Susan Bauer-Wu is the former president of the Mind & Life Institute. Throughout her career, she has held leadership, academic, and clinical positions in nonprofits, health care, and higher education, with a focus on mind-body science and promoting well-being through mindfulness and other contemplative approaches. Susan is the author of A Future We Can Love: How We Can Reverse the Climate Crisis through the Power of Our Hearts and Minds (2023), inspired by a Mind & Life Conversation between the Dalai Lama and Greta Thunberg, and Leaves Falling Gently: Living Fully with Serious & Life-Limiting Illness through Mindfulness, Compassion & Connectedness (2011). 

 


Susan began her career as a registered nurse specializing in oncology and end-of-life care, and later received a PhD in psychoneuroimmunology. She has held faculty and leadership roles at the University of Virginia, Emory University, and Harvard Medical School/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In her free time, she is outdoors as much as possible, gardening and hiking the Blue Ridge mountains with her husband and their two dogs.

 

This profile was last updated on March 22, 2023

Mind & Life Connections

2023
2022
deer in woods, winter

Blog

Celebrating 35 years and more in 2022

Susan Bauer-Wu • January 18, 2022

2021

2021 Summer Research Institute Session

A Conversation with Christiana Figueres: The Case for Stubborn Optimism

Christiana Figueres, Susan Bauer-Wu

Topics: Contemplative Wisdom | Environment | Social Change

Audio AvailableVideo Available

Blog

2021 President’s Letter

Susan Bauer-Wu • January 22, 2021

Topics: Contemplative Wisdom | Interconnection

2020

2020 Contemplative Research Conference Session

Opening Remarks and Contemplative Arts

Susan Bauer-Wu, Linda Carlson, John Dunne, Grant Jones

Topics: Contemplative Wisdom

Mind & Life Videos

Mind & Life 2020 President’s Call

Mind and Life Institute • May 20, 2020

Topics: Brain & Cognitive Science | Contemplative Wisdom | Interconnection | Social Change

Blog

2020 President’s Call

Mind and Life Institute • May 20, 2020

Topics: Compassion & Empathy | Interconnection | Self & Other

2019
2018

Mind & Life Videos

A Conversation with Sharon Salzberg and Susan Bauer Wu

Mind and Life Institute • April 9, 2018

Topics: Compassion & Empathy

2017

Mind & Life Videos

A Conversation with Jim Austin and Susan Bauer-Wu

Mind and Life Institute • November 20, 2017

Topics: Brain & Cognitive Science | Mindfulness | Social Change

Blog

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives at Mind & Life

Mind and Life Institute • October 25, 2017

Topics: Interconnection | Social Change

Mind & Life Videos

MLI XXXII Vusi Concert

Mind and Life Institute • August 19, 2017

Mind & Life Videos

MLI XXXII Session 5

Mind and Life Institute • August 19, 2017

Topics: Contemplative Wisdom | Education | Interconnection | Social Change | Stress & Resilience

Mind & Life Videos

MLI XXXII Session 1

Mind and Life Institute • August 17, 2017

Topics: Contemplative Wisdom | Interconnection | Self & Other | Social Change

2017 Mind & Life Dialogue XXXII Session

Welcome

Moderators: Lily Mafela
Panel: Rupert Hambira, Raphael Sikwane, Canon Mpho Tutu Van Furth, Susan Bauer-Wu, Seretse Khama Ian Khama, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Lily Mafela

Topics: Contemplative Wisdom | Interconnection | Self & Other | Social Change

2016

Mind & Life Videos

ISCS 2016 – Evening Conversation

Mind and Life Institute • November 12, 2016

Topics: Contemplative Wisdom | Education | Mindfulness

Mind & Life Videos

ISCS 2016 Day 1 Opening Remarks – Susan Bauer-Wu

Mind and Life Institute • November 10, 2016

2016 International Symposium for Contemplative Studies Session

Evening Conversation – The Promises and Perils of Mainstreaming Mindfulness (Ticketed Event)

Susan Bauer-Wu, Jeremy Hunter, Carolyn Jacobs, Amishi Jha, Sharon Salzberg

Topics: Contemplative Wisdom | Education | Mindfulness

2015

Mind & Life Videos

A Different Kind of Holiday Conversation With Susan Bauer-Wu

Mind and Life Institute • December 3, 2015

Topics: Compassion & Empathy

Mind & Life Videos

The Mind & Life Institute

Mind and Life Institute • November 25, 2015

Topics: Brain & Cognitive Science | Contemplative Wisdom | Mindfulness | Social Change

2014

2014 International Symposium for Contemplative Studies Session

Concurrent Session 1 – Contemplation as Organizational Transformation in a Research I University: The University of Virginia as a Case Study

Dorothe Bach, Susan Bauer-Wu, David Germano, Patricia (Tish) Jennings, David Mick, Kurtis Schaeffer

Topics: Education | Mindfulness