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Exciting Update: Formerly Koru Mindfulness, We’re Now the Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults (MIEA).

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Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults

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Terms of Use

LAST UPDATED: JANUARY 8, 2015

YOU AND THE MINDFULNESS INSTITUTE FOR EMERGING ADULTS/THE CENTER FOR KORU MINDFULNESS, LLC (“WE”, “US”, AND “OUR”) AGREE THAT YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF THE WEB SITE LOCATED AT MINDFULNESSINSTITUTEFOREMERGINGADULTS.COM AND ANY MOBILE APPLICATION PROVIDED BY US, IS SUBJECT TO YOUR AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS OF USE. TO MAKE THESE TERMS OF USE EASIER TO READ, THE FOREGOING REFERENCED WEB SITE AND ANY MOBILE APPLICATION ARE REFERRED TO AS THE “APPS” AND THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY US THROUGH THE APPS ARE REFERRED TO AS THE “SERVICES.” ANY MIEA PROGRAM MATERIALS, INCLUDING MATERIALS USED FOR MARKETING MIEA CLASSES, THAT ARE PROVIDED THROUGH THE SERVICES, INCLUDING WRITTEN MATERIALS, VIDEO RECORDINGS AND AUDIO RECORDINGS, ARE REFERRED TO AS THE “TEACHING MATERIALS.” YOUR USE OF THE APPS, THE SERVICES AND THE TEACHING MATERIALS IS SUBJECT TO YOUR AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS OF USE, WHICH WILL BECOME A BINDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND US (THE “AGREEMENT”). WE ARE WILLING TO ALLOW YOU ACCESS TO THE APPS AND PROVIDE THE SERVICES AND TEACHING MATERIALS ONLY UPON THE CONDITION THAT YOU ACCEPT ALL OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT. PLEASE READ THESE TERMS CAREFULLY. AFTER READING THE TERMS, IF YOU AGREE TO THE TERMS OF USE, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR DECISION BY CLICKING THE CHECKBOX ON THE ACCOUNT REGISTRATION FORM NEXT TO THE STATEMENT THAT READS “I have read and agreed to the Terms of Use.” IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF USE, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH AN ACCOUNT AND USE OUR SERVICES. IN ALL CASES, BY ACCESSING, VIEWING OR USING OUR SITES, YOU AGREE TO THE TERMS OF USE.

The Services and Teaching Materials are available to you only if you establish an account with us (an “Account”). By submitting a registration for an Account, you represent that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under 18, then you are not permitted to register for an Account. In order to receive the Services and the Teaching Materials, you may be required to pay certain fees in advance. We may increase the fees for Services and the Teaching Materials at any time. We reserve the right to modify, suspend or discontinue the Services or the apps, or discontinue access to the Teaching Materials, with or without notice at any time and without any liability to you; provided, however, we will make all efforts to notify you in advance should we choose to do so.

Any use by us of your Account registration information is subject to our compliance with our Privacy Policy that can be found here (the “Privacy Policy”). This Agreement includes terms and conditions set forth in the Privacy Policy and the Privacy Policy is incorporated herein by reference. By indicating your agreement to these Terms of Use, you are consenting to have any personal data provided by you used by us as set forth in the Privacy Policy.

Your Account

When registering for an Account, you agree to: (a) provide true, accurate, current and complete information about yourself as prompted by the registration form, and (b) maintain and promptly update the personal information you provide to keep it true, accurate, current and complete. If you provide any information that is untrue, inaccurate, not current or incomplete, or we have reasonable grounds to suspect that such information is untrue, inaccurate, not current or incomplete, we have the right to immediately terminate your access to the apps (or any portion thereof) or Services.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of your Account and password, and you are fully responsible for all activities that occur under your password or Account, and for any other actions taken in connection with your Account or password. You agree to (a) immediately notify us of any known or suspected unauthorized use(s) of your password or Account, or any known or suspected breach of security, including loss, theft, or unauthorized disclosure of your password or credit card information; and (b) ensure that you exit from your Account at the end of each session. We will not be liable for any injury, loss or damage of any kind arising from or relating to your failure to comply with the terms of this paragraph or for any acts or omissions by you or someone else using your Account and/or password.

You hereby authorize us to charge your credit card for your annual certification renewal and all applicable fees incurred by you in connection with your purchase of Teaching Materials. If we use a payment option that offers you the option of allowing us to retain your credit card information on file, then you further understand and agree that it is your responsibility to notify us of any changes to your credit card or if your credit card has expired. You also agree to pay any taxes, including sales or use taxes, resulting from your purchase of the Teaching Materials. In the event that your credit card information is not valid, you are responsible and liable for any fees, including attorney and collection fees, that we may incur in our efforts to collect any remaining balances due from you. You must notify us of any billing problems or discrepancies within sixty (60) days after they first appear on your credit card account statement. If you do not notify us within sixty (60) days, you waive any right to dispute such problems or discrepancies.

