Meet the Instructors:
Shanza A. Isom, MSW is an Assistant Professor and the Director of Field Instruction in the Department of Social Work at James Madison University. She began at JMU in August of 2017, after 10 years at Virginia Commonwealth University in the School of Social Work. As a professor, she teaches social work courses to undergraduate students. As the Field Director, she focuses on student preparation for practicum, recruiting and training field supervisors, and managing the field component of the social work program. In addition to social work courses, she also teaches two undergraduate courses: Mindfulness as a Wellness Practice and Self-Care for Helping Professions. In addition to focusing on community engagement and partnerships, she facilitates workshops and presents for local and regional organizations and groups on the topic of mindfulness as it relates to self-care and holistic well-being. She owns her own company specializing in fostering balanced living through a holistic approach to self-care and overall well-being. She work with people to cultivate and maintain individualized self-care practices as they aim to live a life of wellness, happiness, and flourishing. She has practiced mindfulness for over a decade and has incorporated contemplative practices into every course that she teaches as well. She has specifically taught courses teaching these practices to college freshmen, as well as to kids and adults over the lifespan. She has a special research interest in student self-care and wellness as it relates to their retention and success in college. Other interests include first generation and minority college students and the experiences of faculty of color at predominantly white institutions of higher education.
Susan Brock Wilkes, PhD, is an organizational psychologist and award-winning instructor who has trained extensively in teaching the evidence-based mindfulness programs. Susan is a certified teacher for both Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Mindful Self Compassion through the University of California, San Diego as well as Compassion Cultivation through Stanford University. She teaches mindfulness courses regularly through the Innerwork Center in Richmond, Virginia. Recent mindfulness teaching clients include Mindful Self Compassion for Health Care with VCU Health, Henrico County, mindfulness for genetic counselors, and individual consultations through Partner MD.
In addition to her work with mindfulness, Susan owns a consulting firm specializing in leadership development for mission-focused organizations including nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education. Prior to founding her firm, Susan worked as a faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University for 20 years including 5 years at the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute. She currently teaches the graduate level Organizational Psychology course in the Human Resources Master’s program at University of Richmond and is the 2022 recipient of the Innovations in Teaching award.
Active in the community, Susan is currently on the board of Health Brigade, the local charitable clinic, and is a former Board Chair. She is a co-founder of Impact100, the philanthropy program that has gifted more than $1.4M to the community. Susan is a past-President of the Innerwork Center (formerly Chrysalis Institute), recipient of the Chrysalis Spirit Award, and currently on the board of directors.
A Phi Kappa Phi graduate of the doctoral program at Virginia Commonwealth University, Susan also holds an undergraduate degree in psychology, with distinction, and masters’ degree in counseling from the University of Virginia. Her most recent certification is as a Dare to Lead Facilitator with the Brene Brown Education and Research Group.
