Our Vision:
Serving youth and young adults to grow a kinder world.
Our Mission:
We foster confidence, well-being and resilience by providing mindfulness tools in our communities and schools.
Our Core Values: Respect, Responsibility, Inquiry and Connection
Our Vision: Serving youth and young adults to grow a kinder world.
Our Mission: We foster confidence, well-being and resilience by providing mindfulness tools in our communities and schools.
Meet Our Team
Margaret is a licensed clinical social worker with a background in psychology, health and mindfulness education. She specializes in teaching meditation and mindfulness, offering the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction 8-week course and customizing training for caregivers, social service organizations, healthcare providers, businesses and community groups since 2010. Margaret's vision of vibrant, resilient individuals and communities is rooted in her own continual learning, mindfulness practice and trust in interconnections for joyful living.
"May it be so" is Margaret's pledge and commitment to contribute to MMP's educational mission. Margaret is a co-founder of MMP since its incorporation in 2018.
A transplant from the Midwest, James has called Bozeman home for 22 years. He is a physician with Bozeman Health practicing Internal Medicine and Hyperbaric Medicine, but has served in predominantly administrative roles for the last 15 years. After a decade on the health system’s executive leadership, he currently works to change healthcare reimbursement to be based on the health of the population, and how well patients are cared for instead of how much care they receive.
Having practiced mindfulness through Zen Buddhism for over thirty years, James is personally familiar with the benefits of mindfulness practice. MMP’s work of promoting mindfulness furthers the effort toward improved public health by giving youth tools to remain copacetic in a turbulent world.
Empathy, adaptability and adventure are Emily’s driving values. In helping found Bozeman’s BZN International Film Festival, Emily developed her commitment to fostering cultures of cooperation, diligence and imagination. Emily is currently leading web development projects for non-profits and startups, driven both by her knack for design & digital strategy and her passion to celebrate others’ stories. Emily has been a student of mindfulness since high school, where she learned that a strong connection to wilderness, and prioritizing solitude and reflection, are key components to living a life of gratitude and meaning.
Whether on skis, soccer cleats or bare feet, Emily loves to explore her natural environment — though digging into music & movies, doing crossword puzzles and playing board games will always bring her great joy.
Danielle Nicholas is a mindfulness and meditation practitioner with over 20 years’ experience. She has an undergraduate degree in Religious Studies with a focus on Eastern religions from Brown University. Additionally, she has a Master’s in Education with a focus on biology teaching for grades 5-12 and. This interdisciplinary background enables her to work with students from a deep understanding of both the science and practice of mindfulness. Her instruction inherently seeks to create an environment for critical thought and reflection.
Danielle is non-tenure track faculty at Montana State University and has a proven record of student engagement. Danielle is a certified Koru Mindfulness teacher and teaches MMPs young adult offerings. She has called Bozeman home since 2000 and is committed to creating a community of belonging. She has been on the board of the Montana Mindfulness Project since 2020.
Diane brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm for teaching Mindfulness to adults and children.
She received a Masters of Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania in 1974 and has committed her career to helping individuals and families enhance their well-being, personal strengths and quality of life. As a clinical social worker at the Billings Clinic in Billings for 37 she counseled adults and children with acute and chronic medical concerns, as well as their caregivers. While engaged in research at the Billings Clinic, she helped develop and teach a curriculum for Mindfulness Practice for Health Care Providers.
Diane is trained in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and values the many studies that document MBSR’s effectiveness in improving life satisfaction. She strongly believes that meditation is a valuable tool for everyone’s tool box.
Courtnay Ozanne is an educator dedicated to fostering compassion, connection, and a lifelong love of learning among her students. Courtnay holds a BA in Sociology from Western Colorado University and an MS in Education with a specialization in Special Education from Northern Illinois University. Her journey as a Mindfulness Educator began in 2015 when she received training from Mindful Schools. Since then, Courtnay has been deeply committed to introducing mindfulness practices to students, particularly those facing emotional and behavioral challenges.
Courtnay believes in the importance of cultivating inner balance and resilience, even in the face of adversity. She firmly believes that these skills can be taught and learned, regardless of the circumstances. Alongside her role as a teacher for the Montana Mindfulness Project, Courtnay currently serves as the Homeless Liaison for the Belgrade School District. Through this position, she feels privileged to offer support and assistance to students and families in need.
When Courtnay is not in the classroom, she finds joy in immersing herself in nature, exploring art, delving into literature, and embracing the power of music.
