Andrew Holecek is an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner in Tibetan Buddhism and other nondual wisdom traditions. His work involves studies on dream yoga and the practice of dark retreat. He is the Resident Contemplative Scholar at the Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, and a research consultant for the Cognitive Neuroscience Program at Northwestern University. Dr. Holecek is also a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the author of nine books, and a concert pianist. His work integrates ancient wisdom traditions with contemporary perspectives, aiming to help individuals navigate spiritual challenges and end-of-life experiences.

Pir Zia Inayat Khan, PhD, president of the Inayatiyya and founder of Sulūk Academy, is a scholar of religion and teacher of Sufism in the lineage of his grandfather, Hazrat Inayat Khan. He is author of Immortality: A Traveler’s Guide; Dream Flowers: The Collected Works of Noor Inayat Khan; and Mingled Waters: Sufism and the Mystical Unity of Religions. Pir Zia divides his time between Richmond, Virginia and Suresnes, France.

Robert W. Roeser is the Alice Valli Professor of Compassion and Ethics, Professor of Behavioral Social and Health Education Sciences, and Research Director for the Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-based Ethics at Emory University. His training is in education, developmental science, clinical social work and religion. Dr. Roeser’s research focuses on adolescence and early adulthood, schooling as a context of social-emotional, ethical and identity development, and mindfulness and compassion training for teachers and students. He is also Guest Editor for Special Issue #08: Contemplation in Education and Human Development.

Ian H. Solomon is dean and professor of practice at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. He served in the US Senate as legislative counsel to then-Senator Barack Obama. Later, under the Obama administration, he was confirmed unanimously by Congress as the US executive director for the World Bank Group, where he championed private-sector development in Africa and negotiated a range of multi-stakeholder agreements. 

Fadel Zeidan is a professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the Center of Pain Medicine and is Director of the Pain Health and Mindfulness Laboratory.  He is also the inaugural Endowed Professor of UC San Diego’s Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion. He is Co-Founder and Director of Neuroscience at the UC San Diego Center for Psychedelic Research. Fadel’s research is focused on identifying the neurobiological mechanisms supporting the modulation and cultivation of empathy and compassion.

Stuart Ray Sarbacker is professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Philosophy in the School of History, Philosophy, and Religion at Oregon State University. He is the author of Tracing the Path of Yoga: The History and Philosophy of Indian Mind-Body Discipline (2021).

Pierce Salguero is professor of Asian History & Health Humanities at the Abington College of Pennsylvania State University. He is the author of A Global History of Buddhism & Medicine (2022), co-editor of Buddhism and Healing in the Modern World (2024), and host of the podcast Black Beryl.

Donata Schoeller is the co-founder and academic director of the European Erasmus training program Embodied Critical Thinking and Understanding (TECTU), and the principal investigator and conceptual director of the international research project “Freedom to make sense: embodied, experiential and mindful research.” She is the author of Close Talking and co-editor of Embodied Thinking in Research and Learning, Saying What We Mean, and Thinking Thinking.

Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo is the president and founder of NeuroLandscape and editor in chief of the Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health. She is the author of Neuroscience for Designing Green Spaces: Contemplative Landscapes (2023).