Celia Alvarez, Ph.D.

World Cultures & Consciousness: The Yugas, Art of Written Expression

Celia holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and a B.A. in Language and Communication from Hampshire College, Amherst, Massachusetts. Her areas of research and teaching at the graduate and undergraduate level included the study of language, gender, and identity across cultures, the study of oral narrative of personal experience, oral history, women’s studies, multicultural/bilingual education, higher education, and ethnic studies. She has been in the forefront of curriculum reform in higher education and development of trans-disciplinary academic programs of study over the last 30 years. She served on the Board of Trustees of Hampshire College 2003-07.

Nitai Deranja

Foundations of Eastern Philosophy, Calculus and College Math

Nitai received his B.A. in Humanistic Psychology from the University of California at Berkeley Phi Beta Kappa, and an education credential and M.A. in Education from the University of California at Davis. He founded the first Education for Life elementary school in Nevada City, California, and established the first Education for Life high school in 1997. He has taught parenting and teacher training workshops for over 30 years and is the author of "The Art of Joyful Education", "For Goodness’ Sake: Helping Children and Teens Discover Life’s Higher Values", and co-author of "Journey to the Heart of Nature".

Carol Gray, M.Th., M.S., N.C.C.

Directional Psychology,
The Art & Science of Raja Yoga,
Ayurveda & Psychology

Before joining Ananda College of Living Wisdom Carol taught Raja Yoga and Hatha Yoga for 19 years at Southern Oregon University, where she also teaches in their Master Program for Counseling. In addition to her teaching Carol is a National Certified Counselor and educator specializing in Directional Psychology, a holistic approach to counseling that includes Eastern and Western schools of psychology. Carol has a Master Degree in Theology from Graduate Theological Foundation and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Southern Oregon University.

Walter Cruttenden

Executive Board of Directors, Guest Lecturer

Mr. Cruttenden is Director of the Binary Research Institute (BRI) in Newport Beach, author of "The Lost Star of Myth and Time" and writer/producer of the award winning documentary "The Great Year".

BRI's focus is on understanding the cause and consequences of solar system motion and the phenomenon of the procession of the equinox. His work indicates that the mechanics of this well-known celestial motion has been misdiagnosed and is actually the result of our solar system's motion, having a profound effect on life, akin to the changing of the seasons. This finding lends validation to the world wide ancient belief system that history or consciousness moves in vast cycles of time with alternating Dark and Golden ages (Plato's Great Year). These natural cycles, or yugas, are the main topics of Mr. Cruttenden's writings, lectures, podcasts, "The Cosmic Influence," and the annual Conference on Precession and Ancient Knowledge (CPAK) which he directs.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Cruttenden was a financial markets entrepreneur having founded and served as CEO of two well known investment banking and brokerage firms. He has been board member for many venture backed and public companies and presently serves on the Executive Board of Ananda College of Living Wisdom. He has appeared on The History Channel, PBS, FNN, KOCE and other television and radio shows speaking on topics of alternative science.

Amit Goswami, Ph.D.

Physics and Consciousness; Guest Lecturer Member of the Ananda College of Living Wisdom Advisory Board

Dr. Goswami is a theoretical nuclear physicist and member of The University of Oregon Institute for Theoretical Physics since 1968, teaching physics for 32 years. Originally from India, Dr. Goswami received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Calcutta in 1964. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Oregon and continues teaching worldwide. He is author of the university textbook "Quantum Mechanics" (McGraw-Hill, 1996), plus many other books including "The Quantum Doctor" (Hampton Roads, 2004); "The Visionary Window" (Quest Books, 2000); and "Physics of the Soul" (Hampton Roads, 2001). He also appeared in the documentary film "What the Bleep Do We Know?" Dr. Goswami has been compared to Einstein and has been described as "one of the most brilliant minds in the world of science" by Dr. Deepak Chopra. Dr. Stanley Krippner describes Goswami as "one of the most original contemporary thinkers and writers in the field of physics and consciousness." His work is featured in the award-winning documentary "The Quantum Activist."

Dr. Robert Schoch, Ph.D.

Advisory Board, Ananda College of Living Wisdom

Dr. Robert Schoch, a full-time faculty member at the College of General Studies at Boston University since 1984, earned his Ph.D. in Geology and Geophysics at Yale University. He holds an M.S. and M.Phil. in Geology and Geophysics from Yale, as well as degrees in Anthropology (B.A.) and Geology (B.S.) from George Washington University.

