Thomas McConkie, Founder
Thomas McConkie is the founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom and has a passion for the world's Wisdom traditions. Raised Latter-day Saint, he has deep Christian faith that is infused with nearly 25 years of Buddhist practice.
He is trained as a developmental researcher, group facilitator and mindfulness teacher. He is currently studying transformative spiritual practice at Harvard Divinity School.
“Thomas McConkie is a unique practitioner with a unique calling. Thoroughly steeped for over two decades in the Buddhadharma, he has a depth of experience that shines through his teachings. But in addition to that, he has done what few meditators do: he has taken his practice right back to the heart of his Christian upbringing. The results have been remarkable: a new wave of contemplatives with a sensibility and desire to realize the territory that no single tradition can claim for its own.”
- Shinzen Young
GLORIA PAK, Creative director
Originally a native of Los Angeles, Gloria arrived in Utah to earn her BFA in graphic design from Brigham Young University. With her love for aesthetics, Gloria brings an intention to use art as a way to amplify and foreground the inherent beauty in all of life.
Additionally, over the last ten years she has been a practitioner of contemplation and continues to plumb the depths of Wisdom.
She partners with Thomas in holding the vision of a flourishing, contemplative community.
Cristina Mclennan, CoMMUNICATIONS
Born and raised in California, Cristina now finds home in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has a love for the outdoors, and a passionate belief in the power of inclusive community. Since discovering the Lower Lights Sangha in 2018, Cristina has been excited to create and contribute space for personal and community development alongside the organization. As a midwife, Cristina carries the vision of cycles and birth laced throughout life, and hopes to intentionally offer her contribution in the ecosystem of humanity. She also has an educational background in midwifery, recreational therapy, and non-profit work, and is currently serving the community as a midwife and doula, in addition to her time with Lower Lights.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Kesler
John Kesler is the founder of The IPP Institute where he shares integral polarity practice, a practice grounded in mindfulness which works with the most fundamental polarities. He is a social activist who leads a non-profit called the Salt Lake/Global Civil Network which does integrally informed social and political transformation work locally and networks globally. John is a practicing commercial transactional attorney.
Terri O'Fallon, PHD
A specialist in transformative learning and change in human systems and in distance learning, Terri has over 25 years of experience working with many different kinds of human systems, including business, community, educational and political. Her specialty is the design and implementation of the core developmental trajectory and span of human systems.
Michelle Larson
Michelle Larson has an educational background in anthropology and cultural studies. She has worked with a range of organizations including business, non-profit, and family systems specializing in cultural, social and process observation and change. She supports groups and individuals to find equilibrium as they navigate business and personal conflict.