Conference Founder and Organizer
Donna Colleen Kester Phillips, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Literacy Education and the Founder and Director of the Center for Mindful Practice at Niagara University. Her work integrates mindfulness, movement, and social-emotional learning into literacy education, including the development of the Reader Stress Survey, which identifies sources of stress and anxiety in reading.
A Certified Advanced Lee Holden Qigong Instructor and Certified Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher, Dr. Phillips brings embodied practices into teaching and learning. She shares weekly Mindful Moments reflections, hosts the annual Mindfulness and Mindful Movement Conversations Conference, and is the co-author of Taming the Turmoil: Mindful Movement for a Calm Classroom.
Mindfulness and Mindful Movement Conversations Conference 2026
Mindfulness and Mindful Movement Conversations Conference Brings Professionals Together
Welcome to our Mindfulness and Mindful Movement Conversations Conference! We are delighted to have you join us as we begin our second decade of bringing people together to explore mindfulness, mindful movement, and the power of meaningful conversation.
As we reflect on the past ten years, we find ourselves returning to the original vision that inspired this conference: creating opportunities not only to learn from one another, but also to engage in thoughtful dialogue, share experiences, and build connections. Over the years, our conference has grown and evolved. In that process, we realized that something important had gradually taken a back seat—the conversations that were always intended to be at the heart of our gathering. This year, we are bringing those conversations back to center stage!
A New Conference Experience
Rather than our traditional two-day live online conference, we are introducing a more flexible format designed to give you time to experience, reflect, and connect.
Saturday, October 17 — Mindfulness
Sunday, October 18 — Mindful Movement
Presentations and workshops will be prerecorded and made available on their designated conference days. You can explore them at your convenience, without worrying about scheduling conflicts or missing a presentation that interests you.
Conversations with the Presenters
Here is where we believe the real connection and meaning can happen! Presenters will have the opportunity to offer follow-up conversations and Q&A sessions on dates following the conference weekend. This means you can watch a presentation, consider its ideas, reflect on how they relate to your own experiences, and then join the presenter and other interested participants for a meaningful exchange. Rather than rushing from one presentation to another, we invite you to slow down, reflect, and engage.
To join the conversation, click here to access the schedule.
Conference Schedule and Access
The conference schedule, presentation links, and information about the optional Conversations with the Presenters will be shared with you in advance of the conference weekend. We hope this new approach will offer greater flexibility while strengthening the sense of connection and community that has always made our conference special. As we begin our next decade, we are excited to return to the vision that started it all: a conference where presentations inspire reflection, and reflection inspires conversation.
Thank you for being part of this journey. We look forward to learning, reflecting, and connecting with you!
Conference Registration
https://apps.niagara.edu/mindfulness/
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