Dr. Schoch has been quoted extensively in the media for his pioneering research recasting the date of the Great Sphinx of Egypt using geological analyses, as well as for his work on ancient cultures and monuments in such diverse countries as Peru, Bosnia, and Japan. Dr. Schoch's research has been instrumental in spurring renewed attention to the interrelationships between geological and astronomical phenomena, natural catastrophes, and the early history of civilization. Dr. Schoch has appeared on many radio and television shows and is featured in the Emmy-winning documentary "The Mystery of the Sphinx" which first aired on NBC.

He is the author of many books, both technical and popular, including the trilogy with R.A. Mcnally: "Voices of the Rocks: A Scientist Looks at Catastrophes and Ancient Civilizations", and his recent book "The Parapsychology Revolution: A Concise Anthology of Paranormal and Psychical Research." He is co-author of an environmental science textbook used in universities across the United States and has contributed to numerous publications on geology, parapsychology, and ancient civilizations.

Joseph Bharat Cornell

Advisory Board, Ananda College of Living Wisdom, Lecturer

Joseph Bharat Cornell is one the most highly regarded nature educators in the world today. His first book, "Sharing Nature with Children", sparked a worldwide revolution in nature education and became a classic. His six Sharing Nature Books are in 20 languages and have sold nearly a million copies. Bharat¹s second book, "Listening to Nature", has inspired thousands of adults to deepen their relationship and experience of nature.

Mr. Cornell is the founder and director of Sharing Nature Worldwide, a popular, well-loved nature awareness program for children and adults. He is the honorary president of the Sharing Nature Japan an organization of 11,000 leaders and 224 regional associations. He received the prestigious Honorary Award from the National Association of Interpretation, "For his vast contribution to the field of natural science education...." and numerous other awards from countries, organizations and colleges throughout the world.

He is a swami in the Nayaswami Order and has a B.S. in Nature Awareness from CSU Chico.

 

Rebecca Davis, Ph.D.

Creative Writing,
Literature & Consciousness

Rebecca Davis holds a PhD in English Literature with a Certificate in Theory & Criticism from the University of Washington, and earned her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Purdue University. She most recently taught beginning to advanced composition, intermediate and advanced literature, creative writing and interdisciplinary studies at the University of Washington. For the past 12 years Rebecca has taught fiction writing workshops, personal essay writing workshops, as well as writing composition courses at major universities. She has taught special studies in literature, advanced expository writing, courses on the modern novel, interdisciplinary writing for psychology and sociology, and more. She is a published and award-winning short story author.

Megan Don

Inspirational Arts,
Multi-Media Theatre Performance

Megan Don has taught at Prescott College for the Liberal Arts and Environment, and at Esalen Institute. She is author of “Falling into the Arms of God: Meditations with Teresa of Avila” and “Sacred Companions, Sacred Community: Reflections with Clare of Assisi.” She was born in New Zealand where she was nourished by the Maori culture and her connection with the land. For many years she traveled and studied Hindi Bhakti in India and the Islamic Sufi traditions in the Middle East. Megan’s exploration into mystic Christianity led her to become deeply aligned with the Carmelite Order and first encountered Teresa of Avila. She attended La Trobe University, Melborune, specializing in Comparative Religions and Psycho-Analytical Studies. She has taught multi-media theatre performance, including Sufi mystical poetry and has taught voice and movement for many years in theatre that explores the relationship of body, voice, mythology and movement in the expression of spirituality. Megan spent time with Aboriginal people in Central Australia where her ability to use sound as a healing modality were nurtured and recognized by the women of the Walpiri tribe. She is currently working on a new book.

Robert Yehling

Creative Writing,
Fiction & Non-Fiction Writing

Robert Yehling has taught special courses in a number of programs, including the University of Arizona and the California School of Integral Psychology's doctoral program. He is a popular writing coach and author’s consultant, with clients ranging from new authors to public figures, bestselling authors and screenwriters. He grew up writing, reading and bodysurfing in Carlsbad, CA, and at age 16 became a sportswriter, music and book reviewer. He served as an editorial director for 15 years, overseeing more than 20 magazine titles. He also oversaw “A Century of Moving Pictures,” published in association with the British Film Institute, and most recently, “American Idol Magazine.” He is the author of numerous poetry and essay collections. His 2007 book, Writes of Life: Using Personal Experiences in Everything You Write, won an Independent Publishers Book Award. A three-time Boston Marathon runner and cross-country coach, Yehling is a writer in residence at the college and recently participated in the ghostwriting of George Lucas' Blockbusting.

