Our Facilitators

Katie received her undergraduate degree in Theater from Columbia College Chicago under the guidance of the late Sheldon Patinkin, original founding member of Second City Chicago. Katie is the founder and director of award winning Sandbox Stories Theater company that produces children’s original stories and poems performed by professional actors and musicians. Sandbox Stories strives to help young people begin to see themselves as writers by facilitating and engaging creativity, imagination and self empowerment. For almost 15 years Katie has directed writing contests, performances, local radio shows, in-school writing and acting workshops as well as teacher improvisation and creative writing workshops. She is a passionate believer in the healing potential of creativity. Currently Katie is a master’s candidate in Psychology at Teachers College and is studying the connection between the arts particularly acting and writing and the transformative healing power of both. 

Natalie Chua Yi Ling is a student in the Spirituality Mind Body Summer Intensive (SMBI) Master’s Degree program at Teacher’s College.

Her interest lies in the development of holistic and integrated approaches towards healing. She is especially passionate about how music, poetry and the arts can be interwoven with eastern and western psychology as pathways to our wholeness.

Her current work focuses on building resiliency and sustainable wellness with children and young adults through the domain of mindfulness, self-compassion and creative expression.

Giuliana Cortese is a writer, Kundalini yoga teacher and graduate student at Columbia University studying Clinical Psychology: Mind, Body and Spirit. She writes on self-love, acceptance, vulnerability and navigating daily life through the lens of spirituality and practical application of mind-body tools. . She is currently writing her thesis on the intersection of gender, body image and spirituality. Giuliana’s work has appeared on The Huffington Post, Rebelle Society & Thought Catalog. She facilitates the LOVE 365 workshop at the LEO Wellness Center at Teachers College, Columbia University. You can connect with her at giulianacortese.com or on  Twitter @giulianacortese.

Jennifer Drapkin, M.S., is a second-year doctoral student at Teachers College, Columbia University, earning her Ph.D. in clinical psychology. After a 12-year career as a journalist and yoga instructor, Jennifer returned to school to study the connection between mind, body, and spirit. Jennifer received her B.A. in psychology from Yale University, her M.S. in journalism from Columbia School of Journalism, and her yoga instructor certification from Laughing Lotus College of Yoga in New York City. Jennifer hopes that by building better inner worlds, we can build better outer worlds, too.

Matt has 10 years experience in the health and fitness industry; 8 of those years as a personal trainer and 4 years as an owner of his own health and wellness centre in the United Kingdom. He also has 20 years experience playing and coaching sport at a high level, and military experience within the Royal Navy - as a Royal Marine Commando.

He is a student of the Spirituality Mind Body Summer Intensive (SMBI) Master’s Degree program at Teacher’s College, Columbia University. His Undergraduate Degree was in Sport Development, majoring in Sociology at Glyndwr University - The University of Wales, in the United Kingdom.

His interests include: physical training, all sports (from both sides of the atlantic!), triathlons (swimming, cycling, running), traveling, exploring and adventuring, and meeting new people along the way!

Matt is particularly passionate about helping people to maintain a state of mental clarity while under pressure, whether that is in a physically demanding environment or being mentally challenged in the workplace, in school, on a golf course or at home.

Jan Fielder is a Certified Life and Wellness Coach who specializes in working with emerging adults and college students as they explore issues related to their identity, direction and purpose in life. Trained in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, she teaches mindfulness and meditation as a way to manage stress, anxiety and life’s challenges, and to explore deeper issues of spirituality. She is currently enrolled in the Masters program in Clinical Psychology at the Spirituality Mind Body Institute at Columbia University Teachers College. She is the mother of three children, all young adults, and has encountered many of the challenges parents face in raising children in today’s demanding world.

Spirituality Mind Body Institute, certified dharma yoga instructor, certified laughter yoga teacher, certified in mission be and mindfulness in schools curriculum, current consultant bringing mindfulness and laughter to under served schools and communities

Jennifer Gatto is a master’s degree student in the Clinical Psychology and Education Program with a concentration in Spirituality and Mind Body Practice at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her current research and area of interest focuses on honoring the divine feminine, creating spaces for women to come together to practice feminine wisdom, storytelling around the rich and diverse experiences of womanhood and the modern world, redefining feminine leadership, and bridging some of the ancient wisdom of our indigenous grandmothers to the reality of modern life.
 
Jennifer has also worked at UNICEF, the UN agency that works on children’s issues, for the past nine years in various capacities.  She is currently a Programme Officer, working on a global polio eradication programme.
 
Jennifer will be piloting a women’s circle dedicated to honoring the divine feminine in fall 2015 at the Leo Center.

