91µÎµÎ

At 91µÎµÎ our Visionary Practice and Regenerative Leadership (VPRL) PhD program stands as a community of scholars dedicated to ecological consciousness, creative inquiry, and community healing. As we approach our graduation ceremony in November 2026, we are thrilled to spotlight three doctoral graduates presenting groundbreaking dissertation research that exemplifies the heart of our mission.

Representing both our pioneering first cohort and our dynamic second cohort, these scholars are bridging wisdom traditions, arts-based research, and terrapsychology to foster real-world transformation.

Here is a closer look at three of our 2026 doctoral graduates, listed in alphabetical order:

Gustavo Kusi Monje, PhD

Dissertation: Three Indigenous Wellness Principles: Insights from the Quechua and Tantric Wisdom Traditions

Dissertation Midwife / Chair: Dr. Ann Filemyr

A member of our inaugural VPRL cohort, Dr. Gustavo Kusi Monje is an author and Indigenous Wellness educator. His recent publications include the 2026 personal growth book Stuck in Yesterday: Visionary Practices for Building a Purposeful Future. His dissertation research draws upon the ancient, living practices of the Quechua people alongside Tantric wisdom to articulate three foundational wellness principles, offering essential frameworks for personal, communal, and ecological well-being. His dissertation can be accessed through ProQuest.

Jaclyn Lenz, PhD

Dissertation: Art-Based Biophilia: Empowerment Through Connectivity: A Qualitative Study Designed to Center Children in the Articulation of an Art-Based Biophilic Approach and Theory

Dissertation Midwife / Chair: Dr. Rose Brusaferro

Joining us from the second VPRL cohort, Dr. Jaclyn Lenz is a Board-Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC) and Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPCS) predominantly working with children and adolescents. Her qualitative research explores Art-Based Biophilia, connection, and perseverance through a trauma-informed lens, centering children as co-creators of theory and practice. Her work seeks to shift children’s mental health from a reactive model toward proactive support that nurtures connection, perseverance, and youthful well-being.

Michael Novotny, PhD

Dissertation: A Warrior’s Re-Turn: An Arts-Based Terrapsychological Study of Place, Identity, and Veteran Transition

Dissertation Midwife / Chair: Dr. Elizabeth Oriel

Hailing from our first cohort, Dr. Michael Novotny is a transdisciplinary artist-author-practitioner and U.S. Army veteran. Utilizing an arts-based, terrapsychological lens, Michael’s dissertation investigates the interplay between the warrior’s healing journey, physical environment, and identity, offering a fresh, transformative approach to veteran reintegration, transition, and sense of place.

Honoring the VPRL Journey

The VPRL program at 91µÎµÎ was created to nurture scholars who do not just analyze the world but actively participate in its renewal. The work of Gustavo, Jaclyn, and Michael reflects years of rigorous inquiry, vulnerability, and visionary dedication.

Please join the entire 91µÎµÎ community in celebrating these graduates as they step into the next chapter of their regenerative leadership!

91µÎµÎ the Moderator