Integrating Mindfulness Into Higher Education

LIVE via Zoom

Integrating Mindfulness in Higher Education

Join Michelle Bancroft for an inspiring and thought‑provoking journey exploring the importance of incorporating mindfulness into post‑secondary education. Drawing from her experience teaching at two prominent Ontario colleges and the University of Toronto, Michelle brings forward vivid student stories, surprising cross‑campus insights, and a powerful vision of how mindfulness can transform learning, well‑being, and community. Discover the real impact mindfulness is having on today’s post-secondary students—and imagine together what our campuses could become when presence, compassion, and connection are woven into the academic experience.

Michelle Bancroft, BSc, MEd is a dedicated educator and wellness advocate with over a decade of experience in health promotion, adult education, and mindfulness-based programming. She is currently the Program Coordinator for Mindfulness, Meditation & Yoga at the Multi-Faith Centre on the University of Toronto St. George (UTSG) campus, where she leads contemplative initiatives that support student and community well-being. In addition, Michelle is a Professor in the Workplace Health and Wellness programs at Humber Polytechnic and Centennial College, designing inclusive, student-centred curricula that integrate real-world applications and accessible learning strategies. This includes an innovative introductory course on Mindfulness and Meditation open to all Centennial College students.

Michelle holds a Master of Education in Adult Education and Community Development from OISE, a B.Sc. in Kinesiology, and a post-graduate certificate in Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion (WWHP). She is a graduate of the Multi-Faith Centre’s MindFIT course and has facilitated meditation sessions and wellness events across the UofT campus for over four years. She is also the founder of Wellness Right Now!, a consulting business delivering impactful wellness programming to diverse audiences. Her work spans curriculum development, faculty well-being consulting, and mindfulness facilitation, with a strong focus on inclusion and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).