Our Students

Caroline Elizabeth Aitchison is a graduate student in the Spiritual Mind Body Institute at Columbia University. She is grateful for the opportunity to explore how the arts, education and psychology can expand the creative agency to navigate and further encourage self-actualization and transcendence. She approaches life as the highest art and is passionate about the restorative power of presence. Caroline loves to facilitate deeper levels of integration and transcendence through shamanic and somatic work. Off the grid, she is an eager mountaineer who embraces creative training to summit and dance through any storm.

Teach what is in you. Not as it applies to you, to yourself, but as it applies to the other. ~ T. Krishnamacharya

 As a clinical yoga therapist, Kristin applies the practice of yoga as a healing technology to reawaken relaxation, inspiration, and balance in her patients and clients. Her holistic health company, The Holi Land, serves as a meeting place of science and spirituality through private and group sessions, workshops, and trainings. 

 In her time at Teachers College and the Spirituality Mind Body program, Kristin explored the evidence-based underpinnings of spirituality for practices like yoga alongside the neuroprotective advantages of spirituality in medicine and healthcare. She both presented her work “Lotus Petals at Your Feet: Yoga Therapy for the Educator” and contributed to drafting a resolution to be delivered to the member states of the United Nations General Assembly for their support of wellbeing in education as part of the inaugural transatlantic conference on “science in diplomacy” hosted by Teachers College and the European academic consortium EUniWell on campus at the United Nations and TC. Kristin also served on the research and planning team for an upcoming conference to be held and hosted by SMB. 

 Upon graduation from the program, Kristin is expanding her practice to pediatric medical populations, palliative care and medical complexities, clinician wellbeing, and continued education to encourage medical teams to include and engage clinical yoga therapy as a first line treatment in medicine and healthcare. Her dream is to complete her studies with a doctorate in clinical psychology and a speciality in pediatric psychology in the near future.  

She currently lives in New York City with her cat, Mina. You can reach out to Kristin (she/her) at: theholiland@gmail.com.

Laura Balters’ work explores how individuals find meaning and reconstruct a sense of self after profound loss. Through both personal experience and academic study, she is interested in the psychological processes through which grief reshapes identity, purpose, and one’s relationship to the world. 

Her studies grew out of a deeply personal search to understand the many dimensions of grief. Following the death of her son, Christian, she began exploring how experiences of awe, transcendence, and expanded awareness can reshape the ways people process trauma and loss. This inquiry led her to engage with emerging research in psychedelic-assisted therapies, contemplative practices, and other integrative approaches to healing. 

At Teachers College’s Spirituality Mind Body program at Columbia University, she is particularly interested in how insights from neuroscience can be held alongside spirituality and lived experience to inform new approaches to care. Her work explores how expanded states of awareness may help  soften the rigid cognitive patterns that often accompany trauma and prolonged grief. 

She hopes to contribute to the development of compassionate, evidence-informed frameworks that support meaning-making and psychological healing after loss. Through her research and future initiatives, she aims to help create spaces where grief can be approached with care and curiosity, and where it may gradually open the possibility for deeper connection, insight, and renewed purpose.

Fatim is originally from Morocco. Having lived and worked across France and Morocco, Fatim began her career in management consulting in Paris, building a strong corporate foundation in organizational transformation, working at the intersection of strategy, culture, and human development. Through these experiences, she came to understand that sustainable organizational change is deeply rooted in individual inner transformation.

This realization led her to initiate a profound professional and personal transition. She trained as an art therapist in Morocco, where she began working closely with young people, facilitating spaces for emotional expression, self-awareness, and healing—particularly in underserved communities. Her work included leading workshops in rural areas and providing psychosocial support following the Marrakesh earthquake. These experiences reinforced her belief in the importance of accessible, culturally grounded approaches to mental health and inner work.

She began her journey at Columbia one month after becoming a mother—an experience that continues to shape her understanding of transformation. Today, Fatim Zahra is dedicated to guiding individuals and communities toward greater self-awareness and healing. She holds a deep intention to work with children, grounded in the belief that early emotional support can profoundly shape lifelong trajectories.

Jen is pursuing an M.A. in Psychology at the Spirituality Mind Body Institute at Teachers
College, Columbia University. She is passionate about studying cross-cultural spiritual traditions and considering how they may ethically and respectfully inform psychological practices.

After graduating, Jen plans to become a licensed therapist who integrates mindfulness and
spiritual practices into counseling, offering a holistic approach to mental health care. Her
firsthand experiences of the transformative and grounding effects of spirituality have shaped her commitment to helping others heal and live with more clarity, connection, and authenticity. She became a certified Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga instructor (200HR RYT) to deepen her
understanding of the mind-body connection.

Previously, she spent over six years working in pharmaceutical public relations. With an interest in cultural anthropology, critical theory, and visual art, Jen received a B.S. in Media, Culture, and Communication with a minor in Studio Art from New York University.

Connect with Jen at jc6727@tc.columbia.edu or https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-chu/.