Ash is a mindfulness and mental health facilitator with a decade of experience in working with Montana’s youth. Ash holds an Applied Psychology degree from Montana State University, is certified in Interpersonal Neurobiology and is pursuing certification in Somatic Experiencing. Her background includes 15 years of facilitating and designing trauma-informed socio-emotional intelligence, leadership development, personal resiliency, and meditation programs.
Ash also brings her experience in entrepreneurship, nonprofit development, and philanthropy to the expansion and flourishing of the Montana Mindfulness project. She relishes connecting with local businesses to weave mindfulness into our swiftly changing community.
Whether in boardrooms, schools, universities, or international forums, Ash’s work centers turning towards ourselves and one another in the present moment as the most fun, empowering, and courageous adventure of a lifetime. Ash has called Bozeman and the surrounding wilderness home for over 20 years and is thrilled to partner with the Montana Mindfulness Project.
Keirra (she/her) is a Registered Dietitian with a virtual private practice serving individuals with disordered eating in Montana and her home state of New Hampshire.
Her introduction to mindfulness was through yoga practice, which she has enjoyed intermittently since she was young. Her relationship with and understanding of mindfulness has grown and evolved through her education in nutrition, work with eating disorders, and her relationship with the natural world around her.
Keirra attended the University of Vermont for her undergraduate studies in Dietetics, and the University of New Hampshire for her Master of Nutritional Sciences and dietetic internship.
She loves to help her clients strengthen their connection between mind and body to recover from disordered eating. Keirra believes everyone has the right to feel at home in their body and is excited to start engaging youth with mindfulness in schools this fall to promote wellbeing.
When not seeing clients, she enjoys being outside, hiking, skiing, and bird watching. She likes to try new things and loves cooking new meals to share with loved ones.
Kodee has been a non-traditional educator since graduating college. She studied History-Political Science, Spanish, and International Businesses at Jamestown College in North Dakota. Her teaching and group facilitation experience includes teaching English at Máximo Nivel in Guatemala, teaching environmental education at Echo Hill Outdoor School in Maryland and Nature's Classroom in New England, and facilitating teen volunteers abroad in the Dominican Republic, Peru, Ecuador, and the British Virgin Islands. In Bozeman Kodee has worked as the Admissions and Outreach Director at Montana Wilderness School and teaching Spanish at Bozemen Field School. Kodee also has found herself nestled into the yoga community in Bozeman while facilitating classes around town and is excited to continue to share the power of the breath and mindfulness with others in and around the valley.
Dagny Deutchman (she/they) is a mindfulness and meditation practitioner and movement facilitator with over 20 years’ experience. She has an undergraduate degree from University of Montana in Psychology with a research emphasis and a dance performance and pedagogy minor. Additionally, she has a Master’s in Psychology with a focus on how mindfulness and self-compassion relate to sleep. Dagny has also been a backcountry guide for 15+ years where she helps facilitate deep connection to self, nature, and others. Dagny’s diverse background combines philosophy and evidence-based science with creative everyday practice in the real and natural worlds. Her instruction style meets students in their current chapter of life and emboldens them to emphasize their own inherent curiosity, creativity, discernment, and wisdom.
Dagny is a wilderness guide, a movement facilitator, and integrative sleep hygiene specialist. She is a NARM (Neuroaffective Relational Model of Trauma) certified teacher and has started teaching with MMP in the fall of 2023. She has called Montana home since 2010 and been rooted in Bozeman since 2019.
Lisa has recently written digital courses for authors such as Dr. Peter Levine and Ekhart Tolle for Sounds True Publishing, taught digital storytelling (narrative-based video production) at the college level for 10 years, and holds a Master’s Degree in Education. Lisa has her Wilderness First Aid certificate and CPR certifications. She is a co-founder of Sky’s the Limit Tours in Yellowstone. She’s the proud parent of two great kids, Grant and Taylor.
Tajali Theresa Tolan, MS is a Certified P Mindfulness Educator, Peace Educator, Marriage and Family Therapist, Family Life Educator, and Registered Yoga Teacher. She is the founder of both the Children’s Global Peace Project and The Consciousness Project–an Empowerment Life Coaching business. She has worked in the field for 30 years and is passionate about teaching social-emotional and mindfulness skills. Tajali’s work specializes in creative expression, communication, healthy parent-child relationships and peace work.
Savannah Davis, born and raised in Bozeman, is a passionate advocate for creating a brighter world. Rooted in the beauty of her hometown and enriched by her life experiences, she stands as a dedicated force for positive change.
