Dr. John Dunne is an assistant professor in the Department of Religion at Emory University, where he is co-director of the Encyclopedia of Contemplative Practices and the Emory Collaborative for Contemplative Studies. Dr. Dunne is also a core member of the Mind & Life Institute’s Education Research Network and has assisted neuropsychological studies of Tibetan contemplative practices. He was educated at Amherst College and Harvard University. Dr. Dunne’s work on various aspects of Buddhist philosophy includes studies of Dharmakirti and Chandrakirti and inquiry into the notion of “mindfulness” in both classical Buddhist and contemporary contexts.
Dr. Jack Straton is an associate professor in the Department of Physics and University Studies at Portland State University. He received his PhD in Quantum Theory from the University of Oregon. He has also, both as a volunteer and professional diversity trainer, presented several hundred workshops on ending sexual assault and racism. Jack founded Men Against Rape groups in Eugene, Oregon, Washington, D.C., and Manhattan, Kansas. He has served as co-chair of the National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS) and as coordinator of the NOMAS Task Group on Child Custody Issues.
Dr. Steven Vannoy is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington and a visiting professor at Maitripa College. Dr. Vannoy received his PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Wisconsin Madison. Dr. Vannoy’s research has focused on evaluating the impact of meditation based on Buddhist psychology for reducing anger in incarcerated adults, and the application of meditation techniques in a range of clinical settings. Dr. Vannoy’s recent research activities pertain to mental health integration into medical settings, with a particular focus on suicide prevention. He directs Seattle’s Dharma Friendship Foundation.
Dr. Dan Rubin is a visiting professor of psychology at Maitripa College and is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Portland, OR. His areas of interest include anxiety, depression, chronic illness and pain, grief and loss, stress reduction, creativity, psychology of religion, mindfulness-based psychotherapy, and Buddhist psychology.
Dr. Larry Christensen is a clinical psychologist in private practice and is the resident teacher at the Zen Center of Portland. He is currently on the faculty for the Institute for Contemporary Psychoanalysis (Los Angeles/Portland), and he is the founding director and core faculty for the Northwest Center for Psychoanalysis (Seattle/Portland). He is an ordained Soto Zen priest and was a Zen Buddhist monk for ten years.