Kayla Donald is a born and raised New Yorker with Caribbean roots who has always been drawn to questions about how people heal, how we make meaning, and what it really means to be well. She grew up at the intersection of cultures that hold rich traditions of spirit, community, and care. This understanding brought her to the Spirituality, Mind & Body Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she explores the intersections of consciousness, psychology, and contemplative practice.

Her work centers on how connection to self, to others, and to something larger shapes the conditions for healing and transformation. She is particularly interested in Indigenous relational frameworks as a lens for understanding well-being, and in how research and policy can work together to honor culturally grounded ways of knowing.

Currently, Kayla is an apprentice in the Spiritual Perception and Nature Connection Lab at Teachers College, where her curiosity about human experience is taking shape through hands on research.

Jamie Gatto graduated from Tulane University in 2023 with a B.S. in Psychology and minors in Studio Art and Film Studies. Since graduation, she has traveled across sixteen countries, expanding her understanding of different perspectives and life around the globe.

Her academic and personal background reflects a deep curiosity about the human experience. Interested in how spirituality is expressed through art across cultures, she is continually drawn to the commonalities that connect people all over the world. Jamie chose the SMB program as a space to deepen her understanding of personal and collective transformation through creative practices. 

Connect with Jamie at jamiegatto19@gmail.com.

Grace Hermes is pursuing an M.A. in Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University
through the Spirituality Mind Body program. She is a certified Somatic Coach for Women, yoga
instructor, and former Division I athlete devoted to helping women reconnect with their bodies, reclaim their worth, and remember their innate wholeness.

With over a decade of teaching experience and several years working in holistic clinical and
caregiving settings, Grace blends psychology, movement, integrative wellness, and trauma-informed nervous system regulation to support deep emotional healing, felt safety, and embodied transformation. Her work is grounded in the understanding that psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being are deeply interconnected.

Grace holds a B.A. in Psychology with a Pre-Medicine concentration from the University of
Kansas, where she graduated summa cum laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Her interest in mind-body healing began at age fourteen when she completed her yoga teacher training certification. It was further shaped by her experience caregiving for her mother during the final stages of terminal illness, which deepened her commitment to integrative approaches to healing.

She believes the body is not an obstacle to healing, but a doorway home—guiding women toward greater presence, vitality, and self-understanding.

Instagram: @iamgraceamara

Sadie Kantorczyk originally hails from outside of Philadelphia, and is now based in Brooklyn, NY. She has a passion for holistic healing and care, especially connected to her love of nature and creating impactful relationships. Sadie holds experience in practicing both horticulture therapy and animal-assisted therapy through NYU Langone Health and The Barn at Spring Brook Farm. She earned her undergraduate degree in Human Development from the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University. While there, she was a research assistant at the Children’s Play and Learning Lab, a peer mentor for EARS (Empathy, Assistance, and Referral Program), and the Health and Wellness Chair for her sorority. After graduating, she became a teacher for students with high support needs at Brooklyn Autism Center. Although Sadie misses her kids, she is excited to continue on her journey at SMBI!

Zenobia Merced is a Bronx native, entrepreneur, and member of the 2025 SMBI cohort at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her interests include psychology, leadership, and community development.

She is currently running for public office, focusing on neighborhood quality-of-life issues, including animal welfare, public safety, and clean streets. Her campaign reflects a belief that strong communities are built through practical action, local engagement, and accountable leadership.

Through the SMBI program, Zenobia developed skills in innovation, strategy, and leadership that support her goals of advancing community-centered initiatives and strengthening her approach to public service. Alongside her academic pursuits, she is developing a business venture centered on personal growth and empowerment. She plans to pursue doctoral studies as she continues integrating scholarship, entrepreneurship, and public service.

Dr. Alex Pérez’s path in education began as a student of West New York, NJ Title 1 classrooms, and has taken him to conference podiums across the nation. Alex is a first-generation college graduate, a second language learner and the child of Cuban immigrants. He started as a high school English teacher and later became Professor, Chair of the English Department and Accreditation Manager at public colleges. Alex has shared his expertise at national conferences on topics like student success, accreditation, digital literacy, faculty development and servant leadership.

Alex has earned advanced degrees in English education and holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership with a focus on curriculum and instruction. He is now working toward a second master’s in SMB. Inspired by the teachers who shaped his own K-12 experience, Alex’s research looks at mentorship, satisfaction and retention among public school teachers. Education has always been his passion. He has published work on Latinx literacy, expanding library resources for Spanish-speaking communities in NYC and contemporary spiritual fiction.

After earning his first TC Master’s Degree in 1998, Alex came back to SMB to pursue his goal of counseling and advising students; he thrives on helping them become their most elevated selves at one with the universe. Alex is deeply thankful for the opportunities TC has given him and the doors it has opened to best serve his students. For almost 30 years, Alex has remained a grateful and dedicated member of the TC family. He is excited to be part of the SMB program, where he is learning about positivity, hope, spiritual growth and manifesting destiny.