Christopher King

Hindi, World Cultures & Consciousness;
Language in Translation

Christopher has taught history and communication studies at the University of Windsor, Canada. He is the author of "One Language, Two Scripts, The Hindi Movement in 19th Century North India" (Oxford University Press, 1994). He has translated two books from Hindi to English: "Gaban: The Stolen Jewels" (Oxford University Press, 2002) and "Rangbhumi: The Arena of Life" (Oxford University Press, 2010)

Alex Forrester

Sustainable Living & Community Planning

Alex received a Bachelor of Arts (History) at Princeton University (1961) and a Master of Architecture at Yale University (1966). He has been involved in major project planning, design and construction management for the last 40 years. His specialty is sustainable design, and recent projects have included the 68 unit Verde Village planned community, featuring Net Zero Energy Homes producing as much energy as they consume, and an 1800 square foot home in Ashland featuring active and passive solar design, together with a healthy indoor environment for chemically sensitive occupants. He has directed and participated in the establishment of a comprehensive plan, urban growth plan, downtown plan, urban growth boundary, urban service policies, economic development plan and industrial park development plan for various Oregon cities. He initiated and administered a park expansion program for the city of Berkley, California. He has facilitated and mediated negotiations in the land use design and approval process.

Anandi Cornell

Foundations of Eastern Philosophy

Anandi graduated from the University of Michigan in 1969 with a degree in Economics. She is a founding member of Ananda Village and has been a minister for the Ananda Church of Self-Realization since 1980. She was co-director of Ananda’s Palo Alto community in the mid-1980s and director of Ananda’s program for new members at the Ananda Meditation Retreat for eight years. She has been a teacher at The Expanding Light meditation and yoga retreat since 1995.

Andre Sims, M.A.

Yoga, Martial Arts

Andre has an M.A. in Exercise Science from Atwood University and has taught Yoga, Cardio, and Self-Defense at Sierra College in Rocklin, California. He won a Sierra College “Teacher of the Year” award and has over 30 years experience teaching martial arts, karate, self-defense, exercise and yoga.

Barbara Bingham, PT

Photography

Barbara has had a camera in her hand from a young age and studied photography at CSU Sacramento while pursuing her BS in Physical Therapy. For the past 10 years she has worked as a professional graphic designer and photographer doing print and web advertising and is well versed in Indesign, Photoshop and Lightroom. She does landscape, portrait, event and wedding photography.

Barbara did the design and photography for two books: Space, Light and Harmony, by Swami Kriyananda and the coffee-table book, Crystal Hermitage Gardens by Swami Kriyananda and Barbara Bingham and her photography has appeared internationally in magazines on the web. Barbara also teaches anatomy and modified yoga for Ananda Yoga Teacher Training.

Arvind Bruce Burger, MA, RPP, RPE

Holistic Health & Healing, Energy Medicine, Polarity Therapy

Arvind Bruce Burger, MA,RPP, RPE, is the founder of Heartwood Institute (1978) and the Heartwood Community (1981), one of the world’s leading centers for professional training for careers in massage, somatics, asian healing arts, and spirituality.

Bruce holds a B.S. from The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. from The New School for Social Research. Trained in Sociology and Psychology, Bruce has been a member of the faculty of the University of Nevada, Newark State College and Rutgers University. In 1972, he left academia and spent a number of years traveling and studying in Asia and India, in search of a deeper understanding of the human condition. He was guided to Polarity Therapy and has been teaching spiritual healing and transformational bodywork through Polarity Energy Balancing on a daily basis since 1977.

Bruce served on the Board of Directors of The American Polarity Therapy Association for five years. He is the author of Esoteric Anatomy: The Body as Consciousness.

Dana Andersen, M.A

Art & Consciousness; Advanced Painting

Dana holds degrees in Philosophy and Consciousness Studies and is a multi-media artist and teacher. She is founder Awakening Arts, a network of artists who affirm the noble purpose of art as a vehicle for uplifting the human spirit. Her work has been displayed in U.S. and international art galleries, in children’s books and magazines.

