea (she/her)
Lecturer
Program of Dance and Movement
Debra Corea is a Lecturer in UR’s Program of Dance and Movement Mind-Body Somatics Cluster. In 2010 she began developing courses dedicated to bringing curiosity and awareness to the nature of mind along with the experience of residing in a human body. One of Debra’s greatest pleasures in her five decades of meditation, yoga, and embodied trainings was accompanying her most influential mindfulness teacher, Thich Nhat Hahn, on a pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Buddha in northern India.
Kyle Trenshaw (he/his/him or they/them/their)
Assistant Director for STEM Education
Learning Center
Kyle Trenshaw is the Assistant Director for STEM Education at the Learning Center on campus. He also serves as the Buddhist Chaplain through the Interfaith Chapel and as a part of the Mindful University Project team. Kyle got into meditation as a graduate student looking for some relief from the stresses of pursuing a PhD and continued to deepen his practice during his postdoc through explorations of yoga, aikido, and general mindfulness principles. Soon after starting his work at the U of R, Kyle joined the Zen Meditation Group on campus and moved to leading meditations for the group not long after. Leading the Zen Meditation Group prompted him to enrich his knowledge of Buddhism and Buddhist practices, and completing the Koru Mindfulness certification seemed like an excellent opportunity to share that knowledge with students in new ways. In his free time, Kyle regularly goes on retreat, practices gongfu tea ceremonies as meditation, and finds peace through movement in his yoga, qigong, and tai chi practices. In his mindfulness work, Kyle is particularly interested in creating contemplative spaces for LGBTQ+ folks to come together in community and in helping his mindfulness students to build unconditional self-compassion.
Lucinda Snyder (she/her)
Founder
Peak Flow
Lucinda was led to mindfulness during her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training. During this time the Universe kept placing “opportunities” in her path. Lucinda is passionate in her endeavors to make mindfulness accessible to all and infuses it throughout her yoga teaching. She has over 100 hours of mindful/meditation teacher training and loves sharing the practice with college students and colleagues. In addition to teaching mindfulness, she teaches yoga to college athletes to help them reach peak performance on and off the field. Lucinda believes it is through community where we, as humans, are able to serve the greater good. We are only as strong as those around us.
Whitney Gegg-Harrison (she/they)
Associate Professor
Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program
Whitney Gegg-Harrison is an associate professor in the Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program with an academic background in cognitive science and linguistics and a lifelong fascination with the inner workings of the human mind. Whitney has been practicing meditation and mindfulness in a variety of forms for over a decade, and in 2020, completed the Koru Mindfulness Teacher certification. Whitney’s passionate about helping students better understand themselves and teaching them skills to cope with stress and build resilience. Whitney also knits, sews, and plays the violin.
Felicia Reed-Watt (she/her)
Associate Director of Social Work and Clinical Case Management
University Counseling Center
Felicia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the University Counseling Center. She began her mindfulness journey 15 years ago as dialectical behavioral therapist which consists of practicing mindfulness and changing the way we think. Felicia has trained in Mindfulness Stress Behavioral Training and Trauma Sensitive Yoga at the University of Buffalo. Felicia enjoys introducing mindfulness in her therapy practice. She, also, enjoys teaching mindfulness for new learners since 2019. Felicia lives with her spouse and two fur babies and the mother of two adult children. Felicia enjoys nature and running.
Mary Rizzo (she/her/ella)
Assistant Director
Office of Minority Student Affairs
Mary joined the University of Rochester’s Office of Minority Student Affairs in August 2021. She became fascinated with Wellness as an undergrad and intern at her university’s Wellness Center. It was there that she began a lifelong mindfulness practice which was integral in her pursuing a BA in Psychology, and Master’s degree in Counseling. Mary truly loves teaching, learning, and helping people. She has taught college courses in communication and college success skills, and is also a yoga (RYT 200) and karate instructor in the community. She has personally experienced the healing power of engaging regular in mindful physical activity. Mary is excited to be able to share the benefits of mindfulness practices with the University of Rochester community.
