National Meditation Specialist Certification Board

– Meet the Team

Founder – Susan Taylor, PhD.

Susan Taylor, PhD is an internationally renowned teacher of practical ways to integrate western medicine with natural healing traditions. Founder of the nationally acclaimed Meditation Specialist Training based on – Evidence-based meditation – Taylor provides the art and science of meditation as well as the technology behind it to give the most comprehensive training currently available.

Dr Taylor has authored several best-selling publications including Return to Radiance: A 21-Day Transformation to Vitality, Feeling Good Matters: The Yoga of Mind, Medicine, and Healing, The Vital Energy Program, and The Healing Power of Meditation CD series, appeared in The American Journal of Physiology and other scientific journals as well as national magazines. She holds a PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry from Case Western Reserve Medical School, an MS in Human Nutrition with Columbia Medical School and founder of the Center for Meditation Science.

NMSCB Board of Directors

The NMSCB Board of Directors strives to ensure the validity, reliability, security and integrity of the Meditation Specialist Certification Program and the School Endorsement Program. The Executive Director is responsible for the management of daily activities related to NMSCB’s Values, Mission, Purpose and Policies.

Nick Hall, PH.D.

Nick Hall, PH.D.

Nick Hall, Ph.D. is a medical scientist and professional speaker, who for over 20 years has conducted groundbreaking studies linking the mind and body. This research has been published in over 150 periodicals and featured by the national and international media, including CBS’ 60 Minutes, the BBC’s Nova series, and the Emmy Award-winning program Healing and the Mind, aired by PBS. He also has been the recipient of two prestigious Research Scientist Development Awards, which the National Institutes of Health grants only to the top scientists in the United States. Nick is no stranger, as well, to the more pragmatic aspects of dealing with change and with making difficult choices. After earning his way through college wrestling alligators and milking rattlesnakes, he worked as an intelligence-operative for the U.S. Government. He also led a NationalGeographic-sponsored expedition to the West Indies, where he studied mass-stranding behavior in whales. While working in the islands, he endured the Marxist revolution in Grenada and the La Soufriere volcano eruption in St. Vincent. His practical insights for coping with change and adversity have been shaped over a span of nearly four decades. For example, in 1968, he became the first person to complete the grueling Baja 1,000 mile off-road race on a bicycle, while in 2006, he completed WaterTribe’s Ultimate Florida Challenge in a sea-kayak. This 1200 mile nautical race, which included a 40 mile portage, has been described by The London Times as, “the most dangerous small boat race in the world.” At his Saddlebrook Resort headquarters in Florida, Dr. Hall presents highly successful workshops and motivational programs for some of America’s leading corporations.

George Goldstone, Chair, PTI, CMSII-BC

George is an entrepreneur and technologist with decades of experience in the high tech as a consultant, developer, and analyst. Technology is one of the most stressful occupations in which to work and one of the keys to his success is a systematic meditation practice based on traditional Yoga Meditation.

George is a Pet CPR, First Aid & Care Instructor and helps rescue, rehabilitate, and care for dogs in need. The human/canine symbiotic relationship is a natural extension to his meditation practice.

George teaches meditation in the Metaverse.

Jamie Jensen, RN, Co-Chair

Jamie and her husband Phil live in East Texas. They own and operate Red Rock Ranch allowing for the outdoor lifestyle they both enjoy. Presently Jamie is also acting as director of an after school program for elementary and middle school children located in a low socio-economic neighborhood. Her experiences include developing and teaching outdoor education curriculum in elementary schools. Instructing teacher training in outdoor education for schoolteachers in Costa Rica. Volunteer recruiter and coordinator for low socio-economic public school. As an active community volunteer she has served on the Board of Directors for several non profit organizations including American Red Cross and St. Paul Children’s Foundation where she also volunteers as an RN at their pediatric medical clinic. Her interests include outdoor activities, organic gardening, yoga, and meditation.

Thomas Kenison, MS, CPA

Tom Kenison brings much experience in traditional yoga as well as being a financial investor.

NMSCB Advisory Board

Molly Mele, RN, MS, HNC, CMSII-BC

Molly is a board certified Holistic Nurse with a Bachelors degree in Nursing and a Master’s Degree in Health Science. She has over twenty-five years experience in somatic therapies and Mind-Body Stress Management and is a Certified Massage Therapist. Molly is dedicated to sharing her knowledge and love of Holistic Nursing, Meditation, and mind-body therapies.