Zahra Komeylian is a Master’s candidate in the SMBI Clincal Psychology program. I am passionate about developing approaches to emotional healing and spiritual self-discovery through creative expression (i.e. clay, paint and poetry). My inspiration stems from the poems of Rumi, Eastern Buddhist practices, and my love for getting my hands dirty in paint. This year, I co-created Fearless Flow at LEO, a workshop series using somatic-based and meditative techniques for healing through art-making.

PhD, Clinical psychology; research in contemplative practice, mindfulness, body awareness, compassion

Susan Mordecai holds a Master’s of Education. In 2010 Susan began training as a Mindfulness Educator.  She has extensive training in Mindful Education and Social Emotional Learning, with certifications from the Mindful Education Institute, Mindful School, .b, Still Quiet Place, and Radiant Child Yoga.  Susan has attended retreats at the Insight Meditation Society, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, Karme Choling, and the Garrison Institute, most recently she has participated in the Introduction to Council at the Ojai Foundation.  In 2014, after fourteen years of providing service as a special educator Susan made the decision to leave public education.  Currently Susan is the Director of Service for Mindful In Vermont, her work is bringing Mindfulness and Social Emotional Learning to students, faculty and staff in public and private schools.  Susan continues to make her home in Vermont, and enjoys writing flash fiction, haiku and memoir and paring her words with images.

Coordinator of German Studies Program and Interim Director of the Language Center, Women and Gender Studies and Film Studies Associated Faculty Member, Union College.
The panel consists of a group of international second language teachers and specialist who are currently Language Assistants at Union College whose main interests include introducing innovative and engaging teaching strategies into the classroom, flipping the classroom, enhancing individual learning, and fostering a nurturing, fun learning environment.

Developer of the "Artists' Spirituality Project"

Facilitator of workshops in NY and FL rooted in arts exploration, creativity, and imagination President of Claudia, Inc. Member of Julio Valdez Studio Collective, NYC, NY and 1310 Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Bi-annual solo show of new works in NY and FL
www.claudiapolzer.artspan.com

Personal Studies: intrinsic value of the arts as a healing process, artists in collectives with a spiritual practice, children at play, art in the Baha’i Writings;

Personal Statement: “At its heart, my approach is about whimsy, play, humor. I attempt to bring some fun into the world. I aim to be of service, to help people engage their emotions and spirituality, to assist people to play and to do some venting, too, in a serious world.”

Susan Reardon has a professional background in Holistic Wellness, Yoga Therapy, and Self-Healing Energy Therapeutics with a Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology. She has worked in various settings including private practice, spa/wellness centers, and in corporate wellness. She is currently at the SMBI obtaining a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology concentrating her studies in Spirituality Mind Body. Her current interests are in embodiment and the use of the body in psycho-spiritual healing. Her research interest is in utilizing the breath and fascia, the connective tissue matrix of the physical body, and their energetic counterparts in healing trauma. Upon graduation she would like to teach and provide psycho-spiritual mind-body health.

Jeanette Sandor is a Registered Nurse and a Certified Life Coach who is currently a graduate student in the Spirituality Mind Body Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is a mother of four children. Jeanette's areas of interest include teaching mindfulness practices to parents, teachers and children, substance use prevention in children, and helping others awaken to their true selves.

Suza Scalora is a writer, speaker, life empowerment coach and graduate student in the Spirituality Mind Body (SMBI) Summer Intensive Master’s Degree Program in Clinical Psychology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research interests include: spirituality as an opening to emotional mind-body self-awareness; the physiological and emotional affects of negative self-talk and rumination; spirituality as a foundation to healing, meaning and purpose. She is the Associate Director of LEO, the SMBI Wellness Center at Teachers College. She facilitates LOVE 365, a spirituality-based emotional and mind-body awareness workshop in LEO.

Sarah Sherman, is a second-year doctoral student in Interdisciplinary Studies, within the departments of Clinical Psychology and Organization and Leadership. Her research interests are related to mind, body, and wellness initiatives within organizations and professional settings. She is currently the Director of the Spirituality Mind Body Summer Intensive Master’s Degree Program.

Carrie Shumway is a Master’s student in Clinical Psychology with a focus on Spirituality and Mind-Body Wellness at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Her personal and academic interests include the exploration of the practice of deep listening as a therapeutic and community-building tool as well as the transition of motherhood as an opportunity for spiritual emergence and personal growth.  Trained as a Council facilitator through the Ojai Foundation and experienced in Mindfulness Based Stress reduction, she is committed to practicing mindfulness and deep listening as a life-long practice.  In the fall, Carrie will facilitate a Spiritual Mother’s Group exploring the experience of motherhood through heartfelt expression and empathic listening.