Prana Gathering:
Academic Women’s Wellbeing Workshop and Career Coaching Program
An academic women's wellbeing workshop and career coaching program, hosted as a retreat in the heart of Colorado, July 24-28, 2025
In the midst of your demanding academic career, where the pressures of publishing, teaching, and leadership often leave little time for self-care, we invite you to take a step back, breathe deeply, and reconnect with your passions, your purpose, and your health.
The Academic Women's Wellbeing Workshop & Career Coaching Program offers a unique and transformative retreat experience, designed specifically for female professors and academic leaders who seek to rest, rejuvenate, reconnect with a deeper sense of purpose, and renew their careers in the serene surroundings of the Rocky Mountains.
Taking place from July 24-28 outside of Fairplay, Colorado, in South Park County, this retreat is set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Collegiate Peaks—an inspiring location where the beauty of nature meets tranquility. This is your opportunity to pause from your busy academic life, reflect on your career path, and gain the tools you need to foster both personal and professional growth.
Goals of the Retreat:
The Academic Women's Wellbeing Workshop & Career Coaching Program is centered around three primary goals: rest, rejuvenation, and career renewal. It is designed to help you:
Reconnect with yourself & build a supportive community: The retreat will provide you with the time and space to reflect on your academic journey and the future you envision. Through visioning exercises and journaling, you’ll explore your goals, your achievements, and the opportunities for growth that lie ahead. You will have ample opportunities to connect with other academic women in ways that cultivate both community and solitude.
Renew your sense of purpose: The retreat will encourage you to reflect on your contributions to academia, helping you clarify your professional goals and recalibrate your approach to your career.
Prioritize your wellbeing: Build sustainable practices that honor both your scholarly contributions and personal wellbeing, focusing on your mental, physical, and emotional health through guided yoga, meditation, and self-care practices, in service of your personal and professional thriving.
If you are interested, please contact us, and we will provide you with a brief application of interest.
From there, we will request a deposit, and set up our first coaching session before the retreat workshop.
More information
Activities and Experiences:
This retreat is not just about sitting in a conference room. It's about holistic engagement, offering a variety of experiences that nurture your body, mind, and spirit. Unlike traditional professional development, this retreat creates what Parker Palmer calls "a space of trust" - where academic women can participate in:
Visioning & Journaling: You’ll engage in guided visioning sessions to help you reconnect with your professional aspirations and personal values. Journaling exercises will help you tap into your creativity, articulate your goals, and track your growth.
Small Group Work: Participate in intimate, facilitated small group discussions where you’ll build meaningful connections with fellow attendees. Share insights, challenges, and support as you move forward in your careers.
Yoga & Meditation: Relax, recharge, and center yourself with daily yoga and meditation sessions, designed to foster mindfulness, reduce stress, and cultivate a sense of inner peace.
Hiking & Nature Connection: Experience the restorative power of nature with guided hikes through the stunning landscape of South Park County. The beauty of the Rocky Mountains offers the perfect setting for reflection and connection.
Sessions on Wellness: Participate in workshops that address both the physical and mental aspects of academic life. Learn how to create a sustainable balance between your work and wellbeing and discover practices for caring for your mental health amidst the demands of academia.
Food as Medicine: All meals at the retreat will be organic and locally sourced, with a focus on nutrient-dense foods that nourish both body and mind. We’ll also offer food demonstrations, teaching you how to incorporate healing, whole foods into your daily routine for long-term health and vitality.ning principles.
Career Coaching for Lasting Impact:
To support you in achieving your goals, the retreat will be paired with three career coaching sessions:
One before the retreat to help you articulate your goals and prepare for the transformative experience.
Two follow-up sessions after the retreat to ensure you integrate insights into action, staying on track and continuing making progress in your academic career.
These coaching sessions are designed to help you integrate what you’ve learned at the retreat into your professional life, guiding you through the process of setting actionable goals, overcoming barriers, and maintaining your momentum as you continue to grow in your career.