In addition to her Meditation Specialist training, she is trained in Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation and Mindfulness based stress management. She maintains a longstanding private meditation and yoga practice and teaches individual and group Mindfulness Meditation and Mindful Movement classes in Northern California.

Molly is a Continuing Education Provider for the California Board of Registered Nursing. Member: American Holistic Nurses Association, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, California Board of Registered Nursing, Vice Chair of Paradise Community Wellness Connection.

Marianne Johenning, RN, CMSII-BC

Marianne has been a registered nurse for over 30 years. She has practiced primarily in neonatal and pediatrics working directly with patients as well as their families. Marianne has maintained a meditation practice for the past 30 years and became a Board Certified Meditation Specialist in 2010. Marianne is the owner of Simply Being,LLC where she teaches systematic relaxation techniques while assisting clients in establishing a daily meditation practice. Her goal is to assist clients to use meditation as a tool to establish balance while empowering them to manage their own lives more effectively as well as to find their own source of well-being.

Kathleen Lubanski, MN, ANP-BC, GNP-BC, CMS II-BC

Kathleen brings to the board over 30 years as a UCLA, Board Certified Adult and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner.

She is the owner of Mandala Meditation where she teaches techniques in mind body balance. A board certified Meditation Specialist since 2010, she has been teaching Meditation as well as stress reduction programs at several locals in Palm Springs, California. Kathleen has expanded her practices and holds certifications as a Guided Imagery Specialist and Primordial Sound Meditation teacher from the Chopra University.

Kathleen is a member of the California Association of Nurse Practitioners. She was instrumental in resurrecting the local chapter in 2004 and held the positions of secretary and treasurer. Kathleen is a member of the American Holistic Nurses Association. She joined with colleague and help create a local chapter in 2012. She currently holds two positions; secretary and treasurer.

Megan McHugh, MS, RN, CCRN, CNRN, CMSII-BC

Megan has worked in clinical neuroscience for 27 years, in both technical and nursing capacities. She has a strong interest in mind-body medicine, and has worked as a neuroscience nurse since 2002. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physiological Psychology and a Master’s degree in Information Science in addition to her nursing degree, and is now pursuing her MSN. She holds certifications in both neuroscience and critical care nursing and has completed a course in Mindfulness Meditation in addition to her Meditation Specialist training. She is a member of the American Holistic Nurses Association, American Association of Critical Care Nurses, and the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses.

Current interests include bringing the benefits of meditation and stress reduction to her neuroscience patient and family populations as well as the continued development of her personal practice.

Melissa Shafer, RN,CMSII-BC

Melissa has been in the nursing field caring for our elderly population for more than 30 years. As a nursing supervisor in a long term care facility, her position is supported by her experience in integrative medicine. Melissa has gained experience working with the subtle energy body as a master level Reiki practitioner (Usui Shiki Ryoho) and insight into spiritual needs as an Ordained Minister. Through personal experience she’s discovered that meditation, utilizing both mindfulness and focused awareness, are the best tools to bring ones life into balance… and that balance in all things leads to true health. Because balanced people lead to a balanced planet, Melissa’s goal is to bring balance to the world one person at a time.

Karen S. Yates, RN, BSN, CMSII-BC, RYT-200

Karen is retired from nursing with over 38 years of nursing experience in community and school health nursing. She is a Certified Reiki Master, certified Pilates and Body Flow instructor, and a registered yoga teacher. Karen believes that empowering individuals to actively participate in their health care by giving them tools to achieve their optimum wellness is important in today’s society. Meditation is one of the essential tools. Karen teaches relaxation techniques, stress reduction and meditation to individuals and small groups in the Southern Maryland area.

Peggy Gaines, RN, BSN, CMSII-BC

Peggy Gaines, RN, BSN is a nurse educator and a board-certified Meditation Specialist who has been meditating over 16 years. She has first hand knowledge of the positive impact meditation can have in one’s life and as a result, Peggy brings enthusiasm, compassion and focus to her classes. Everyone feels more relaxed and in control after attending one of her classes. Peggy is able explain the physiological changes occurring with meditation in a manner that is understandable for everyone. She teaches a method of meditation that is filled with practical, useful tools and techniques that can be implemented non-obtrusively into an office setting. Peggy teaches private and small group Meditation classes as well as onsite Corporate classes for the stressed out professional.

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