Services

You may use theapps and the Services solely for your own personal use. You may use the Teaching Materials only as specifically authorized below. You may not modify, copy, distribute, re-publish, transmit, display, perform, reproduce, publish, reuse, resell, license, create derivative works from, transfer, or sell the Teaching Materials, or any information, content, material, software, products or services obtained from theapps or through the Services, except as authorized by this Agreement. We reserve all of our statutory and common law rights against any person or entity who violates this paragraph. You may not link or frame to any pages of theapps or any content contained therein, whether in whole or in part, without prior written consent from us.

You agree that your use of theapps, the Services and the Teaching Materials is subject to all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. You also agree:

  • not to access theapps using a third-party’s account/registration without the express consent of the account holder;
  • not to use theapps of the Services for illegal purposes;
  • not to copy any content from theapps for republication in print or online except as authorized in this Agreement;
  • not to attempt to gain unauthorized access to other computer systems from or through theapps or the Services;
  • not to interfere with another person’s use and enjoyment of theapps or the Services or another entity’s use and enjoyment of theapps or the Services;
  • not to upload or transmit viruses or other harmful, disruptive or destructive files; and/or
  • not to disrupt, interfere with, or otherwise harm or violate the security of theapps or the Services, or any system resources, accounts, user IDs, passwords, servers or networks connected to or accessible through theapps or affiliated or linked sites (including those of our partners).

Use of Teaching Materials

You may use the Teaching Materials only in connection with your teaching of the MIEA curriculum and as a certified MIEA Mindfulness instructor. You may use the Teaching Materials with face to face and online instruction. You may not use the Teaching Materials for pre-recorded video instruction without consultation with MIEA. To ensure the integrity of data collected using the Koru Mindfulness curriculum, research on the Koru Mindfulness curriculum may only be completed by fully certified MIEA Mindfulness teachers and completed in consultation with MIEA. You may not certify others as MIEA instructors. You may copy and use the MIEA/Koru Mindfulness materials for teaching and advertising purposes but they may not be resold by you for any purpose. When copying the Teaching Materials, you will not delete, modify or change any of the materials or any of our trademarks or logos that are on the Teaching Materials. You agree that all Teaching Materials are owned by us and that you will not claim any ownership rights in or to the Teaching Materials.

Termination of access to the Apps

We reserve the right, in our sole and absolute discretion, to modify, suspend, or discontinue at any time, with or without notice, the Services or the availability of theapps (or any part thereof).

Your intellectual property rights

If at any time you are allowed to post or publish comments or content to theapps, then any documents, content, material, works or other intellectual property submitted by you (collectively, “User Content”), will remain your intellectual property. You represent and warrant that with respect to User Content published by you on theapps: (i) you have obtained all necessary third party rights, if any, including, without limitation, copyrights, which are necessary for you to publish the User Content on theapps; (ii) the User Content will not contain, any illegal, sexually explicit, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable material; and (iii) the User Content does not include any infringing, misappropriated or plagiarized content that you do not have the rights to use. It is your responsibility to determine if it is necessary for you to obtain, and for obtaining, any licenses required to use third party content that is part of the User Content.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend and hold us and our directors, officers, agents, contractors, partners and employees, harmless from and against any loss, liability, claim, expense or demand, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of or related to: (i) your breach of any representations or warranties made by you hereunder or your breach of any term of this Agreement; (ii) your use of the Services, Teaching Materials or theapps; or (iii) your User Content and/or your violation of any law or the rights of a third party. You hereby agree not to sue, assist in or be a voluntary party to assist in or be a voluntary party to, except as required by law, any action, suit, or proceeding against us for any claims, actions, suits, damages, liability, losses or expenses of whatever kind or however arising out of or relating to your use of theapps, Teaching Materials or the Services.

Our intellectual property rights

You acknowledge that we own all right, title and interest in and to the Teaching Materials,apps and the Services (the “Intellectual Property”), and such Intellectual Property is protected by U.S. and international intellectual property laws. You also agree that you will not use any robot, spider, other automated device, or manual process to monitor or copy any content from theapps.

Disclaimer of warranties

We are not responsible for the conduct, whether online or offline, of any user of theapps. Theapps and the Services may be temporarily unavailable from time to time for various reasons. We assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, the Web Sites. We are not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network; computer online systems, servers or providers; computer equipment or software; or the failure of email on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, including injury or damage to any person’s computer related to or resulting from participating or downloading Teaching Materials or User Content in connection with the Web Sites or the Services. THE WEB SITES, APPS, TEACHING MATERIALS AND THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS-IS” AND WE DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE CANNOT GUARANTEE AND DO NOT PROMISE ANY SPECIFIC RESULTS FROM USE OF THE WEB SITES, APPS, TEACHING MATERIALS AND/OR THE SERVICES.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, you acknowledge and agree that we do not guarantee: (i) the quality, accuracy or results of the Teaching Materials or Services; or (ii) that your use of the Teaching Materials will achieve any results, economic or otherwise. No refunds shall be provided except as set expressly agreed to by us.

