Joanna Gozawa, Associate Professor in the Transformative Studies and Transformative Leadership online MA and PhD at CIIS Joanne Gozawa

Professor Emerita
Transformative Leadership
Transformative Inquiry Department
School of Consciousness and Transformation (SCT)

Associate Professor
Transformative Studies
Transformative Inquiry Department
School of Consciousness and Transformation (SCT)

PhD, California Institute of Integral Studies
BA, San Francisco State University

Joanne Gozawa received her PhD in Integral Studies with a concentration in Learning and Change in Human Systems from CIIS in 2000. Prior to making teaching and academics her career, she was an organizational consultant focused on conflict and transformation.

Joanne’s contribution to teaching and learning includes her transdisciplinary approach to inquiry. She asks about the dynamic synergy of the unconscious and the cultural and transpersonal dimensions of being that constitute the affective qualities of learning environments, including online ones. Joanne imagines these environments as subjects who are indifferent or who are caring about whether all who inhabit them actually learn. Learning environments that care, compel a deep listening attitude as a normative way to be. Learners take creative risks, engage diverse others, critically question personal beliefs and assumptions and are less discomforted by uncertainty when engaged in environments that care.

It is with sensitivity to the affective attributes of learning environments that Joanne is able to teach potentially provocative courses including “Diversity in Action” and “Ways of Relating.”

Joanne’s overarching research question is, why are both individual and systems unable to “reach across the aisle” to engage mutually in the throes of triggered emotions and conflict? She theorizes that adversaries’ mutual vulnerability to existential dread is a contributing factor. Some of the ideas brought to bear on her inquiry are from the fields of consciousness studies, transformative learning, contemplative pedagogy, religion and evolution, Jungian psychology, moral psychology, myth and story, and Shin Buddhist thought. In addition she asks, how does computer mediated communication help or hinder provocation in learning? For this question she puts the aforementioned discourses in conversation with the field of online learning.

Publications

Gozawa, J. (2017). "Intersubjectivity and Blended Learning: Turning Learning Spaces to Wisdom's Place?" In O. Gunnlaugson, C Scott, H. Bai, and E. Sarah (Eds.). The Intersubjective Turn-Theoretical approaches to contemplate learning and inquiry across disciplines. Albany: SUNY Press.

Gozawa, J. (2015-2016 release). Inter-subjectivity and E-learning: Turning virtual space into wisdom's place. In O. Gunnlaugson (Ed.) The Inter-subjective turn in contemplative education: Shared approaches for contemplative learning across disciplines. New York: SUNY Press.

Gozawa, J. (2014). Contemplative pedagogy and compassionate presence. In Contemplative Approaches to Teaching and Learning Across Academic Disciplines. O. Gunnlaugson, E. Sarth, & C. Scott (Eds.). New York: SUNY Press.

Gozawa, J. (2013). Engaged learning: Turning space to place. In Proceedings, 29th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning.

Gozawa, J. (2009). The cultural complex and the ecology of transformative learning venues. Journal of Transformative Education. 7(2), 114-133.

Wang, V.C.X. l& King, K. (2008). Transformative learning and ancient Asian educational perspectives. Journal of transformative education. 6(2), 136-150. (Review invited by the publisher)

Gardner, M., Kelly, U. (Eds.). (2008). Narrating Transformative Learning in Education. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. (Review invited by the publisher)

Choudhuri, D.D. (2008). Facilitative conditions for transformative learning. In J. Bernstein (Ed.), Making learning visible. Ypsilanti, MI: Bruce K. Nelson Faculty Development Center, Eastern Michigan University. (Review invited by the editor)

Gozawa, J. (2007). The cultural complex and the ecology of transformative learning venues. In P. Cranton & Taylor, E. (Eds.), Transformative learning: Issues of difference and diversity. Proceedings of the 7th international transformative learning conference. University of Albuquerque, NM.

Gozawa, J. (2006). Geisha and cowboy: Synergizing inner life differences through the mythic realm. In Tang, Y. & Joiner, C. (Eds.), Synergic inquiry-A collaborative action methodology. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Cranton, P., Dirkx, J., Gozawa, J., Kasl, E., R. Smith. (2006). Appreciating the best of what is: Envisioning what could be: Reflections on the Sixth International Transformative Learning Conference. Journal of Transformative Learning, 4:(2), 140-156.

Gozawa, J. (2005). What thwarts transformative learning: Considering existential dread. In D. Vlosak, G. Kielbaso, J. Radford (Eds.), Appreciating the best of what is: Envisioning what could be. Proceedings of the 6th international conference on transformative learning. University of Michigan, E. Lansing, MI.

