Sherry Leikin

Sherry Leikin serves as Associate Professor and Experiential Learning and Credentialing Manager in the Health and Wellness Coaching department at Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH), where she has been faculty since 2017 while maintaining private coaching practice since 2015.

Education:

• M.A. in Health and Wellness Coaching

Her research centers on self-compassion and mindfulness as foundational elements of Healing Presence—a core MUIH philosophical construct—integrating evidence-based practices from Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), Compassion for Couples (CfC), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). She actively develops curricula to operationalize these concepts across the university community, emphasizing their role in cultivating therapeutic relationships and client outcomes in integrative health settings.

Her scholarly work examines intersections between health literacy and coaching efficacy, contributing to evidence-based frameworks for wellness interventions. This focus reflects broader trends in validating coaching methodologies through measurable health outcomes and patient empowerment metrics.

Scientific Awards:

• MUIH Faculty Teaching Award (2020)
• Great Esteem Award, Health and Wellness Coaching Department (2019, 2018)

In her credentialing management role, Leikin mentors students through International Coaching Federation (ICF) and National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) certification pathways while teaching foundational courses like "Becoming a Healing Presence." Her advising integrates experiential learning with evidence-based coaching standards, preparing students for clinical practice through structured mentorship and credentialing support systems.