Limitation of liability

IN NO EVENT WILL WE BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PERSON FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR LOST DATA ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE APPS, TEACHING MATERIALS OR, SERVICES, EVEN IF WE ARE AWARE OR HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTIES FOR TEACHING MATERIALS OR SERVICES RECEIVED THROUGH OR ADVERTISED ON THE APPS. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED HEREIN, OUR LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CAUSE WHATSOEVER, AND REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF THE ACTION, WILL AT ALL TIMES BE LIMITED TO THE GREATER OF: (A) THE AMOUNT PAID, IF ANY, BY YOU TO US FOR THE TEACHING MATERIALS AND SERVICES; AND (B) TEN DOLLARS ($10). THE PARTIES AGREE THAT THESE LIMITATIONS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THIS AGREEMENT AND SHALL SURVIVE ANY REMEDY’S FAILURE OF ESSENTIAL PURPOSE. CERTAIN STATE LAWS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES. IF THESE LAWS APPLY TO YOU, SOME OR ALL OF THE ABOVE DISCLAIMERS, EXCLUSIONS OR LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU, AND YOU MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL RIGHTS.

Links and Third Party Services

As a courtesy to you, the apps may offer links to other websites. We are not responsible for the contents of any website pages created and maintained by organizations independent of us. Visiting any such third-party website pages is at your own risk. We have no control of these third-party website pages, nor can we guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of information in third-party website pages. Your use of such information is voluntary, and your reliance on such information should be made only after independent review. References to commercial products or services within any such third-party website pages do not constitute or imply an endorsement by us. By using the apps and Services you acknowledge that we are responsible neither for the availability of, nor the content located on or through any third-party website pages.

Customer Communications

By signing up for an Account with us, you are opting in to receive communications from us regarding our products and services, including newsletters and offers. You may opt-out of these communications at any time by following the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any email. For more details about how we collect and use customer information, please visit our Privacy Policy page.

Trademarks

KORU MINDFULNESS is our registered trademark. Such trademark and other marks, logos, and names used on or in connection with the Teaching Materials and apps may not be used in connection with any product or service that is not under our ownership or control. Furthermore, such trademarks may not be used in any manner that is likely to cause confusion among customers or in any manner that disparages or discredits us. All other trademarks not owned by us or our affiliates, which appear on the apps or in the Teaching Materials, are the property of their respective owners, who may or may not be affiliated with, connected to, or sponsored by us.

Consideration

You acknowledge that these Terms of Use are supported by reasonable and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged. Without limiting the foregoing, you acknowledge that such consideration includes, without limitation, your use of the Teaching Materials and/or Services.

Jurisdiction, Arbitration, Applicable Law and Limitations

The Teaching Materials andapps are created and controlled by THE CENTER FOR KORU MINDFULNESS, LLC in the State of North Carolina, U.S.A. YOU AGREE THAT DISPUTES BETWEEN YOU AND US WILL BE RESOLVED BY BINDING, INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION AND YOU WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OR CLASS-WIDE ARBITRATION. You agree that this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States of America and the State of North Carolina, without regard to its conflicts of law provisions. You agree that any dispute or claim arising out of, or in connection with, this Agreement shall be finally settled by binding arbitration in Raleigh, North Carolina, in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-569.1 et seq. (the “Uniform Arbitration Act”) and the then-current rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association by one (1) arbitrator appointed by the American Arbitration Association. The arbitrator shall apply the law of the State of North Carolina, without reference to rules of conflict of law or statutory rules of arbitration, to the merits of any dispute or claim. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. The parties agree that, any provision of applicable law notwithstanding, the arbitrator shall have the authority to award the prevailing party its costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. You agree that service of process upon you in any such action may be made if delivered in person, by courier service, by telegram, by telefacsimile or by first class mail, and shall be deemed effectively given upon receipt.

Use of the Teaching Materials and theapps is not authorized in any jurisdiction that does not give effect to all provisions of this Agreement. We make no claims or assurances that the Teaching Materials orapps are appropriate or may be downloaded outside of the United States. In the event that the arbitration or class action terms are determined to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason, you agree that all legal proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, or Teaching Materials or Services available on or through theapps must be filed in a federal or state court located in Raleigh, North Carolina within one year of the time in which the events giving rise to such claim began, or your claim will be forever waived and barred. You expressly submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of said courts and consent to extraterritorial service of process.

