Contemplative Ecologies Professors and Supervisors

Nadine Levyمشاهده پروفایل

پژوهشگر

The University of AdelaideAustralia

Nadine Levy is a researcher and educator at Nan Tien Institute's Health and Social Wellbeing program. With a PhD in sociology and dual Honours degrees in law and gender studies, she brings interdisciplinary expertise to her work in Buddhist sociology, compassionate pedagogy, and critical mindfulness. Her academic career spans a decade of teaching across law, gender studies, sociology, and criminology, alongside community sector experience as a lawyer and advocate. University of Adelaide - PhD, BA (Hons), LLB (Hons) Insight Meditation Institute - Buddhist Insight Meditation Teacher Levy's research explores intersections between Buddhist sociology and critical theory, focusing on: - Therapeutic landscapes and spiritual movements - Mindfulness pedagogy in higher education - Neoliberal critique in academic and healthcare settings - Compassionate approaches to social wellbeing Recent publications demonstrate consistent engagement with: - Buddhist philosophy (4/6 articles) - Mindfulness applications (5/6 articles) - Neoliberalism critique (3/6 articles) - Existential themes (4/6 articles) Scientific Awards & Grants: 2010 BPW Prize - Top Honours Student 2012 WLA(SA) nomination - Australian Women Lawyer of the Year 2014 Dual Flinders University grants - Women's health research 2013 Research Abroad Scholarship & Karen Halley Trust Fund 2012 Australian Postgraduate Award 2010 Augusta Zadow Scholarship - Workplace safety research Levy's teaching methodology emphasizes student-centered learning, bodily intuition, and relational knowledge construction. She actively bridges Buddhist philosophy with contemporary social issues through both academic and community platforms.

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Scott Boweringمشاهده پروفایل

استاد

Kwantlen Polytechnic UniversityCanada

Dr. Scott Bowering is a visual artist, musician, and educator at Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Faculty of Fine Arts. He holds a B.F.A. from the University of Victoria, an M.F.A. from NSCAD University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Theory and Practice from Simon Fraser University. His research merges studio practice with academic inquiry, focusing on sociomaterial engagement, experimental agency, and the application of postdigital/process philosophy in arts education. Bowering's artistic work explores the relationship between mechanical and embodied production in printmaking and painting. His Ph.D. research (2017-2023) examined contemplative inquiry and philosophy of science in arts education, resulting in peer-reviewed publications in journals like Cultural Studies of Science Education and Religions . His current research investigates postdigital process theory in education and studio arts. He teaches courses in monotype and print media, emphasizing the interplay of digital and manual techniques.

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Rachel Moserمشاهده پروفایل

استادیار

Eastern Kentucky UniversityUnited States

Rachel Moser serves as Assistant Professor of Digital Media & Graphic Design at Eastern Kentucky University. Her academic credentials include: MFA in Studio Art from the University of Kentucky BFA in Motion & Graphic Design from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle Her research investigates nature's transformation through ecological field exercises in geophysically distinct locations, creating immersive experiences that address climate change impacts on landscapes. She blends light, media, and sound with reclaimed and manufactured materials to provoke contemplation of planetary fragility, operating at the intersection of Environmental Art, Digital Media, and Sound Art. Recognition includes: South Arts Kentucky State Fellow

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Mariann Tünde Vargaمشاهده پروفایل

دانشیار

University of Fine ArtsHungary

Mariann Tünde Varga is an Associate Professor in the Department of Fine Arts Theory at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, specializing in contemporary art theory, cultural studies, and visual culture. With a habilitation in Literary Studies from Eötvös Loránd University (2016) and a PhD in English and American Literature (2006), she bridges literary theory and visual arts through interdisciplinary scholarship. Her educational background includes: Habilitation in Literary Studies, Eötvös Loránd University (2016) PhD in English and American Literature, Eötvös Loránd University (2006) MA in Aesthetics, Institute of Art Theory and Media Research (1997-2003) MA in English Language and Literature, Eötvös Loránd University (1994-2000) Varga's research examines the intersections of contemporary art, cultural politics, and social transformation. Her work critically engages with migration narratives, anthropocene discourse, museum studies, and postcolonial theory, often through the lens of Central European contexts. She investigates how visual culture mediates political conflict, constructs identity, and challenges institutional frameworks, with particular attention to curatorial practices and artistic resistance. Her recent publications reveal a sustained focus on decolonizing art history, ecological crisis in artistic practice, and the politics of representation in migration contexts. These works demonstrate her commitment to interrogating power structures through aesthetic autonomy while addressing urgent global challenges. Notable awards include multiple DAAD scholarships, State Eötvös Postdoctoral Scholarships, and Erasmus funding for research at institutions including the University of Sussex, Universität Bonn, and Universität zu Köln. Varga actively mentors emerging artists through curatorial projects like Párhuzamos Magyarország , advising international students from Syria, Brazil, Colombia, Iran, India, Turkey, and Vietnam. She collaborates with the Bonn-based Floorplan Research Group and has secured funding through NKFIH and TÁMOP grants for visual arts curriculum development. Her institutional work includes co-editing contemporary art theory anthologies and curating exhibitions that explore post-socialist identity, digital aesthetics, and transnational artistic practices, positioning her at the forefront of Central European critical art discourse.

