Contemplative Pedagogy and Mindfulness
Dr. John Dunne will open the annual Austin College Cunningham Lectures on March 28 at 11 a.m. with “The Art and Science of Human Flourishing: Contemplative Pedagogy in Action,” in Sherman Hall’s Hoxie Thompson Auditorium. Dunne is the Distinguished Chair in Contemplative Humanities at the Center for Healthy Minds at University of Wisconsin-Madison and co-founder of the Collaborative for Contemplative Studies at Emory University. All events of the series are free and open to the public.
At 4:30 that afternoon, Dunne will direct a workshop titled “The Varieties of Mindfulness: An Experiential Inquiry,” in Wright Campus Center’s Johnson Gallery. Dunne earned his Ph.D. from Harvard, and his work focuses on Buddhist philosophy and contemplative practices.
The Cunningham Lectures and Workshop will continue on March 29 with two sessions in Wright Campus Center, Room 255. Beginning at noon, Dr. Mark Dennis and Dr. Andrew O. Fort from Texas Christian University, will present the workshop “Mindfulness and Well-being.”
Dennis is the director of the Contemplative Studies Program and associate professor of East Asian Religions at TCU. He has published works on early Japanese Buddhism and modern Japanese literature. Fort is the founder of the Contemplative Studies Program and professor emeritus of Asian Religions.
At 2 p.m., Dr. Jean Sorensen, professor of English and philosophy at Grayson College, will present “Contemplative Practices for Sustainable Learning.” She earned her doctorate from Pennsylvania State University and is a member of the Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education. Both workshop sessions are in Wright Campus Center, Room 255.
The events are co-sponsored by the Austin College Shem Cunningham Lectureship and The Johnson Center for Faculty Development and Excellence in Teaching. The Cunningham Lectures were established by a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Shem Cunningham of Wichita Falls, Texas, so that the Austin College community might benefit from the visits of distinguished speakers. Mr. Cunningham was a 1920 graduate of Austin College.
For information, please contact John Williams at jwilliams@austincollege.edu.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with 46 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and more than 100 expert faculty members allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. This year, the campus recognizes 100 years of co-education and has had several opportunities to recognize the history of women and accomplishments of current alumnae. Austin College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.