General

  1. If any provision in this Agreement is found to be void, invalid or otherwise unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed to be superseded by a valid, enforceable provision or that matches the intent of the original provision as closely as possible. The remainder of the Agreement shall continue to be enforceable and valid according to terms contained herein.
  2. Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between you and us pertaining to your use of theapps. Teaching Materials and Services. We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to change, modify, add, or delete portions of this Agreement at any time without further notice. If we do this, we will post the changes to this Agreement on this page and will indicate at the top of this page the new effective date (i.e., the LAST UPDATED date). Your continued use of the Services, Teaching Materials or theapps after any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Agreement. If you do not agree to abide by this Agreement or any future revised Agreement, do not use or access the Services or theapps. It is your responsibility to regularly review this Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be revised to the extent necessary to cure the invalidity or unenforceability, and the remainder of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect. Our failure to exercise any right or provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.
  3. No Waiver. The failure of us to exercise or enforce any right or provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of said right or provision. Neither party hereto shall be deemed to be in default of any provision of this Agreement or for failure in performance resulting from acts or events beyond the reasonable control of such party and arising without its fault or negligence, including, but not be limited to, acts of God, civil or military authority, interruption of electric or telecommunication services, civil disturbances, acts of war or terrorists, strikes, fires, floods or other catastrophes.
  4. Headings & Construction. The section titles in this Agreement are for your convenience only and carry no contractual or legal effect whatsoever. The language in this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with its fair meaning and shall not be strictly interpreted for or against either party.
  5. Contact Us. For questions regarding the terms of this Agreement, contact us here or MIEA/THE CENTER FOR KORU MINDFULNESS, LLC, 503 Compton Place, Durham, NC 27707.

Welcome to the Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults!

The name of our organization ("the Center for Koru Mindfulness") is now "Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults".

Reasons for the Name Change

  1. Though we love the name “Koru”, it does not serve us well when administrators in higher education - our primary market - see it. It does not make it clear that we are recognized as the primary provider for evidence-based mindfulness training for the population they serve: emerging adults.
  2. We have grown a lot, but there is much more work to do. A name that is more in line with our mission, and doesn’t have to be explained to be understood, will support our growth more broadly.
  3. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we feel a tug of unease about the cultural sensitivity of our name. We occasionally hear from teachers who are fielding questions from students who are concerned about the appropriateness of our use of the word "koru". It is inconsistent with our values to cause harm or discomfort in any way to anyone if we can avoid it. So we feel we need to make an effort to avoid it.

Timeline

Starting August 1, 2023, our organization will be officially known as the "Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults". Our curriculum name, "Koru Basic", "Koru 2.0", and "Koru Retreat" is changing to "Intro to Mindfulness", "Intro to Mindfulness, Part 2", and "Intro to Mindfulness Retreat" by January 1, 2024.

What's Not Changing

Our founders, owners, staff, trainers, mission, and vision remain the same. We will continue to offer teacher training and support as always, building a community of teachers and students who embody curiosity and kindness.

Thank you for being part of our journey as we transition to the Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults (Formerly known as Koru 😀).

Got It
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Stay Informed and Inspired

Sign up for valuable insights, updates on programming, research, tips, inspiring stories, and stay connected to the world of mindfulness education.

By sharing your email, you agree to receive emails from MIEA and consent to the use of your information as outlined in our Privacy Policy. We are committed to your privacy and will never sell your information.

You can opt out of our communications anytime by using the unsubscribe link provided in our emails.

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Your Path to Certification

  1. Start Your Journey
    A commitment to a regular meditation practice and experience in teaching or facilitating groups enhances your foundation before applying. If you do not have any mindfulness experience, begin with our 5-week introductory course, Fundamentals.
  2. Certification Workshop
    Participate in our immersive workshop, available both in-person and online, covering the unique challenges of 18-30-year-olds, curriculum research, and teaching strategies.
    Psychologists can earn 18 APA-approved CE credits.
  3. Practical Experience
    Teach three student courses, applying your knowledge in real-world settings, supported by ongoing consultations with MIEA faculty.
  4. Portfolio Submission
    Demonstrate your mastery through a portfolio that includes student evaluations, a reflective essay, and evidence of participating in a mindfulness meditation retreat.
  5. Maintain Certification
    Certified teachers are encouraged to sustain their certification with an annual fee. This fee guarantees access to MIEA's evolving resources, ongoing support, and professional development.
Illustration of two people with arms around each other reflecting community

Stay Informed and Inspired

Sign up for valuable insights, updates on programming, research, tips, inspiring stories, and stay connected to the world of mindfulness education.

By sharing your email, you agree to receive emails from MIEA and consent to the use of your information as outlined in our Privacy Policy. We are committed to your privacy and will never sell your information.

You can opt out of our communications anytime by using the unsubscribe link provided in our emails.

Siddhant Babla

MIEA Trainer
Wellbeing Program Coordinator, Dartmouth College

Siddhant Babla brings his expertise in education studies and mindfulness to Dartmouth College as the Wellbeing Program Coordinator. With a Master's degree from KU Leuven in Belgium and training as a Certified Yoga Instructor from the Yoga Institute in Mumbai, Sid collaborates with campus offices to cultivate student wellbeing through evidence-based programs.