Retreat Center:
The retreat will take place at a cozy, spacious retreat center nestled in the mountains. The center offers shared rooms, making it an ideal opportunity to invite a colleague or two to join you. The space is intentionally designed to foster connection, with plenty of lounge areas where you can relax, reflect, and commune with nature. Whether you’re gathering with others for group work or taking quiet time alone, the center offers a peaceful environment for your renewal.
Unique and Unmatched:
This is the only retreat of its kind in the United States that is specifically designed for female professors and academic leaders. It combines rest, rejuvenation, career coaching, and health-focused practices into one cohesive experience. We invite you to be part of the inaugural cohort of attendees and to invest in your professional and personal development in a way that is deeply needed in today’s academic environment.
You can use professional development funds to pay for the workshop and coaching sessions, making this an accessible investment in your future.
Engage in this transformative experience for an investment of $3300.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to invest in your wellbeing, reconnect with your purpose, and take your career to its next phase. We look forward to welcoming you to this transformative experience in the majestic Rocky Mountains. The Academic Women’s Wellbeing Workshop & Career Coaching Program promises to leave you feeling revitalized, empowered, and equipped to continue making your mark in academia.
Reserve your spot today and be part of something truly special!
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Kate Willink brings a unique blend of academic leadership, scholarly expertise, and holistic wellness practices to the Academic Women's Wellbeing Workshop & Career Coaching Program.
As a Professor of Communication Studies specializing in intercultural communication and cultural memory, she explores how food and education create meaningful connections in cultural life.
Her current research examines faculty satisfaction and wellbeing in contemporary higher education—work that directly informs the retreat's mission of supporting academic women in their professional journeys.
During her 17-year tenure at the University of Denver, Kate has held several pivotal leadership positions, including inaugural Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs (2019-2023), Faculty Director of the Office of Teaching and Learning, and Faculty Senate President. These roles have given her deep insight into the challenges facing women in academia and the institutional changes needed to support their success. Her experience in faculty development and institutional leadership makes her uniquely qualified to guide participants in navigating their academic careers while maintaining personal wellbeing.
Beyond her academic work, Kate embodies the holistic approach to wellness that the retreat champions. As a certified yoga instructor (RYT200), she brings both practical expertise and personal experience to the retreat's wellness components. Her own journey of finding balance in academic life is reflected in her passion for Yin yoga, gardening, and creative pursuits like photography. Whether tending to her perennial gardens, experimenting with seasonal recipes, or capturing the beauty of flowers through her lens, Kate demonstrates how nurturing personal interests can enhance professional vitality.
Kate's commitment to creating meaningful connections and fostering growth—both in and outside the classroom—makes her an ideal guide for academic women seeking to reimagine their relationship with work, wellness, and personal fulfillment. Her approach combines scholarly rigor with practical wisdom, helping participants develop sustainable practices that honor both their academic ambitions and personal wellbeing.
Your Coaches:
Amanda Moore McBride, PhD, MSW, RYT200 is joined by Kate Willink, PhD, RYT200 to offer and guide you through this transformative experience.
As full professors with nearly 50 years of combined academic experience, we’ve both held leadership roles and understand firsthand the unique challenges and pressures that come with being a female professor and academic leader. But we also know that where you are today is not where you have to stay. We’ve each faced moments in our careers when we felt stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed—and we’ve come through the other side, reigniting our passions, reclaiming our joy, and finding new ways to make a meaningful impact in the world.
We are here to help you do the same. Through our combined expertise in academia and wellness, we’ve designed this retreat and coaching experience to address both the personal and professional aspects of your life. We’ll guide you through visioning your future, help you clarify your professional and personal goals, and support you in cultivating the wellbeing practices that will allow you to thrive. Together, we’ll tap into your creative spark, restore your sense of purpose, and equip you with tools to balance your career and your health in sustainable ways. We know this transformation is possible because we’ve lived it—and we’re here to help you do the same.