Deontae McLachlan (he/him)
Academic Counselor
Office of Minority Student Affairs
Deontae McLachlan is an Academic Counselor for the Office of Minority Student Affairs. He is an alum of the University having completed his degree back in 2015. He has been practicing meditation and mindfulness for years and has a variety of experiences with different modalities of these practices. Born and raised in Chicago, IL, he knows how difficult it can be to exist within systems that do not offer kindness, care, and compassion and he prides himself on his enduring spirit of teaching and mentorship. He has experienced the transformative and magnanimous energy of mindfulness and is elated at the opportunity to share in this practice.
John Covach (he/him)
Professor
Arthur Satz Department of Music and Eastman School of Music
John Covach’s interest in Indian spirituality was kindled in the 1970s by the music of the Beatles and Yes, novels by Hermann Hesse, and most especially by Paramahansa Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi. He took his first instruction in meditation in 1978 and in the decades following has pursued the study of Eastern philosophy, Western esotericism, Christian mysticism, and German philosophy since Kant. As a music scholar and author of dozens of articles, chapters, and books, his work often explores the intersection of spirituality and mysticism with 20th-century classical music, jazz, and rock. In addition to teaching Koru Mindfulness, John is trained in other approaches to meditation, including kriya yoga and Chopra meditation. In addition to teaching music on the River Campus and at Eastman, John serves as Director of the Institute for Popular Music.
Laura Gavigan (she/her)
Mindful Counselor, Coach & Consultant
Mindful Matters
Laura is the founder of Mindful Matters and offers mindful education, counseling and coaching for anyone looking to find balance, focus and peace in their lives.
Working as an educator for 20+ years at the University of Rochester, Laura became interested in how life can inherently create stress and anxiety, leading to burnout and chronic health challenges. She has counseled, coached and advised thousands, integrating a framework of mindfulwellness, empathy, and support.
Laura has led introductory and advanced mindful meditation classes and workshops and has been featured as a guest speaker or panelist for a wide variety of organizations.
Mindful Matters offers classes, workshops and guided meditation both locally and internationally. Every program emphasizes a mindful approach through insight, practice, and community to help people thrive, rather than survive.
Yoga Teachers
Vanessa Airey
After taking her first class in 2014, Vanessa was drawn to the many facets of Yoga practice. The most potent of those being the beliefs that everything in this world is an expression of the divine, the idea that all of our movement follows a certain pattern, and the hope that every individual awakening benefits the community at large. Vanessa believes that Asana and movement help Yogis create stronger, more aligned vessels with which to navigate this human experience. She uses thematic language and intentional sequencing to deepen her student’s connections to their bodies, their minds, and their community.
Jesse Amesmith
Jesse has had a dedicated yoga practice since 2006 & has shared their passion for healing centered & playful movement on the mat teaching yoga since 2013. They consider themselves a “forever student” and love to share what they learn in their own practice with the world around them. Expect Jesse’s classes to be a combination of challenging & nurturing, while we explore the balance between effort and ease on the yoga mat.
Kass Degus
Kass is a 200hr Registered Yoga Teacher and has been practicing yoga since the early 2000s. She strives to help students expand their personal experience of the divine through movement, mindfulness and community connection. Find her online everywhere at @kasstheyogi and at kasstheyogi.com
Rebecca Block (she/her)
Rebecca is a long-term yoga practitioner for over 14 years, is a 200hr Registered Yoga Teacher and is currently pursuing her 300hr teacher training. In her yoga teaching, she seeks to meet everyone where they are at by offering an inclusive and trauma-informed environment to practice in. She offer students various skills and mind-body practices to meet their thoughts and experiences with compassion, find grounding, as well as an inner stillness they can use both on and off the mat.
Monica Alanna
Monica Alanna has been leading pranayama, meditation, and asana classes for ten years in the Rochester area, centering the nuanced dynamics of our anatomy. In her Gentle & Restorative classes, you will dive deep into your musculoskeletal system and slow down to replenish and nourish the nervous system. Each class is geared toward any level of experience and meant to offer insights that can easily be practiced at home to give you a moment of tending to yourself in an often hectic life.