With an Economics degree from the University of London and a background in finance, Sid pivoted towards his passion for mindfulness, which he has been teaching since April 2023.

Mindfulness Journey

Sid was drawn to mindfulness from a young age, finding solace and strength in the practice amidst personal suffering and life challenges.

Connection to MIEA

Sid appreciates MIEA for its structured, evidence-based curriculum that enables him to address a broad spectrum of mindfulness concepts, making them accessible to diverse student populations.

Teaching Highlights

For Sid, teaching MIEA has been deeply gratifying. He relishes the chance to refine his instructional skills and witness the profound effects on his students.

"The most rewarding part has been the transformational impact it has had on the students."

Vision as a Trainer

Sid aims to support and collaborate with mindfulness teachers nationwide, contributing to the wellbeing and mental health of college students. He believes in a systematic approach to mindfulness training as a cornerstone for building a culture of prioritized mental health and wellbeing on campuses.

"At a time when students on college campuses across the nation and world are in need, being in community with teachers who are supporting them will be a tremendous learning opportunity in understanding the ways wellbeing and mental health for emerging adults can be transformed.

"In my experience working with administrators and leadership across a college campus, it has become clear that supporting the mental health and wellbeing of students through mindfulness based practices requires a systematic approach.

"Individual and group based mindfulness training programs are crucial in building personal and interpersonal self-awareness skills.

"Training facilitators to bring mindfulness based practices to different stakeholders is key in creating a culture where wellbeing and mental health is a priority and being a MIEA Trainer will allow me to realize this vision.

Book: The Mindful Twenty-Something by Holly Rogers

Download Chapter 1 of The Mindful Twenty-Something

Begin your mindfulness journey with a free chapter from “The Mindful Twenty-Something” by Holly Rogers, a book praised by Sharon Salzberg for its accessibility and usefulness.

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Dylan Scott

MIEA Trainer

Dylan Scott is currently based in Berlin, Germany. He was born and raised outside Philadelphia, PA, and holds a B.S. in Exercise Science and Sports Psychology from Ithaca College. During his time at Ithaca, Dylan found mindfulness meditation to be a transformative resource in his struggles with anxiety and panic attacks. Upon graduating, Dylan moved back to Philadelphia and immersed himself in mindfulness courses at Pennsylvania University and Thomas Jefferson University as well as several retreats. He went on to receive extensive teacher training through the Myrna Brind Center for Mindfulness at Jefferson, completing their Practicum in MBSR for Professionals and an internship in MBSR. When Dylan came across MIEA he saw the perfect opportunity to offer mindfulness practice back to new generations of college students and jumped at the chance to join a teacher training in October 2018.

Dylan has offered MIEA's Intro to Mindfulness curriculum to medical students and house staff through the counseling center at Jefferson. He is now finding new opportunities to bring MIEA abroad to Berlin. He is also a passionate organizer of Berlin's WakeUp Sangha based in the Plum Village tradition founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Outside of teaching mindfulness, Dylan feeds his passion for music by producing and DJing under the moniker Chirop and has his own freelance audio engineering business.

Tim Auman, Koru Mindfulness Trainer

Tim Auman

MIEA Trainer

Timothy L. Auman became the University Chaplain to Wake Forest in August of 2003. Tim has over two decades of experience in ministry in higher education, pastoral care, and work with religious, secular, and spiritual identity. At Wake Forest, Tim aims to build relationships amidst difference, and to cultivate healthy contemplative and mindful practices for the transformation of self and world. He previously served as the United Methodist Ecumenical Campus Minister at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and as a pastor of two United Methodist congregations.

Tim created the MindfulWake program at Wake Forest in January of 2017. He began his mindfulness practice in 1985 as a way to reduce stress and credits mindfulness as key to his emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Tim practices in the Plum Village Tradition of Engaged Buddhism and will be ordained into the Order of Interbeing in April of 2020. He practices with the Planting Seeds Sangha of Chapel Hill and the Winston-Salem Community of Mindful Living.

Within a few months of learning about MIEA, Tim knew that he wanted to share this practice with his students. That would become an important part of his life’s work at Wake Forest. Eventually, faculty and staff started to ask Tim to teach them what he was discovering. They wanted to share the practice of mindfulness, just as Tim did. But as demand increased, Tim stumbled upon the idea of becoming a MIEA Trainer. A crazy idea at first, but being a teacher and practitioner at heart, he decided to give it a go. Tim believes that when you’re teaching with joyfulness and playfulness, you’re not just talking mindfulness...you’re living mindfulness.

