Gábor Karsai

Gábor Karsai, based near Budapest, Hungary, is a long-standing member of the MLE Association, and presently serves as Rector of the Dharma Gate Buddhist College in Budapest, as well as Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies. Gabor has undertaken Ph.D studies with a focus on process philosophy (A. N. Whitehead), phenomenology and Buddhism. Over the …

Yuri Belfali

Yuri Belfali leads the work of the Directorate for Education and Skills in the field of early childhood education and care, and international comparative studies of education systems. She oversees large scale surveys including the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Teaching and Learning International Survey programme (TALIS). She also manages thematic policy analyses and …

Hawah Kasat

Hawah Kasat is an author, educator, non-profit leader, TEDx speaker, and yogi. For over 20 years, Hawah has been teaching violence prevention, social-emotional literacy, conflict transformation, yoga, mindfulness, the healing arts, and trauma-informed care to all types of students from diverse demographics around the globe. Hawah is co-founder and former Executive Director of One Common …

Michelle Chatman

Dr. Michelle Chatman is a visionary educator, scholar, and community advocate dedicated to fostering transformative educational experiences and social change. As an Associate Professor at the University of the District of Columbia, she leverages her extensive background in cultural anthropology, contemplative practices, and community engagement to inspire meaningful connections between education and social justice. A …

Keiryu Liên Shutt

Rev. Liên Shutt is a lineage holder in the Shunryu Suzuki tradition. Born to a Buddhist family in Vietnam, she received her meditation training in the Insight and Zen traditions in the U.S., Thailand, Japan, and Vietnam. She was a founding member of the Buddhists of Color in 1998 and currently is the guiding teacher …

Valerie Brown

Valerie Brown is an acclaimed international facilitator, leadership coach, speaker, and award-winning author dedicated to fostering personal and societal transformation. As the founder of Lead Smart Coaching, LLC, Valerie integrates her deep expertise in leadership, mindfulness, and social justice to empower individuals and organizations to lead with clarity and compassion. A Quaker and Zen practitioner …

Monique Gray Smith

Monique Gray Smith is an award-winning, best-selling author. Her books cover a broad spectrum of ages, topics and emotions. Woven into all of Monique’s writing, speaking engagements and online courses is the teaching that Love is Medicine. In April, she released her 6th children’s picture, Dreaming Alongside. Monique is well known for her adaptation of …

Chiara Mascarello 

Chiara Mascarello holds a research grant at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, where she also teaches Tibetan language. She is a founder and board member of the Contemplative Studies program at the University of Padua and co-directs the Italian Buddhist Union Research Center. She advanced her studies at Sera Monastic University, UMA Institute, and the …

Liz Grant

Liz Grant is one of the Assistant Principals ( Presidents)  of the University of Edinburgh with a remit for global health, Professor of Global Health and Development, Director of the Global Compassion Initiative and the Compassion Lab at the University’s Edinburgh Futures Institute.  She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), and  …

Jenny Mascaro

Jenny Mascaro is an applied biological anthropologist whose research focuses on investigating the impact of mindfulness and compassion meditation practices on the well-being, compassion, and health of both hospitalized patients and their healthcare providers. Her research approach incorporates a mix of methods, such as ambulatory assessment of linguistic behavior, functional and structural neuroimaging, as well …