KIND MIND'S TEAM

Our collaborators and contributing partners are here to ensure that every aspect of our curriculum meets the highest standards while also meeting the needs of children and teachers today.

Lee Sowles, MPH

Founder & Creator

Lee Sowles is the founder and creator of Kind Mind, an evidence-based social and emotional learning program that transforms how children and educators develop essential life skills. With over two decades of dedicated practice and professional expertise spanning early childhood development, trauma-informed care, and public health, Lee brings a unique blend of personal insight and scientific rigor to her work.

Drawing from her own transformative journey of healing childhood trauma and cultivating social-emotional wellness through mind-body practices, Lee developed Kind Mind's innovative framework to help children and teachers embody SEL skills through practical, research-based applications designed for lifelong impact. Her approach integrates compassion science with resilience principles, creating sustainable change in educational communities.

Lee's vision extends beyond individual transformation to systemic change. She is passionate about inspiring educational institutions with innovative, compassion-centered approaches that build wellness communities at every level. Her deep commitment to service, inclusion, and evidence-based practice drives Kind Mind's mission to address and prevent the mental health challenges facing today's students and educators.

Master of Public Health, Northeastern University (2013)
Mindful Schools Certification (2017)
Applied Compassion Certified Trainer, Stanford University (2019-2020)
Northeastern The Roux Institute Founder Residency Program (2024-2025)

Schedule a Call With Lee

Czean Dante

Digital Marketing Manager & Technical Assistance Specialist

With an eye for digital design and comprehensive training in digital marketing and web management, Czean charges Kind Mind’s website and social media management. Czean is highly organized and kind-hearted and our work is possible because of the talent she brings.

Joshua Addo

Project Management and Data Analytics

A graduate student at Northeastern University, Josh brings expertise in data analytics, project management, and market research. He enjoys playing, coaching, and refereeing soccer in his free time. With a strong work ethic and a strong focus on supporting Kind Mind's mission, Josh brings great value to the Kind Mind team.

Photo of Sabrina Volante, Graphics Designer. Volante stands in front of a fence that has flowers on it while wearing a floral dress and a jean jacket.

Contributing Partners

Christina Connors

Producer, Keynote Singer, Workshop Facilitator

Founder of A New Soul Song Productions

Christina Connors, founder of A New Soul Song Production - Nurturing the Health and Well-being of Children and their Families One Song at a Time, recently launched an interactive musical series on YouTube for preschoolers and their families called “Christina’s Cottage.” Christina has done extensive voiceover work for children’s programs, including YouTube's KOGA and The Healing Chickadee, a nonprofit supporting children and their families through grief. Christina has developed a series of unique and healing musical guided meditations for adults, which she performs at retreat centers all over the United States. Christina has recorded two albums: Dream Bigger...Songs of Hope, Healing and Inspiration in 2017, and Ordinary Miracle in 2022. Christina is certified in MBSR meditation.

Learn More About Christina

David Friedman

Multi-awarded songwriter and producer, Author

With multi-platinum recordings, Broadway shows, Disney Animated Films, Television scores, books and a teaching and lecturing career that spans the nation, David Friedman is truly someone who has made a major mark in all areas of show business and the Human Potential movement.

David has written songs for everyone from Disney to Diana Ross, conducted and vocal arranged 6 musicals on Broadway and numerous Disney Animated Films (including Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame), wrote songs for The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, Bambi II and Trick, and produced all of the late/great Nancy LaMott’s CD’s and wrote many of her best-known songs. David won the 2018 Drama Desk, Outer Critics’ Circle and Off-Broadway League awards for his hit New York musical, Desperate Measures, which can now be seen in productions all over the nation. His Off-Broadway Revue, Listen To My Heart – The Songs of David Friedman, has played to audiences all over America, in Europe and Australia. David spent 10 years writing and performing a song-a-month for the Today Show’s Everyone Has a Story Segment. In an effort to give back some of the lessons he’s learned in his fulfilling and varied career, David has written a groundbreaking metaphysics book called, The Thought Exchange®-Overcoming Our Resistance to Living a SENSATIONAL Life, and other books including Help is on the Way - From Places You Don’t Know About Today, and We Can Be Kind – Healing Our World One Kindness at a Time, both based on well-known songs of his.

Learn More About David

Sabrina Volante

Graphic Designer

Sabrina brings her creative skills and calm spirit to Kind Mind’s beautifully crafted materials. With our trauma-sensitive approach, soft edges, and inclusive design, we have developed imagery that entices children and adults alike.

Visit Sabrina's Website

Erica Marcus

Contributing Author: Technology Lessons

Mindfulness Educator, Author

Erica brings her mindfulness and education expertise, in addition to her specialized work in mindfulness and technology to Kind Mind. Erica is a contributing author in Kind Mind’s curricula lessons with a specific approach to building awareness around the impacts of technology.

Buy Erica's Book

Photo of Erica Marcus, Mindfulness Educator and Collaborative Author. Marcus stands outside in a denim shirt with green trees and grass in the background.

Photo of Dr. Robert Bruce Thompson, Professor of Psychology. Dr. Thompson is wearing a plaid shirt and books can be seen in the background.

Dr. Robert Bruce Thompson, Ph.D

Collaborative Evaluation Projects

Research Director, Professor of Psychology

Dr. Robert Bruce Thompson (Bruce) is a research psychologist and faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of Southern Maine, where he teaches developmental psychology. He also serves on the Board of Directors for The Children’s Center of Portland. His research and teaching interests are in cognitive and linguistic development in early childhood, with a primary focus on metacognitive reasoning and social-cognitive development.

Learn More About Bruce

Michaela DiGionvittorio

Illustrator

Michaela’s artistic ability warms the hearts of children and adults alike, with illustrations that bring life to words, for all ages.