About Meeting the Moment
Meeting the Moment was born of a global pandemic and an urgent question: How do we support Stanford students during this extraordinary time?
By way of answering that question, ORSL created a program to equip students with the meaning-making tools and practices that will allow them to meet the inevitably difficult moments with self-sovereignty and presence, and to fully inhabit the vibrantly joyful moments too.
We cultivate these capacities together through the examination of a monthly theme in a repeatable, 1-unit class called Meeting the Moment: Inner Resources for Hard Times, and expand from there.
Meeting the Moment participants are poets, philosophers, artists, and seekers. They are students and staff who co-create a dedicated time and space to consider the biggest and deepest question of all: How do we be human?
To get involved with Meeting the Moment, email Colleen Hallagan Preuninger at cpreunin@stanford.edu.
Fellows
Cristina Barnard
Cristina Barnard (She/Her) is a continuous learner and an explorer of life. Cristina is pursuing an MA in International Educational Policy Analysis, and she holds an undergraduate degree in Economics. Cristina is passionate about promoting a more inclusive society through education. Cristina’s heart extends beyond her academic field of study. Art has been deeply engrained in Cristina’s life all her life. She has engaged in theater, creative writing, and ceramics. Cristina’s main source of inspiration is nature. She thinks of art as a vehicle to explore intuition, shared wisdom, and joy. Cristina loves embodiment practices and meditation. She finds in these practices a path toward self-awareness and connection with others.
Eva Saenz
Hello everyone! My name is Eva and I'm a current Junior studying Comparative Studies in Race & Ethnicity and Psychology. I'm really excited to be a part of this class this quarter and can't wait to meet everyone! On my free time you can usually catch me going on a long walk, practicing music, or trying to learn a new hobby. I grew up in a valley of Washington State and as a product love being outside, love biking around with friends, and love a good apple. Happy to be back on campus and be with you guys for this class, can't wait to see what's to come!
Julia Yu
Julia Yu (she/her) is a second-year M.A. student at the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). She completed a B.S. in Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience, and B.A. in Vocal Performance from the University of California, San Diego before coming back to her home in the Bay Area to integrate her two interests at Stanford. She can usually be found either in the Neuromusic Lab conducting EEG research or practicing for singing performances in Braun Music Center. Throughout the school year, Julia will also be practicing different meditation techniques with the Buddhist Community at Stanford and singing with the Stanford Memorial Church Choir which performs for Sunday University Public Worship. When it comes to wellness, Julia hopes to explore how we can strengthen our mind-body connections to promote our well-being. She is looking forward to learning alongside and helping people who are choosing to Meet the Moment during her time as a Fellow.
Sehajleen Kaur
Sehajleen Kaur ’24 (she/her) is a senior majoring in Science, Technology, and Society. Her interests include languages, tech policy, music history and production, comedy, and understanding systems and how people interact within them. She’s excited to explore new wellness perspectives in our class.
Staff
Clarissa Gutierrez
Clarissa Gutierrez is a second-year PhD student in Developmental and Psychological Sciences at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. Her research explores various psychological mechanisms that can be leveraged to promote well-being, academic persistence, and belonging among first-generation college students and racially minoritized youth. Clarissa aims to engage in work at the intersection of wellness, intergroup solidarity, and justice, and is deeply committed to supporting students from all backgrounds in cultivating vital practices and skills for leading a flourishing, purposeful life. Outside of Stanford, she has completed several courses and training programs related to meditation, spiritual psychology, and compassion-focused therapy, and she is excited to apply her knowledge and share space with the Meeting the Moment community as Course Coordinator. Clarissa received a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Chicanx/Latinx Studies and honors in Education from Stanford. In her free time, you can find her basking in the sun, baking stone fruit galettes, or dreaming of her future flower shop café.
The Rev. Dr. Colleen Hallagan Preuninger
Associate Dean for Religious & Spiritual Life and Director of Student Engagement
Colleen Hallagan Preuninger serves as Associate Dean for Religious & Spiritual Life and Director of Student Engagement in the Office for Religious Life. She is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and a member of the Upper New York Annual Conference. Colleen is passionate about exploring the intersections of life, love, and deeply held values. She understands her role on the Meeting the Moment team as one who holds space, asks thoughtful questions, as she journeys with each cohort of student fellows as poets, philosophers, artists, storytellers, scientists, and engineers. She loves to feed people, belly laugh, and watch Miyazaki movies. Her pockets are always full of stones and shells. She is most herself when she is traveling. She holds a B.A. in German Language and Literature from Hamilton College, Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary.
Davíd Eli Patiño (he/ze/el)
Flourishing and Faith Chaplain Associate
Davíd Eli Patiño is one of two flourish and faith chaplain associates at the Office for Religious and Spiritual Life. Along with Chaplain Ken Lee, David runs Talk with a Chaplain, a confidential resource on campus that focuses on non-judgmental accompaniment of students seeking emotional, spiritual and/or existential support.
Davíd hails from Medellin, Colombia and is coming from New York City after serving as an interfaith chaplain at Bellevue Hospital and doing community building work through St. Mary’s Church in Harlem. He identifies with the first-generation, immigrant queer and translatinx experience. Davíd holds a B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University, Masters of Arts in Christian ethics and theology from Union Theological Seminary, and a Masters of Divinity from Bexley-Seabury Seminary. His main research has focused on queer and transgender experiences of faith, spirituality and religion; liberation theology; postcolonial and decolonial ethics; human rights; and nonviolence. Davíd believes in the practices of authenticity, radical honesty, imagination and curiosity. Things that bring joy to Davíd include all things chocolate, coffee, birds, flowers and dancing.
Jonah Willihnganz, PhD
Lecturer, Director of the Stanford Storytelling Project
Jonah Willihnganz is the Bruce Braden Lecturer of Narrative Studies and director of The Stanford Storytelling Project, an arts program that explores how narrative practices can help deepen natural human capacities such as courage, empathy, and gratitude. His main research interests have been in the fields of narratology and psychology and he has published fiction, essays, and articles on American literature. He teaches courses in creative writing, American literature, media studies, and critical theory, and collaborates extensively across disciplines to explore how story craft and practices can be used to create personal and social change. A long-time meditator and student of Aikido, he incorporates their practices of attention and intention into many of his courses. He received a bachelor's degree in political economy from Georgetown University, an MFA in creative writing from Hollins University, and a PhD in English from Brown.
Marissa Floro
Marissa Floro is the Interim Co-Director of Stanford’s Weiland Health Initiative that promotes mental health and wellness across the spectrum of gender identities and attractions through education, training and clinical services at Stanford and beyond. Her main research interests have explored the intersections of race, attraction, gender, and sex. She currently provides therapy, facilitates workshops, leads advocacy projects, teaches academic courses, and publishes mental health content primarily focusing on the experiences of queer folx of color and pathways towards liberation. As a RYT200 yoga teacher and sex therapist, she also integrates ideas of embodiment, pleasure, and connection into her work. She received her bachelor's degree in Classics and Renaissance studies from UC Santa Barbara, an MA in Counseling Psychology from Boston College, and a PhD in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University Chicago.