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. 

Marissa is a 4th year clinical psychology PhD student. Her research interests include resilience, perinatal mental health, intergenerational trauma, and working with BIPOC populations. She graduated with her MA in counseling psychology from the University of San Francisco with a concentration in school counseling (PPS) and clinical counseling (PCC). In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

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.

Morgan is a first-year student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program. Her research interests include mindfulness-based interventions for trauma and stress, trauma-informed interventions and principles, and how such interventions can be tailored to meet the needs of underserved communities. She graduated with her MA in Clinical Psychology from Western Carolina University in 2024. In her free time, Morgan enjoys a good cup of coffee, practicing yoga and meditation, and spending time outdoors with her husband and loved ones.

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. 

Alicia is a 6th year clinical psychology PhD student and she is currently completing her doctoral internship at the Southern Oregon VA Health Care System. Her research interests include examining treatment outcomes of mindfulness-based interventions for underserved and underrepresented populations. She is an RA for an NIH grant-funded project as well as a Mind and Life grant-funded project. When not in the lab, Alicia can be found spending time with her family and dogs, playing Nintendo 64, and doing freelance makeup work.