When he isn’t studying or writing, Alex loves making pottery in the TC ceramics studio, Broadway musicals, NYC culinary adventures, and immersing himself in the City’s rich history and culture. Alex welcomes classmates and colleagues to join him for pottery exhibitions, shows or food adventures and is enjoying building friendships through shared experiences in the 2025 SMB cohort.

As the founder of Healing with Plearn, Plearn Pitikarn Suriyamongkol is an intuitive reader and certified Crystal Reiki Master from Bangkok, Thailand. As of 2026, she has supported over 200 clients worldwide in enhancing their life energy and embracing a holistic approach to mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being by offering Crystal Reiki energy realignment sessions, intuitive readings, and integrative wellness workshops that blend evidence-based mental-emotional wellness with accessible spirituality.

Plearn has partnered with Maybelline Thailand to host Brave Talk: Intuitive Oracle Circle for Emotional Healing, a workshop that uses card readings to cultivate deep emotional understanding and self-reflection. Additionally, she developed her signature practice of Self-Development and Spiritual Awakening through the Tarot, empowering individuals to explore their character strengths, shadow traits, and the stages of their inner journey by resonating with the powerful symbolism of the Tarot's Major Arcana—from the Fool to the World.

Aspiring to uplift holistic mental wellness globally through technology, Plearn creates accessible digital wellness lifestyle tools—including e-books, guided meditations, and journaling templates—to help people manifest the life of their dreams, heal from the past, and live with clarity, balance, and intention.

Connect with Plearn at ps3456@tc.columbia.edu, Plearn Pitikarn Suriyamongkol on LinkedIn, or calendly.com/plearn.

“In a world where disconnection often manifests through hate, separation, and apathy, choosing to connect through love, care, and hope becomes a radical act of healing and a foundation for building peace.”

Sophie Raimondo Schmid is a TEDx speaker and a deep listener devoted to reimagining how we live, relate, care, and weave together. Her work sits at the intersection of peacebuilding, education, and inner transformation, grounded in the belief that lasting change in the world begins with how we learn to be with ourselves and one another.

Born and raised in Mexico, Sophie’s path has been shaped by experiences across East Africa, Hong Kong, Thailand, Nepal, Switzerland, and Canada. Through collaborations and lived experiences with Maasai, Mayan, Hadzabe, and Dakota communities, she has engaged with regenerative practices, Indigenous knowledge systems, and relational ways of being that challenge dominant narratives of development and progress. These encounters continue to inform her commitment to approaches rooted in humility, reciprocity, and collective care.

She studied law, politics, and sociology at University College Roosevelt (Utrecht University), where she developed a critical understanding of systems of power, inequality, and global structures. Alongside her academic journey, personal experiences of grief, questioning, and spiritual inquiry opened a deeper realization: systems do not transform without a transformation in how we relate, perceive, and care.

Sophie is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Psychology in Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, within the Spirituality Mind Body program. Her work explores how healing can emerge as a collective and relational process, and how education can become a space for reconnection rather than fragmentation. She is particularly interested in how individuals and systems reorganize in moments of disruption, and how connection itself can become a force that regulates, heals, and transforms.

At the heart of her work is a commitment to peace, not only as the absence of conflict, but as a lived, relational practice. She is drawn to the spaces where complexity, grief, and uncertainty are present, seeking to understand how we can stay with them rather than turn away. Through this, she hopes to contribute to a world where multiple ways of knowing can coexist, where diversity is honored, and where complexity is embraced as part of our shared humanity.

“Porque sanar no es solo un camino individual, es un acto profundo de amor colectivo.”

After a 35 year career in global finance, Sarah felt called to reframe her life experience and transition to a path of service. Holding a joint BA degree in Philosophy and Economics from Columbia College, returning to Morningside Heights and Teacher’s College was a homecoming in many ways and the SMB program a perfect launching pad for her next career as a psychotherapist.

Having struggled to find a therapist who could understand the fiercely competitive environment of global finance as well as her multicultural background, Sarah hopes to fill that gap for those who have suffered with similar experiences. She combines the holistic body-mind experience of a life-long dancer and meditator with her passion for evidence-based practice and neuropsychology and is deeply appreciative of the SMB curriculum for fostering this unique combination of study at a graduate level.

Having completed her MA at TC, she is currently an MSW candidate with the Fordham School of Social Service. She is in the process of certification in Emotionally Focused Therapy, an attachment theory-based methodology with outstanding clinical evidence. In addition to her work towards becoming a psychotherapist, she is writing a book which focuses on her area of interest within the study of psychopathology; cluster B personality disorders.

Zachary Sturza studies psychology and human flourishing at Columbia University’s Spirituality Mind Body Institute. At Tulane, he co-founded a wellness-focused fraternity designed to push young men toward discipline, fitness, and personal growth.

A fashion model and lifelong martial artist, Zachary pursues what he calls “lifemaxxing”—the pursuit of optimizing physical, social, and psychological well-being—and is especially interested in building communities that help young men develop confidence, discipline, and purpose.