Mindful Health & Resilience Lab Faculty & Staff

Mike has a long-standing research interest in the science and practice of mindfulness meditation and related contemplative experiences. His interest in this area began when he lived in Thailand in the late 1990s and began to study Theravāda Buddhism. In his early research he investigated mindfulness measurement, with a particular focus on Buddhist cultural validity of Western mindfulness measures. More recently, he developed an interest in mindfulness training as a method to enhance stress resilience and health. He and his colleagues (Richard Goerling, Sarah Bowen, and Brant Rogers) developed Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training (MBRT), an integrated mindfulness and resilience training designed to improve stress reactivity and health outcomes among high-stress cohorts. The lab is currently studying MBRT feasibility, mechanisms, and biological, behavioral, and psychological outcomes among first responders. We are also using mixed-methods approaches to explore cultural adaptations to MBRT and other MBIs among diverse groups. When not in the lab, Mike enjoys spending time with his family, coaching baseball, hiking, cooking, and growing whatever he can in the garden. 

Ashley is a 5th year clinical psychology PhD student and she is currently completing her doctoral internship at the Portland VA Health Care System. Her research interests include stress, resilience, and mindfulness in first responders. She is an RA on several NIH grant-funded projects. When not in the lab, Ashley can be found hiking with her dog and exploring the Pacific Northwest.

Jenna is a 5th year student in the clinical psychology PhD program and she is currently completing her doctoral internship at the VA Bedford Health Care System. Her research interests currently include corrections, resilience, trauma, and stress; however, this list keeps growing.

Matthew's research interests include implicit bias, meditation/ mindfulness, and conspiratorial thinking. He is an investigator and statistician in the Mindful Health and Resilience Lab and conducts research on implicit bias and meditation/mindfulness, with a current focus on the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on force response decision-making for law enforcement officers.

Imran is a 2nd year student in the clinical psychology PhD program at Pacific University. He was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to support his PhD studies. He received a bachelor of medicine and BS degree from the Aga Khan Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan in 2010. He is also a trained law enforcement officer, most recently he was the District Officer of the Frontier Constabulary in Islamabad. His research interests include stress in law enforcement and adapting mindfulness and resilience training for police in Pakistan. 

Akeesha (she/her) is a 3rd year student in the clinical psychology PhD program and graduate research assistant at the Mindful Health and Resilience Lab. Her primary research and clinical interests include investigating the performance and utility of third-wave behavioral constructs and processes (mindfulness, resilience, self compassion, and psychological flexibility) in BIPOC communities, specifically in the context of race-based stress. She also has an interest in studying non-ordinary states of consciousness, meditation and contemplative practices, and nature-based interventions for health and well-being. Outside of academia, she can be found hiking, making crafts and jewelry, or spending quality time with her dog and friends.