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Ben Egertonمشاهده پروفایل

مدرس ارشد

Victoria University of WellingtonNew Zealand

Dr Ben Egerton serves as Director of Initial Teacher Education at Victoria University of Wellington's School of Education, a position he has held since January 2022. His academic profile uniquely bridges creative arts and education, with a PhD in Creative Writing (2020) and extensive experience in both poetry and teacher education. His research spans two interconnected domains: Creative Writing: Focusing on experimental poetry, Christian poetics in post-secular contexts, and the work of Michael Symmons Roberts Educational Technology: Specializing in cross-curricular learning design, digital technologies in museum education, and developing creative thinking in primary classrooms through technology Dr Egerton's publication pattern reveals a distinctive dual focus, with approximately half his recent work comprising scholarly educational research and the other half creative poetry output. His 2025 poetry collection Antiphony | Anti-Phoney represents his latest creative work, while his 2025 journal article on integrating science and digital technology demonstrates his educational scholarship. This integration of creative practice and academic research defines his scholarly identity. He actively supervises doctoral candidates on diverse technology-integrated education projects and teaches multiple courses including Te Kahu o te Ao: Primary learning design and Ngā Amo: Primary Learning Design at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. His 2025 grant Nōku te Ao: sharing our stories through place-conscious digital storytelling exemplifies his commitment to connecting Māori educational approaches with contemporary digital learning.

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Wendy Farleyمشاهده پروفایل

استاد

Touro UniversityUnited States

Wendy Farley serves as Director of the Program in Christian Spirituality and holds the Rice Family Professor of Spirituality position at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), where she has been consortial faculty since 2016 through San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS) in San Francisco. Her educational background includes: MA/PhD from Vanderbilt University (1988) Dr. Farley's research integrates Contemplative Practices, Theology of Trinity, Beauty, and Queer Theology with feminist and historical perspectives. She critically examines mystical traditions to transform theological discourse around desire, incarnation, and divine compassion, emphasizing marginalized voices and embodied spirituality. Her work bridges academic theology with practical spiritual formation. Her publications from 1990–2015 reveal a cohesive exploration of divine love amid suffering, consistently applying queer and feminist lenses to classical theological concepts. Key trajectories include reimagining theodicy through compassion, analyzing women mystics' relevance for contemporary spirituality, and developing relational models of incarnation that address social fragmentation in pluralistic contexts. No scientific awards were documented in the available information. While specific advisees and grant details are unlisted, her directorship of the Program in Christian Spirituality indicates active mentorship in contemplative theology and spiritual formation within GTU's consortium framework. As Program Director, she leads interdisciplinary initiatives connecting Christian spirituality with social justice, queer theory, and interfaith engagement across GTU's member schools, fostering innovative approaches to theological education.

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Jo Deryمشاهده پروفایل

استاد

Keene State CollegeUnited States

Jo Dery is a Professor of Film Studies at Keene State College, specializing in experimental animation and visual storytelling. Her affiliations include residencies at MacDowell and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and she participated in an animation workshop at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, Poland. Her research integrates film, digital media, drawing, and memoir, with focus areas including: Autobiographical narratives and personal essays Hybrid art forms (film, installation, performance) Nature as a thematic setting Handmade aesthetics in digital contexts Dery’s creative output spans 20+ projects, with recent works exploring family dynamics, solitude, and environmental themes through experimental techniques. Her films and installations have been exhibited globally. Awards and Grants: Helen Hill Award (2012) Whiting Fellowship (2016) LEF Foundation, Vermont Arts Council, and Rhode Island State Council on the Arts grants Three Honorable Mentions in Best American Comics She advises students through independent studies and teaches courses in animation, video production, and career development. Dery holds a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA from Goddard College.