Roger Mancastroppa, Koru Mindfulness Trainer

Roger “Mac” Mancastroppa

MIEA Trainer

Roger “Mac” Mancastroppa has earned a MS in Education, a MA in Theological Studies and a BS in History. He taught history and religion for over a decade before joining the University of Richmond where he serves as the Associate Director of the Academic Skills Center. Mac is in his 9th year assisting students individually and collectively with academic and life skills development. He helps students transition to a mindfully engaged learning style where they conceptualize information through meta-cognitive and executive functions. He also leads a weekly meditation session on campus known as Mindful Mondays.

Mac’s personal mindfulness and meditation practices began during counseling and therapy for PTSD after exiting the military. His initial training began with a psychologist who practiced Buddhism and taught him the samatha that occurs with the vipassana practice. He began to integrate it into his work by using the CD’s by Jon Kabat-Zinn as a companion to his book "Full Catastrophe Living," over and over again with students. He now works with students, faculty, staff, local non-profits, churches, and offers keynotes on mindfulness and meditation, and is one of the co-leaders of a faculty learning community that brought MIEA to the university.

Mil Witt, Koru Mindfulness Trainer

Mil Witt

MIEA Trainer

Mil Witt is a licensed PhD clinical psychologist and Psychology Training Director at the University of North Carolina’s Counseling and Psychological Services in Chapel Hill, NC (UNC-CAPS). Mil is passionate about working with emerging young adults in university settings. In addition to mindfulness, her professional interests include college mental health, the training and supervision of future clinicians, multiculturalism and diversity, and journal writing as a meditative practice. Prior to joining UNC-CAPS in 2014, Mil worked at the college counseling centers at UNC-Greensboro and Duke, and worked with medical students at The Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Mil was in the inaugural class of MIEA Teachers in 2013 and has been a Certified MIEA teacher since 2015. Her meditation journey started in the mid-1990s with her first meditation teacher and mentor Dr. Ronna Rachel Weiss, and followed with mindfulness trainings and practice at the Cape Cod Institute and at Duke Integrative Medicine.  Mil is excited to work with, support, inspire, and mentor new MIEA teachers, especially those working with students of color. A proud first gen Haitian American from New York City, Mil lives in Carrboro, NC with her family. Mil is an avid tennis player and enjoys dancing, musical theatre, crochet, the beach, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Karen Newton, Koru Mindfulness Trainer

Karen S. Newton

MIEA Trainer

Karen S. Newton served as Director of Health Promotion & Wellbeing in Campus Health Services from 2007 to 2018 as her team implemented a resilience framework to support the academic persistence and personal wellbeing of University of Louisville students. Inspired by her personal experiences with mindfulness and mediation practices through many years of her life’s ups and downs, Karen added MIEA Intro to Mindfulness courses, retreats, and drop-in Relax & Refocus sessions in 2015.  Karen has also directed healthcare access initiatives for the University of Louisville and at The Healing Place Recovery. Karen graduated from San Diego State University and completed her Master of Public Health degree in community health promotion and nutrition science at Loma Linda University, CA.

Karen’s current life is focused on her purpose and what she loves: family, travel, practicing, and teaching. She teaches MIEA's Intro to Mindfulness and other courses at the Earth & Spirit Center Meditation School; Speed Art Museum; and her MIEA-based 14-week Mindfulness for Stress Resilience course at the University of Louisville College of Education. She is collaborating with University of Louisville colleagues to develop a research agenda to study MIEA's curriculum.

Karen’s public health point of view and personal perspective resonates with MIEA's commitment to social justice. Karen is committed to doing all she can to further the adoption of MIEA's Intro to Mindfulness courses in a variety of settings.

Erica Alexander, Koru Mindfulness Trainer

Erica Alexander

MIEA Trainer

Erica Alexander, flutist and music educator, has taught music and mindfulness in private and group settings for over 20 years. She has a Masters in Music Education (MME) with all-level teaching certification.

Erica is the founder and director of The Open Wings School which specializes in helping busy people find a lasting sense of calm in their lives and discover their own inner musicians. Among her most popular offerings are Be the Music workshops which incorporate Native American inspired flutes and meditation

Erica is currently enrolled in the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield.

She has loved working with MIEA for the past 5 years, teaching in local high schools and non-profit organizations and reviewing teacher portfolios.

Erica lives in Durham, NC, and enjoys hiking, swimming, gardening, and listening to and playing music from all over the world.

“It is clear that the only way to truly change our world is through teaching compassion…We must teach people, especially our youth, the source of happiness and satisfaction. We must teach them the ultimate source of happiness is within themselves.” 

–The Dalai Lama, The Book of Joy
Chase Giroux, Koru Mindfulness Trainer

Chase Giroux

MIEA Trainer

Chase Giroux began her career in residential care for youth, followed by support work in an educational setting for children with behavioral health challenges. After attaining her Mental Health Counseling degree, she became a therapist trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She currently supervises an Intensive Care Coordination program, where she also provides agency-wide trainings and mindfulness practices.

