Alumni Reunions
By Richard Buggs
Spring 2011 edition of CIIS Today
New Mexico
A progressive evening of art was held for New Mexico alums in Santa Fe on October 8, 2010. Beginning at the Skotia Gallery, fifteen enthusiastic alums gathered and learned about the exhibit there before walking to Evoke Contemporary Gallery, where the impressionistic landscapes of plein air painter Lynn Boggess generated much conversation about the creative process and nature. During the brief program, alum Glenn Parry described his studies with Native Americans and the creation of the Albuquerque-based SEED Institute. Special guest and former Social and Cultural Anthropology faculty member Lisa Faithorn reminisced with alums about earlier years at CIIS and the move from Dolores Street to the Ashbury Street campus.
New York
A gathering of CIIS alums and prospective students living in the New York area was held on October 21, 2010 at the beautiful Rubin Museum of Art, where Asian and Comparative Studies alum Michael Sheehy is senior editor of the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center. Michael spoke about his journey to CIIS and the importance of his degree. After the brief program, guided tours of the galleries were offered and we all marveled at the incredible collection of Himalayan art from India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Arizona
Tempe, Arizona was the setting for the November 5, 2010 reunion of alums and prospective students. We were moved by the stories alums told of their clinical work with underserved populations and how their CIIS educations prepared them to listen deeply and learn and share integral approaches to health and healing.
London
The first international gathering of CIIS alums was held in London on November 13, 2010 at a store called Buddha on a Bicycle in Covent Garden. Alums and prospective students chatted about CIIS and met with International Student Advisor Jody O’Connor. Alum Sophie Waterhouse (EXA ’02) informed the group about the process of getting licensed in the U.K. with a U.S. degree in counseling psychology.
