Featuring Lisa Miller, Ph.D., Professor of Clinical Psychology and Founder of the Spirituality and Mind-Body Institute at Teachers College of Columbia University and New York Times bestselling author, in conversation with Simran Jeet Singh, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Religion & Society Program and author of The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life (July 2022). Dr. Miller will present the findings of her groundbreaking research in her newest book, The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life, which combines cutting-edge science (from MRI studies to genetic research, epidemiology, and more) with practical tools for navigating the challenges of everyday life.
ABOUT THE AWAKENED BRAIN
A groundbreaking exploration of the neuroscience of spirituality and a bold new paradigm for health, healing, and resilience—from a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning researcher
“A new revolution of health and well-being and a testament to, and celebration of, the power within.”—Deepak Chopra, MD
Lisa Miller, Ph.D., is the New York Times bestselling author of The Spiritual Child and her new book is The Awakened Brain. For 22 year she has been a professor in the Clinical Psychology Program at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she is the Founder of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program and research institute in spirituality and psychology, and has held over a decade of joint appointments in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical School. Dr. Miller’s innovative research has been published in more than one hundred peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including Cerebral Cortex, The American Journal of Psychiatry, and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Miller is Editor of the Oxford University Press Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality (First and Second Editions), Founding Co-Editor-in-Chief of the APA journal Spirituality in Clinical Practice, an elected Fellow of The American Psychological Association (APA) and the two-time President of the APA Society for Psychology and Spirituality. A graduate of Yale University and University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her doctorate under the founder of positive psychology, Martin Seligman, she has served as Principal Investigator on multiple grant funded research studies. Dr. Miller speaks and consults on The Awakened Brain and The Spiritual Child for the universities, US Military, businesses (including tech, finance, HR and sales), personal development, faith based organizations, K-12 schools, and for mental health and wellness initiatives.
Simran Jeet Singh, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Religion & Society Program at the Aspen Institute and author of The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life (Riverhead, Penguin Random House). Simran is a well-known scholar and champion of religious pluralism who is committed to driving civic change through disrupting bias and building empathy. He is an Equality Fellow with the Open Society Foundations, Senior Adviser on Equity and Inclusion for YSC Consulting, and a Visiting Professor at Union Seminary. Simran is a regular contributor to major outlets, including The Washington Post, CNN, and TIME Magazine, and he writes a monthly column for Religion News Service. Prior to joining the Religion & Society Program in 2021, Simran published a children’s book with Penguin Random House about a personal hero, Fauja Singh, who is the oldest person to ever run a marathon. In 2016, he completed his Ph.D. at Columbia University and began teaching Islamic Studies at his alma mater, Trinity University. In 2018, he received the Peter J. Gomes Memorial Award from Harvard University for his work in religious pluralism. Simran’s thought leadership on bias, empathy, and justice extends across corporate, university, and government settings, and his work has been featured in various outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, BBC, and NPR. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Simran now lives in New York City with his wife and two daughters, where he enjoys running, writing, and chasing his kids.
