Congratulations to PhD graduate Dr Winky Lee

The Contemplative Studies Centre wishes to congratulate recent graduate, Dr Winky Lee, whose PhD investigated mindfulness in education.

Dr Lee's dissertation, Mindfulness in education: Critical debates, perspectives, and pragmatic recommendations, explored the integration of mindfulness in education and addressed three critical considerations: adapting mindfulness for contemporary use while preserving its integrity, the social and political implications of its implementation, and the limited empirical evidence on potential adverse effects, especially on vulnerable youth. The findings of three research studies examining educators’ and students’ perspectives suggest mindfulness is widely accepted as beneficial for mental health and wellbeing. However, concerns remain about the need for rigorous research. Educators believe 'proper' implementation is crucial for mindfulness to positively impact education. Dr Lee concludes the study by offering practical recommendations and proposals for future research directions.

Dr Lee was first exposed to mindfulness during her training as a provisional psychologist in the field of education. Mindfulness was being introduced and practised in schools via an app, and she observed high levels of interest among teachers while also discovering the heated debate surrounding the delivery of mindfulness programs to students. This led to a keen interest in the application and practice of mindfulness in the context of education. Dr Lee is now practising as a psychologist at psychology clinics, providing psycho-educational assessments and therapy services. She uses evidence-informed approaches in her practice to help support children and their families to navigate their learning and developmental challenges, and to empower her clients to thrive as they continue to navigate life.

Congratulations, Dr Winky Lee!