David Eby, B.M.,

Music & Consciousness

David began his studies at age 6 and made his public debut with the Pittsburg Symphony at age 16. He attended the Eastman School of Music where he received the Performer's Certificate as well as his Bachelor of Music, under the tutelage of Paul Katz of the Cleveland Quartet. He continued his studies at Indiana University with Janos Starker, and became the Principal Cellist of the Evansville Philharmonic and the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra. He is founding cellist for the musical storytelling troupe "Tales & Scales", where he developed composing, improvising, and acting abilities. In 1996 he moved to Portland, Oregon, where he joined the internationally known band "Pink Martini", which took him to stages throughout the US and France. He has been on the faculty of summer music festivals such as Meadowmount, Point Counterpoint, and the Ithaca Chamber Music Institute, and has performed with the Portland Opera Orchestra and the Oregon Symphony. His discography includes several albums including "Mystic Harp" and "Relax: Meditations for Flute & Cello" with Crystal Clarity, Publishers. He has taught "Music & Consciousness" and has developed many unique new teaching methods for "Yoga, Music & Consciousness" while leading many choirs and orchestras with a spiritual and consciousness base.

David Steinmetz

World Cultures & Consciousness
The Yugas

David’s experience includes forty years of scientific work, initially in observational astronomy and later in optical metrology. He is retired from Xerox Palo Alto Research Center and is the author of numerous articles and papers concerning astronomy and optical technology. For more than a decade he has been writing and lecturing on the topic of a particular cyclic world-view based on yoga philosophy.

Dennis Schulman

The Art of Oral Expression

Dennis holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Math from State University of New York, Buffalo, cum laude; a Juris Doctor from Northeastern School of Law; and teaching credentials in social science (California) and math (California, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts). He taught math at Sierra College in Grass Valley, California, from 1991 to 1994 and has been a high school math teacher since 1980. He also teaches SAT workshops and tutors privately, especially math.

Devaki Soupios

Drama and Consciousness

Devaki graduated from Indiana State University with a degree in Theater. She has over 35 years experience acting and directing, including 24 years of acting, directing, and teaching theatre arts at Ananda Village and other Ananda communities, She wrote, directed, and performed in “A Man Named John,” a short one-act play. She has been a minister for Ananda Church of Self-Realization for ten years.

Drupada Macdonald

Vedic Sciences and Healing
Vedic Astrology

Drupada has been a student of astrology since 1982. He is a graduate of the Komilla Academy of Vedic Astrology and a member of the Council of Vedic Astrology. Since 1995 he has been a full time professional astrologer. He divides his time between the US, Europe, and India, where he gives classes and individual consultations.

Henry Huta

Material Success and Business Leadership, Business Finance I, Material Success Through Yoga Principles

Henry holds degrees in Public Accounting (B.A.) from CW Post University, Computer Science (M.S.) from West Coast University School of Engineering, and Management (M.B.A.) from Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management. For over 20 years, he has been CEO of Archfield Consulting Group, providing business owners, private equity firms, and corporate clients with alternative leadership platforms through the engagement of an interim CEO. Clients are from diverse manufacturing and service industries, and have included start-ups and major organizations with over $300 million in annual sales. He has served on the boards of numerous public and private companies.

Irene Schulman

Education for Life

Irene holds a B.S. in Business Marketing and co-founded the Living Wisdom High School at Ananda Village in 1997. She has applied the Education for Life philosophy in her teaching for over 10 years.

Janakidevi Steinmetz

Directional Psychology

Janakidevi has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California at Humboldt, with an emphasis on Early Childhood Education. She also earned an MA and did her clinical training at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Counseling Psychology. She did Ministerial Counseling and Therapy in Palo Alto for a number of years, before her duties as an Ananda minister took her to the Seattle Center.

John Kieran

Chemistry, Physics & Consciousness

John Kieran graduated from California Sate University Sacramento with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and is a licensed Professional Engineer (Mechanical) with the State of California. He has taught Chemistry, and has been a lecturer with Physics & Consciousness courses. For 24 years he was a General Engineer for technical engineering projects with the US Air Force and has served at Aviano Air Base in Northern Italy and Beale Air Force Base in California. In addition, John has taught meditation practices for over 30 years at centers in San Francisco and Sacramento.

Korelle Hendee

The Yoga of Movement

Korelle holds a B.S. in Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon. She has been a garden and landscape designer and environmental planner for 12 years and a visual artist and art instructor for 15 years. Certified as a Level II (500 hours) Ananda Yoga Instructor, she has been teaching yoga for seven years, including three years at Winona State University. In addition, she taught dance and fitness and coached swimming for 17 years.

Mandala Skillman

Vedic Sciences and Healing

Mandala has an A.A. in art and design and 20 years of experience practicing Vedic arts and design. She is a consultant in interior and exterior design, based on the principles of Vastu.