A graduate of Montana State University, Savannah's educational journey now leads her toward a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, marking a new chapter in her quest to make a meaningful difference. Beyond academia, Savannah has made her mark by collaborating with various nonprofits and even establishing her own business. This winter, she embarks on a journey into the realm of social work, armed with an unwavering commitment to helping individuals from all walks of life.
Savannah's path to her current pursuits was shaped by her service in the military, where she cultivated a deep sense of duty and an acute awareness of the profound impact of extending a helping hand. Her military background instilled in her the values of discipline, unwavering dedication, and an unshakable belief in the boundless potential within each person.
Yet, Savannah's true passion comes to life when she's working with adolescents, young adults, and college students. She firmly believes that empowering people, especially children, is her calling and life's purpose. Her dedication to supporting and nurturing the next generation is unmistakable, which is why she pursued certification as a Mindfulness coach.
As she embarks on her upcoming MSW studies, Savannah is gearing up to elevate her advocacy for change to even greater heights. Her journey reflects an earnest desire to enhance the lives of those around her, driven by the unwavering belief that, with the right guidance and support, every individual can reach their full potential.
Hello there! My name is Ella Horgan, and I am a junior at Montana State. I am thrilled to be a part of the Boardroom Bobcat program this year, which allows me to join the board of Montana Mindfulness Project as a non-voting member. I am pursuing a major in Microbiology with a focus on environmental health and a minor in entomology. I am passionate about the power of the mind and the benefits of implementing mindfulness into everyday life. I strongly believe in the beautiful mission of MMP and look forward to learning from the incredible people I will get to connect with.
Sara has been an educator her entire professional life. She received a BA from University of Wisconsin, Madison and an M.A. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Bank Street College of Education in New York City. Her experiential teaching experience includes working as an instructor for the Glacier Institute in Columbia Falls, Montana, Project U.S.E. in Redbank, New Jersey, and the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School in Newry, Maine. Sara’s classroom teaching experience includes schools in both the private and public sector: The Hole Montessori in Jackson, Wyoming, City and Country School, The Packer Collegiate Institute, Trevor Day School, and P.S. 41, all in New York. Since moving to Bozeman in 2016, Sara has received her Montana Educator License and has been working as a paraprofessional educator at Morning Star Elementary School, supporting literacy instruction and teaching Mindfulness to students grades 1 – 5. Sara is currently a Thrive Liaison at Whittier School. In addition, Sara is the mother of three children. Sara’s experience as a parent continues to offer the truest, most profound teachings, informing her work and vision as an educator.
Amy Carse was raised in Vermont on a farm between two covered bridges. After getting a Bachelor’s degree at UVM in Anthropology and Environmental Studies in the early 90’s she went to find bigger mountains and fewer bugs in Montana and found Bozeman to be home. Her mindfulness meditation practice began in 1992 while attending a 10-day silent meditation retreat with a Buddhist monk in Thailand. Her fascination with how humans adapt to their environment and a love for wild places, people and travel led her to become a professional Mountain Guide in the US and Nepal for the first two decades of her adult life, where climbing was her mindfulness practice. She still enjoys adventuring and discovering new things, but current expeditions are more often to explore the workings of her own mind. She is passionate about individual and community well-being and continues to better herself so she can show up as her best for those around her. Amy believes that we are more the same than different and that given the right tools, we can interact with ourselves and each other in a positive manner. She loves to teach children and adults and is a Certified Mindfulness teacher through Mindful Schools. She looks forward to sharing these Mindfulness practices with elementary students this year and as a result she hopes to add a bit of positivity, kindness and compassion to our community, society, and world. Her other interests are wildcrafting, beekeeping, singing, and spending time in wild places with her family and friends. Favorite quote: To love ourselves and support each other in the process of becoming real is perhaps the greatest single act of daring greatly.” Brene Brown
Louisa Carter is a mother of two children ages 4 and 8 and has a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Utah. She discovered mindfulness in college from reading Jon Kabat-Zinn and attending weekly meditation groups, and was immediately fascinated with the personal transformative power of this simple practice. Throughout her graduate studies Louisa explored how mindfulness can aid community, social justice and grassroots organizing though helping individuals and groups better connect with themselves and each other in meaningful and effective ways.
In the Bozeman community, Louisa has brought her passion and skill to support and help generate important spaces for healing and empowering mothers through one-on-one and
group work. She organized and lead the Maternal Mental Health Collaborative for 3 years to establish the ongoing event, Moms Like Me, an event now run through Roots Family
Collaborative. Louisa draws inspiration from her own transformative experiences of motherhood, healing and personal growth. The goal of her current project draws on the power of food to connect, inspire and support mothers, caregivers and children.
