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The Mind & Life Institute Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Sona Dimidjian, PhD, will become Board Chair effective January 1, 2026. A valued member of the Board for the past eight years, Sona will succeed Thupten Jinpa, PhD, whose visionary leadership and deep dedication have guided the Institute since 2011.

Under Jinpa’s leadership, Mind & Life has deepened and expanded its mission to bridge science and contemplative wisdom to better understand the mind and foster a more compassionate world. His tenure has been defined by a deep commitment to the vision of Mind & Life Co-founder His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and by his steady leadership through a period of organizational growth and expanded impact.

“Serving as Chair over these many years has been a great honor,” said Jinpa. “Together, in partnership with our dedicated community, we have strengthened Mind & Life’s scientific and contemplative foundations, expanded our global reach, and deepened our commitment to fostering inner transformation as the basis for compassionate action in the world. In doing so, Mind & Life has made significant contributions toward an important part of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s mission.��It is with great joy that we welcome Sona—who embodies the spirit, integrity, and compassion that define our work—into this role.”

“It is with great joy that we welcome Sona—who embodies the spirit, integrity,
and compassion that define our work—into this role.”
—Thupten Jinpa, PhD

“I am humbled to be appointed to serve as Board Chair of Mind & Life,” said Sona. “I am deeply grateful for Jinpa’s inspired leadership, for my fellow Board members’ confidence and dedication, and for the collective care and wisdom of this community. Mind & Life’s work—grounded in the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama—reminds us that compassion and understanding are essential to the flourishing of all life, and that curiosity and scientific inquiry remain powerful tools of discovery. I am honored to be in service to Mind & Life, and I look forward to working together in ways that deepen our impact in the world.”

Sona brings to her new position as Board Chair a deep appreciation for Mind & Life, having served on the Board’s Executive Committee and as faculty and planning committee member for numerous Dialogues and programs. A professor at the ������ý���� and Director of the Renée Crown Wellness Institute, she has devoted her career to advancing mental health and well-being among young people and the adults who support them, with a focus on the science of contemplative practice in education, healthcare, and community settings.

Over more than two decades, Sona’s work has transformed understanding of how mindfulness and compassion practices can support mental health and human flourishing. Through collaborations with many Mind & Life Fellows, she has developed and evaluated groundbreaking programs such as Mindful Mood Balance (MMB)—a digital adaptation of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy—and MMB for Moms, designed to support perinatal mental health, as well as a program for educators focused on compassion and dignity. Her work has helped to bring evidence-based resources to communities across the globe through both digital technology and community-based partnerships.

Her many honors include the Dorothy Martin Women’s Faculty Award, the Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award, and the Robert L. Stearns Award from the ������ý����, as well as national recognition from Postpartum Support International and the American Psychological Association.

As Mind & Life enters a bold new chapter, the Board extends its heartfelt appreciation to Thupten Jinpa, who will serve as Board Chair Emeritus, for his profound contributions as a steward of Mind & Life’s global mission—and warmly welcomes Sona Dimidjian into her forthcoming role as Chair.

Together, their shared commitment to deepening understanding of the human mind and fostering compassionate action continues to light the way forward for Mind & Life’s work in the world.

This story in the blog.��