Chris Hinkle
Chris began his yoga journey in Washington, DC, in 2017 when a friend taught an informal class at a party. He began learning primarily Power and Ashtanga styles and became involved in Stonewall Yoga in DC and Richmond, VA, to advocate for yoga in queer spaces. After moving to Rochester in 2022, he decided to undergo teacher training and obtained his 200 hour certification from TRU Yoga and a 50 hour certificate in Rocket® Yoga from David Kyle.
Coco Elliott
Join Coco for Vinyasa Flow—a practice rooted in self-discovery and continual growth. With a 200hr YT certification and an ongoing pursuit of a 300hr, Coco encourages curiosity as a pathway to personal and spiritual evolution. Embrace an engaging journey on the mat, where every pose becomes a step toward understanding, and each breath fuels the spirit of exploration, cultivating kindness and patience as offerings to the self and the world.
Krista Khan
Krista has been practicing since 2005 and guiding yoga from 2013. Her practice and guidance is based on the principles of social justice and accessibility for all. Krista is looking forward to seeing you on the mat and building community with you.
Student Committee Members
Lan Nguyen (he/him)
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Chair
Lan is the current DEI Chair of the Mindful University Project and is currently studying Business and Financial Economics. He discovered mindfulness at the beginning of the practice and has since been practicing yoga, meditation, and mindful journaling and practices on a daily basis.
Lan believes that mindfulness extends beyond any rules and practices and takes any shape that practitioners wish. He wishes to help his college peers implement mindfulness into their daily lives to help improve their quality of life and better connect with themselves. Lan is excited to learn more and contribute to all mental health and mindfulness initiatives at the University of Rochester, as well as connect with other mindful practitioners.
Vic Cohen (they/them)
Social Media Chair
As the social media chair for the Mindful University Committee, Vic strives to make sure all content is educational and accessible to the general public, rather than being ultra-specialized to people that are already knowledgeable in mindfulness and meditation fields.
In studying Brain and Cognitive Science and Clinical Psychology, they make sure to employ mindful practice when approaching topics regarding the brain and it’s inner workings, always taking into consideration the power we hold in a simple deep breath.
Will Anderson (He/Him)
Eastman Liasion
Will Anderson (He/Him) is a Jazz Guitar Performance and Math Dual Degree Student at Eastman and the University of Rochester. He was first introduced to meditation as a stress reduction practice but ended up finding it to be significantly more. He has explored various different mindfulness and meditation practices, including taking the Koru class with Professor John Covach. He is a regular attendee of the Rochester Zen Center. Will is also influenced by various Zen and Buddhist books, especially Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryū Suzuki. Will is excited to continue to explore mindfulness and meditation.
Rebecca Block (she/her) is the current Director of the Mindful University Project. In this role, she leads the strategic development, implementation, and evaluation of all Mindful University Project initiatives for the campus community. She also leads the advanced meditation classes and co-facilitates the half-day silent retreats. In her role, Rebecca works closely with schools and departments to integrate a culture of mindfulness across the campus. In addition, she offers evidence-informed trainings to faculty and staff members that offer practical skills to promote well-being in their classrooms and / or office to support the students they serve.
Dr. Lisa Critchley is the Founder and President, Kirk Partners Consulting LLC. Kirk Partners Consulting LLC provides mindfulness-based organizational and leadership coaching to drive leadership excellence and promote overall well-being. Focus areas include organization-wide culture change, presence-based mindful leadership development, coaching, and strategy. Dr. Lisa Critchley earned her doctorate in Executive Leadership at St. John Fisher College. Her dissertation entitled, “The Leader’s Mind Matters: The Effect of Mindful Leadership Development Programs on Leadership Effectiveness, Mindfulness and Well-Being Among Global Manufacturing Leaders” was awarded the Exemplary Scholarship Award. Lisa is conducting independent research to advance awareness of mindfulness to enhance well-being and leadership effectiveness and understand the intersection of mindfulness, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