After spending time in Buddhist Monasteries, practicing Mindfulness in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, Chase was inspired to make this beautiful practice accessible to as many people as possible. Trained in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and certified in the MIEA model, Chase now works hard to share this practice in a more secular context. This program will deepen and expand these efforts by supporting practitioners in sharing and teaching the practice themselves.

Chase lives with her family in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she can be found both playing and coaching sports in her community.

Bibi Gnagno, MIEA Trainer

Bibi Gnagno

MIEA Trainer

Bibi Gnagno is an educator and wellness advocate. Ms. Gnagno has been working with MIEA since 2016. She first began practicing meditation at church at the age of 14. While completing a law degree, she embraced mindfulness at a deeper level to cope with the daily stress of school. Bibi has taught mindfulness classes at the university level and infuses mindfulness in her interactions with students but also in her daily life.

Currently, she is the Dean of Restorative Practices at Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center. Prior to that role, she was one of the Directors of Academic Engagement for Global and Civic Opportunities at Duke University’s Academic Advising Center and the former Coordinator for Student Development at Duke University’s Women’s Center, where she focused on gender equity through the creation of experiential programming and training that emphasizes community building, empowerment, men’s engagement, activism, and civic engagement.

Her work outside of the office explores telling stories through film using a social justice lens. She also leads workshops on wellness through reflection, movement, and healing foods.

Vivien Roman-Hampton, Director of Teacher Retention

Vivien Roman-Hampton

Director of Outreach & Teacher Development / MIEA Trainer

Vivien Roman-Hampton is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and the founder of Activated By Wellness, a group mental health practice dedicated to serving historically underserved communities for over half a decade.

Vivien obtained her BA in Psychology from UNLV, a graduate certificate in Women in Politics and Public Policy from UMASS Boston, her MSW from Salem State University and is currently a PhD student at UConn where her focus of research is on mindfulness and DEI. She is already working alongside faculty on integrating mindfulness into education which is evident in her current endeavor: creating and teaching a critically engaged mindfulness curriculum tailored for BSW students.

In her role as the Director of Outreach and Teacher Development at the Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults, Vivien has spent the last six years honing her skills as a mindfulness facilitator, teaching others to be mindfulness teachers, developing mindfulness curricula and fostering growth and awareness among young adults.

Vivien is part of the Hopping Tree Sangha located in Amherst, Massachusetts and is ordained into the Order of Interbeing, receiving her Dharma name of True Presence of Compassion. She also serves on the board of the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies and is their volunteer librarian.

When she isn't working, Vivien spends time with her family in the woods of Western Massachusetts.

Prerequisites for becoming a Certified Mindfulness Teacher with MIEA

  1. Complete our Fundamentals Course*.
    Immerse yourself in our 5-week introductory course led by a highly trained MIEA Trainer. Experience our Intro to Mindfulness curriculum and gain insight into our philosophy of teaching mindfulness to college-aged adults.
  2. An ongoing personal practice, most days, for at least 6 months.
    To effectively teach mindfulness, it is essential to have a consistent personal practice.
  3. Teaching or Group Facilitation Experience.
    Prior experience in teaching or facilitating groups is recommended. Our small group learning model forms the basis of our approach. Experience in this setting will be valuable.
  4. Diversity Experience.
    Experience working with diverse populations or participating in diversity training is strongly recommended. MIEA aims to bring mindfulness to a diverse range of communities. While we address this in our training program, additional experience is valuable.

*Acceptable alternatives to Fundamentals include MBSR, MBCT, MSC, training by the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, formal mindfulness training with an experienced teacher, or attendance to multiple retreats.

Mindfulness for the Next Generation

Book: Mindfulness for the Next Generation by Holly Rogers and Maytan

This book, written by MIEA’ co-founder Holly Rogers and Margaret Maytan, is the essential text for those interested in teaching mindfulness to college students and other emerging adults. It is a required reading for teachers getting their certification.

Learn more about this book

Suit Fong Chan, Asia Pacific Regional Rep

Suit Fong Chan

Asia Pacific Regional Representative / MIEA Trainer

Suit Fong’s interest in mindfulness began more than twenty years ago when she attended her first meditation retreat in Nepal. In 2012, she made a life-changing decision to leave a global corporate career to pursue her passion, embarking on a continuous learning and teaching journey on evidence-based mindfulness programs. She finds the journey meaningful, transformative, and also nurturing.

Suit Fong is trained to teach mindfulness and compassion cultivation programs for children, young adults, and adults. She also facilitates and curates mindfulness programs to support families and individuals with additional needs in Singapore, where she lives with her family. It is now her life passion and learning, to serve and support others of different diversities, cultures, and (dis)abilities to learn to sit with ease with life’s discomforts, build mental resilience whilst practicing kindness to oneself and to others. Her current work involves working with women, youth, teenagers at risk, and those with special needs. As a MIEA trainer, she is very keen to help establish a cadre of professional mindfulness teachers in the Asia Pacific, so more emerging adults and youths in the Asia Pacific may benefit from the MIEA program.

