I am professor and chair of the philosophy department at Sonoma State University. My main focus for research and teaching is compassion and the family of prosocial emotions to which it belongs. I became certified to teach Compassion Cultivation Training in January 2019. I have a daily mindfulness meditation practice. I also work with persons privately to help them with their meditation and compassion practices. I am passionate about the benefits of compassion and helping persons become more compassionate through my teaching, writing and lived experience.