Gozawa, J. (2004). The terror of difference - Discovering what animates conflict . In J. Kimmel & F.M. Boakari (Eds.), Proceedings of the women's global connection international conference. University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX.

Gozawa, J. (2003). Transformative learning as disorienting dilemma. Transformative learning in action: Building bridges across contexts and disciplines Proceedings for the 5th international transformative learning conference. Teachers College Columbia University, NY.

Gozawa, J. & Yokota, A. (2001). Mediating the clash of cosmic heroes in lifelong adult learning: Towards support of a wide spectrum of genius. In L. West, N. Miller, D. O'Reilly, R. Allen (Eds.), Travelers' tales: From adult education to lifelong learning...and beyond. Proceedings for SCUTREA (Standing conference on university teaching and research). London, UK.

Gozawa, J., Cao, L., Chandran, V., & Sano, M. (2001). Being or not being-Making meaning of Asian invisibility. In L. West, N. Miller, D. O'Reilly, R. Allen (Eds.), Travellers' tales: From adult education to lifelong learning...and beyond. Proceedings for SCUTREA (Standing conference on university teaching and research). London, UK.

Gozawa, J. (2000). Cosmic heroes, and the heart's desire-Transformative learning through conflict transformation. In C.A. Wiessner, S.R. Meyer, D.A. Fuller (Eds.), Challenges of practice: Transformative learning in action. Proceedings for the 3rd international conference on transformative learning. Teachers College Columbia University, NY.


Conference Presentations

Gozawa, J. (2012, September). Contemplative pedagogy & diversity: Learning environments-Safe or Caring? Presented at the 4th Association for Contemplative Mind conference, Amherst College, Amherst MA.

Gozawa, J. (2010, August). Contemplative pedagogy as being of.
Presented at the 2nd Association for Contemplative Mind conference, Amherst College, Amherst, MA.

Gozawa, J. (2009, April). Contemplative pedagogy and compassionate presence. Presented at the 1st Association for Contemplative Mind conference, Contemplative Heart for Higher Education, Amherst College, Amherst, MA.

Gozawa, J. & Dirkx, J. (2008, April). Aggressive and violent fantasies in online contexts.
Presented at the Foundation for Mythological Studies conference, Nature and human nature, Pacific Graduate Institute, Santa Barbara, CA.

Gozawa, J. (2005, October). Growing the Integrative Capacities of Learners. Presented at AAC&U Conference, Integrative learning: Creating opportunities to connect, Denver, CO.

Gozawa, J. & Kasl, E. (2005, October). Keeping It Real - An Inquiry into Holistic Practices and Transformative Learning. Presented at the 6th International Transformative Learning Conference, Appreciating the best of what is: Envisioning what could be, Lansing, MI.

Gozawa, J. (2002, October). Diversity, Epistemology, and the Transpersonal. Presented at the AAC&U Conference, Diversity and learning-Education for a world lived in common. St. Louis, MO.

Gozawa, J. (2002, April). In search of wisdom: Integrating multiple ways of learning and teaching. Presented at the AAC&U Conference, Spirituality: Redefining meaning, value and inclusion in higher education. San Francisco, CA.

Gozawa, J. (2002, April). Wisdom, spirituality, epistemology, and pedagogy." Presented at the annual meeting of WASC. San Diego, CA.

Gozawa, J. & Ettling, D. (2000, August). Morphogenetic fields-A Call for radical thinking and being. Presented at The Association of Management and International Association of Management Conference, Project 2005, San Antonio, TX.

Gozawa, J. (1999). The evil in goodness. Presented at the 2nd international conference on transformative learning, San Rafel, CA.

Gozawa, J. (1999, June). Dilemmas, Demands, and Delights of Creating a Transpersonal and Transformative Context for Research. Member of a panel discussion at the Conference on Ethnographic Inquiry & Qualitative Research in a Postmodern Age. Irvine, CA.

Gozawa, J. & Gullian, L. (1997, May). A New Paradigm in diversity training-An inside-outside Perspective. Presented at the National Managing Diversity Conference-Beyond Diversity, Realizing Maximum Human Relations. San Diego, CA.

Arora, A., Taylor, S., Salazar, S. Elawar, M. and Gozawa, J. (2021). Pandemic pedagogy: Integral methods for supporting adult learners during times of crisis. In Lessons from the pandemic: Trauma-informed approaches to college, crisis, change, P. Thompson and J. Carello (Eds.).

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