Keynote

To Be of Benefit: The promise of contemplative research and practice

Dr. Sona Dimidjian | 2pm-3:15pm on Saturday, March 9th
Kitteredge Central Meeting Rooms, CU Boulder

Enormous challenges exist in our world today. Mental health problems and adversity are prevalent and impairing, including on our academic campuses. Few who need support receive it, and many existing interventions do not offer lasting help. The social and personal costs of inattention to these problems are clear. Commitment to creating a better future draws many of us to the study and practice of contemplative practices. How can we most effectively do this work in a way that promotes individual healing and social change? In this presentation, I explore a conceptual and methodological framework and present empirical findings that help us to realize our potential during these critical times. I focus on ways in which we can work in interdisciplinary partnerships with one another and with engaged communities, guided by an intention to create a better future for all.

Dr. Sona Dimidjian is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her research focuses on cultivating mental health and well-being among women, children, and families. She develops and studies programs and practices in education and healthcare settings, with an emphasis on navigating key developmental transitions, such as the perinatal period, early childhood, and adolescence. She also has a longstanding interest in expanding access, scaling, and sustaining effective programs, using both digital technology and community-based partnerships. Current projects in her lab focus on preventing depression and supporting well-being among new and expectant mothers, promoting healthy body image and leadership among young women, and enhancing mindfulness and compassion among youth, families and educators. Her research is funded by the National Institutes of Health and foundations dedicated to supporting positive social and community impact. She is the recipient of numerous awards acknowledging her teaching and clinical research. She received her BA in psychology from the University of Chicago and her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Washington.