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Louise St Pierreمشاهده پروفایل

استاد

Emily Carr University of Art and DesignCanada

Ecological Design
Sustainable Design
Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability
+۵ مورد دیگر

Louise St Pierre is a Professor at Emily Carr University of Art + Design within the Ian Gillespie Faculty of Design + Dynamic Media. She holds appointments in both the Faculty of Design + Dynamic Media and the Jake Kerr Faculty of Graduate Studies. Her work bridges industrial design, ecological design, and contemplative practices, with a focus on creating sustainable design paradigms that recognize the agency of all beings. Her research interests center on ecological design, animism, Buddhism, and contemplative practices. St Pierre brings animist views to Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability (DESIS), advocating that all beings are social and should be included in design processes. She established Canada's first DESIS Lab and serves on the DESIS International Coordination Committee. Her work emphasizes understanding systems, deep ecology, and ecological interdependence, with a focus on redirecting design toward contemplative, holistic, and ethical approaches that prioritize all beings of the more-than-human world. St Pierre's publications reveal a consistent trajectory toward integrating ecological principles with contemplative practices and animist perspectives. Her work moves beyond conventional sustainable design to develop frameworks that recognize the agency of non-human entities and foster deep ecological literacy. The publications demonstrate increasing sophistication in methods for designers to engage directly with nature, develop new ethical frameworks, and create educational approaches that transform students' relationship with the Earth. Dean of Graduate Studies Convocation Medal from Simon Fraser University YWCA Women of Distinction Awards nomination (Environmental Sustainability, 2024) Funding and awards from the Environmental Protection Agency, IDSA, and The American Center for Design St Pierre has received significant research funding for Industrial Design, Exhibit Design and Ecological Design work. She founded the Design for All Beings research group at Emily Carr University and established Canada's first Minor in Ecological Design. Her work has influenced sustainable design education internationally, and she continues to develop embodied, relational, and contemplative pedagogies through her networks. She co-chaired the International Design Principles and Practices Conference in 2014 and remains active in international design discourse. She leads the Design for All Beings research group at Emily Carr University, which explores how designers can prioritize all beings of the more-than-human world. As a founding member of Canada's first DESIS Lab, she researches how design can influence low-impact behaviors and lifestyles. Her approach integrates wisdom traditions, contemplative practices, and animist perspectives to develop new design methodologies that recognize the agency of all beings.

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Courtney L. Weidaمشاهده پروفایل

استاد

Adelphi UniversityUnited States

Courtney L. Weida is a Professor in the Department of Art Education at Adelphi University's Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences. She holds leadership roles as Art Education Graduate Program Director and has served on multiple university committees including as Co-Chair of the Senate Committee on Teaching & Advisement. Her work bridges academic scholarship with practical teaching experience as she continues to serve as a teaching artist for New York schools and public libraries. Education: Ed.D., Columbia University Teachers College (2008) Ed.M., Harvard University (2004) B.A. in Visual Art, English Literature, and Elementary Education, Northeastern University Weida's research explores the intersections of art education, gender studies, and cultural theory. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, craft and sensory experience, healing arts, and visual culture studies through the lens of girlhood studies and fairy tale studies. She investigates how expressive arts, community arts, and digital learning communities can transform educational practices. Her scholarship draws connections between psychoanalysis, creativity, and pedagogy, particularly examining how mythological and fairy tale narratives shape identity formation and artistic expression. Analysis of her recent publications reveals consistent engagement with feminist perspectives on art education, with particular focus on zine culture, unicorn symbolism, and fairy tale narratives as frameworks for understanding girlhood and identity. Her work frequently examines the contributions of women artists and educators throughout history while applying these insights to contemporary educational contexts. A recurring theme is the integration of craft-based practices with critical pedagogy, exploring how handmade objects and alternative media forms can create spaces for marginalized voices. Awards and Recognition: Adelphi University Excellence in Scholarship Nominee (2018, 2015) Top 5% journal article on academia.edu (2021) Weida serves as an outside reader for doctoral students at the Derner Institute of Psychology and has mentored numerous Art Education Masters Seminar Capstone Research Projects since 2008. Her grant history demonstrates commitment to professional development in Waldorf education, arts for autism, and international cultural studies, with funding from Adelphi University and external sources including the Alfred D. Bell Fellowship for Forest History and Art Education. She co-coordinates the Art Education Capstone Exhibition and has been instrumental in developing interdisciplinary connections between art education and other fields. As a practicing artist, Weida participates in the International Fiber Collaborative and has exhibited her work in numerous venues including Columbia University Teachers College Alumni Exhibitions, Viridian Artists Gallery, and the Museum of Motherhood Conference Exhibition. Her creative scholarship demonstrates the integration of research and practice that characterizes her approach to art education.

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