Nischala Cryer

Creativity and Self Awareness, Graphic Arts, Cooperative Spiritual Living

Nischala graduated with honors from Pacific University with a B.A. in Mass Communication, English, and Art, and did post graduate training in Journalism, Graphic Arts, and Creative Writing at San Diego State University. She is co-founder of the Ananda Institute and co-director of the Ananda Meditation Retreat. She has been a Creative Director for several international design firms, founded her own award-winning design and communications company, and has written for various yoga, health and spirituality magazines.

Patricia Kirby, Ph.D.

Art of Written Expression

Patricia holds a B.A. in History, with a minor in English from Trinity College, an M.A. in Sociology from Catholic University of America, and an Ed.D. in Educational Technology from Catholic University. She has extensive experience teaching psychology, sociology, and writing, both online and in traditional classrooms. She has administrative experience in instructional design, course development, and program evaluation, generally focusing on innovative educational programs and has written and edited numerous articles and poetry.

N. Paul Cryer

Cooperative Spiritual Living

Paul was a founding member of Ananda Village (1970) with responsibility for developing Ananda Dairy, which at its height employed six workers and produced organic milk, yogurt, and cheese for the community. He managed a construction company, which employed up to 35 workers. His building experience ranges from creating buildings for National Car Rental, Avis, and other companies to the use of alternative building modalities such as rammed earth and solar power. He is an elected member of Ananda Village Council and has worked with the Nevada County Planning Commission. He has taught classes in business and leadership.

Ramesha Nani

Music, Yoga and Consciousness

Ramesha is a native of Lugano (Switzerland). He studied classical guitar starting at the age of six. He switched to violin as a teenager and received his Diploma in Violin from the Conservatory of Milan (Italy) in 1995. He also studied voice with soprano Giovanna Zaugg from 1990-1997. He taught violin and voice at the Scuola Maspero, Como (Italy) from 1995-2000 and was employed as a middle school music teacher in southern Switzerland from 1999-2006. He has performed extensively as a member of the Ananda Music Ministry in Italy, Switzerland, and the western United States. The Harmony Duo, which he founded with his wife, Bhagavati, in 2006, offers both concerts and seminars designed to increase awareness of the influence of music on consciousness.

Renee Glenn

Graphic Arts

Renee graduated from Ohio University with a B.S. in Communications/Journalism and a M.A. in Interdisciplinary Media (film, photography, public relations) and did post-graduate training in the Professional Design Program at UC Santa Cruz. For nearly 30 years, she has worked in the fields of production, design, photography, and publicity. She was Commercial Film Production Coordinator at Universal Studios, MGM, Grief-Garris, Walt Disney Educational, Churchill Films from 1984-88. Since 1996, she has been principal and owner of Renee Glenn Designs in Nevada City, California. She is a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals.

Saraswati Kieran

Italian Language

Saraswati earned a B.A .in Child Development from California State University, Sacramento and has worked in education for over 30 years. Recently returned from living in Italy for several years, Saraswati has organized the I Love Italy Club in Grass Valley and works with the Nevada County Italian Festival group on the Cultural Committee. Saraswati gives instruction in Italian language and culture, along with planning customized trips to Italy at www.bellaitaliatravel.com.

Steve Weber

Business & Leadership

Steve graduated from the University of Utah 1970 with a degree in Marketing, was District Manager for Valvoline Corporation and past CFO for Ananda Church of Self-Realization.

Sue Loper-Powers

Ayurveda, Introduction to Vedic Arts,
Holistic Health & Healing

Sue holds degrees in nursing from Stanford (B.S.N.), University of California in San Francisco (N.P.), and University of Washington (M.N.), where she later taught and received the Excellence in Teaching Award. She completed trainings at the California College of Ayurveda, The Harbin School of Shiatsu and Massage, the Ayurvedic Institute, and the School of Polarity Therapy. She has been a practicing nurse for over 30 years specializing in women’s health, birth, and newborn care. A student and practitioner of yoga and meditation for 20 years, she has taught yoga classes in the US, Canada, Italy, Germany, and India.

Toby Moorhouse, B.A.

Education for Life

Toby holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies from California State University, Sacramento and a Life Multiple Subject teaching credential.  She is the author of the book and CD "Supporting Your Child's Inner Life".  Toby has 30 years teaching experience, 28 of them teaching in the Education for Life schools.  She has taught in the Ananda College of Living Wisdom EFL Teaching Intensives and has led seminars in Education for Life at various locations in the US and Italy.