Suit Fong is an accredited professional coach, and chartered accountant. She holds a Master's in Business Administration and a Master's Degree in Counseling.

Backed by Science

The Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults is grounded in scientific research and a commitment to evidence-based practices. Over the course of nearly 10 years, we developed and refined our curriculum, culminating in a groundbreaking randomized, controlled trial. Our study, published in the prestigious Journal of American College Health, became the most downloaded article in 2014.

This landmark trial established MIEA (formerly known as Koru Mindfulness) as the first and foremost evidence-based mindfulness curriculum for emerging adults. The results were remarkable: students reported increased calmness, improved restfulness, enhanced self-compassion, and greater mindfulness.

Explore the Evidence

The Mindful Twenty-Something: Life skills to handle stress… & everything else

The Mindful Twenty-Something by Holly Rogers

This book, written by MIEA co-founder Holly Rogers, is an essential guide to MIEA's curriculum, Intro to Mindfulness (formerly known as Koru Mindfulness). It is required reading for students and teachers getting their certification.

Learn more about this book

Jennie Dickson-Mills, MIEA Trainer and Director of Training

Jennie Dickson-Mills

Director of Training / MIEA trainer
MSW, LCSW, SEP, E-RYT 200

Jennie is a psychotherapist and yoga/meditation teacher. She has over a decade of experience working in higher education, and thousands of hours of experience teaching yoga and mindfulness to people from a wide range of backgrounds. She received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 2002 and a Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2013.

Jennie’s clinical practice focuses on delivering experiential therapies through an anti-oppression and relational lens, with a specialized certification in Somatic Experiencing, a model that addresses trauma and its impact on nervous system regulation. Prior to opening her private practice in Chapel Hill, NC, in 2017, Jennie worked as a counselor at Duke University’s counseling center where she began teaching the MIEA curriculum to students. Alongside Holly and Libby, she began training MIEA teachers around the U.S. in 2014. Jennie spearheaded the first MIEA Train-the-Trainer Program in 2019 as Director of Training and immensely enjoyed growing the MIEA family of Trainers to support the growth of the program.

Contemplative mind-body practices transformed Jennie’s life and started her on her own path of healing and growth in her twenties. Since then, she has found deep comfort and inspiration in the wisdom traditions of yoga and Buddhism, which have helped form a bedrock of support on this ever-changing, complex human journey. As a new mother, she has opened to a new universe of opportunities to practice presence, gratitude, and curiosity. For more information about Jennie, check out her website at jenniedicksonmills.com.

Alex Brown, Director of Operations

Alex Brown

Director of operations / MIEA Trainer

Alex Brown developed his passion for practicing and sharing mindfulness in 2012 after participating in a guided meditation and having a transformative experience. Since then, he has sought to strengthen his love and compassion for himself and others through daily meditation, reading, and courses. He has an immense desire to help others do the same.

Alex is a native of Detroit, Michigan, loves spending time with his sons, family, and friends, and finds utter delight in dancing. He thoroughly enjoys helping people learn about the different ways in which they improve their overall health and wellbeing and his motto is “I live to serve.”

Holly Rogers, co-founder of Koru Mindfulness

Holly Rogers

Co-Founder of MIEA / Author

Holly is one of the developers of the Intro to Mindfulness curriculum and a co-founder of the Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults (formerly known as the Center for Koru Mindfulness). She worked for over two decades as a psychiatrist at Counseling and Psychological Services, the student counseling center at Duke University where she developed strategies to help students incorporate the practice of mindfulness into their lives in a meaningful way.

Holly’s own mindfulness practice began more than 25 years ago when she had the good fortune to be taught and mentored by Dr. Jeff Brantley. Since that time, she has integrated the principles and practice of mindfulness into her clinical work with students and been continually inspired by the profound growth she has witnessed.

Holly is the co-author of Mindfulness for the Next Generation: Helping Emerging Adults Manage Stress and Lead Healthier Lives. She is author of The Mindful Twenty-Something, a handbook for young adults who wish to learn about mindfulness and meditation.

She lives in Durham, NC with her husband, dog, and two cats.

Libby Webb, co-founder of Koru Mindfulness

Libby Webb

Co-Founder of MIEA

Libby is a co-founder of the Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults. Before retiring in 2016, she was a licensed clinical social worker at Duke University’s Counseling and Psychological Service, and a Clinical Associate on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center.

She has been working with emerging adults since the early 90's and finds great significance in helping them explore the question of meaning at a time of life filled with such ambiguity.

Libby came to the practice of mindfulness through her early participation in the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program. Her meditation practice is built on the Vipassana tradition of mindfulness.

In addition to her interest in mindfulness, she also has a strong belief in the restorative benefits of small group work to illuminate the humanness of struggle. Libby lives with her family in Durham, NC and loves her adopted hometown. Most of her mindfulness lessons have been learned while cycling on the country roads surrounding her hometown.