Board of Directors
Tom Kelly
At the age of 24, Tom Kelly entered the Self-Realization Fellowship monastic Order in California (founded by Paramahansa Yogananda), whose roots go back to the ancient lineage of Swamis from India. Taking vows of simplicity, chastity, obedience, and loyalty, he spent the next 25 years as a monk deeply involved in meditation and humanitarian service. As an inspirational speaker, workshop and retreat leader he has travelled world-wide teaching the sacred art of Raja Yoga.
In the fall of 1999, Tom left the monastic life in order to expand his training and share the fruits of his self-transformation and direct experience of yoga with all. In addition to being a certified yoga teacher, Tom is an ordained minister specializing in inspirational speaking and generating love and magical, joy-filled weddings. Reverend Kelly's enthusiasm is highly contagious and his large heartedness will certainly put you at ease and make communication seamless. Respecting all true spiritual paths, he is not associated with any church or organized religion thereby freeing him to tune in with your essence, your faith, your commitment. Whether Tom is teaching a yoga class, giving an inpirational talk, leading a seminar or retreat, his passion in sharing and communicating the joy of spiritual living is highly contagious.
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Trisha Kelly
Trisha Kelly has been living the yogic lifestyle for almost 30 years and spent many happy years meditating, learning and serving at the international headquarters of Paramahansa Yogananda’s spiritual organization, Self-Realization Fellowship. After relocating to Encinitas, Trisha began a more intensive practice of the third of the eight steps, hatha yoga. In addition to co-founding the Soul Center with Tom, Trisha has studied with many notable teachers, including Erich Shiffmann, Gurumukh Kaur Khalsa, and Judith Lasater.
Trisha’s continued love and study of metaphysics, sound, vibration, light and healing has brought her certification in many modalities, such as Soul Memory Discovery, Reiki and Spiritual Healing of Indigo Children. Combining her learning with intuitive knowing, Trisha offers private counseling and healing sessions.
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Jim Simcoe
JIM SIMCOE is a green real estate investment consultant, speaker and sustainability consultant. He creates green strategies for
clients to improve profits, reduce costs and create healthier working environments.
Jim is the President of the Board of Directors of the New World Leadership School, the first sustainable pre-school in San
Diego County. Jim has been featured on NBC, Fox, SmartMoney.com, San Diego Insider TV, etc. Mr. Simcoe also writes
for EcoHome, Personal Real Estate Investor Magazine, San Diego Business Journal, BiggerPockets.com, etc.
He is the co-author
of the “Go Green, Bank Green” study published by Personal Real Estate Investor Magazine in March 2010.
A noted authority on green real estate and green business strategy, Jim helps clients increase profits, slash costs and discover new revenue streams.
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Marijo Puleo
Marijo Puleo is proud to serve on the Board for New World Leadership Academy and excited about the mission, vision and values of NWL. She has dedicated her life to creating cultures and environments that help each of us fulfill our Divine potential, work in cooperation for the greater good, and create a legacy for those who will follow. She is delighted to support NWL in creating the best legacy of all – investing our love and resources in children.
Marijo was a Director/ Partner with Peppers and Rogers Group, the leading customer management strategy consulting firm, and own my own company, Make Change Positive which was nominated for NJ Best 50 Women in Business in 2007. As an experienced and successful business owner, corporate leader, consultant, and coach, she have worked with over 1,000,000 leaders and employees over the last 20 years. Marijo has conducted over 100 workshops on how to apply the Customer Relationship Management/Peppers and Rogers Group principles, and am a contributor for Don Peppers and Martha Roger’s books on customer strategy. She also regularly coach small business owners in my private coaching practice. She is happy to bring this in-depth business experience to NWL to help it flourish, so more children may benefit from this wonderful program.
Marijo has a long history of working with organizations of many sizes and with different missions. This includes Boise Cascade (now OfficeMax), Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, E*TRADE, AARP, AstraZeneca, HP, Kraft Foods, Compaq, Amgen, 1800Flowers, US Army, Harvard Medical School, XM Radio, Cabela’s, John Deere, Merial, BMW, ClickTactics, Syngenta, the United States Postal Service, Turkiye IsBankasi, Dubai Healthcare City, and SATelkom - South Africa’s largest telecom organization.
Marijo completed the Georgetown Leadership Coaching program and am a certified professional coach. She is a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the New Jersey Professional Coaches Association. I co-lead the Leadership Coaching special interest group for ICF where thought leaders discuss the latest approaches in Leadership Coaching. She is proud to assist in the development of coaches and the ICF, who in turn assist business leaders and people all around the world to better their own lives and create a better world.
Marijo has a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Purdue University, and a Master’s / Ph.D. in Industrial / Organizational Psychology from DePaul University where she received the Schmidt Fellowship Award for academic excellence. She is also enrolled in the Barbara Brennan School of Healing, and enjoy a successful energy healing practice on the banks of the Jersey Shore.
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Dr. Erika Sanchez
Dr. Erika Sanchez
(Principal, Pacific Academy)
Ph. D., Sociology, UC Irvine Born in Colombia, South America, Erika came to California as a young child. Her experiences have helped her truly appreciate children and their unique life trajectory. She explored her life interests as an undergraduate student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, receiving her Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Latin American studies. She continued on to receive her Masters and Doctoral degree in Sociology, focusing on education, at the University of California, Irvine.
As an educator with over twelve years of experience, Erika currently serves as Pacific Academys Principal. Prior to this position, she served as Director of an educational nonprofit overseeing college counseling for low-income students in Orange County. She has also received numerous teaching awards while serving as a Sociology Professor at the University of California, Irvine and Orange Coast College. She is a writer, yoga enthusiast and avid runner who is passionate about education and values the many opportunities she has had to travel and see the world. She aspires to help deliver the best possible educational experience for all children she is blessed to work with, including her own daughter, Giana.
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Dr. Shamini Jain
Dr. Jain is a Senior Scientist and Program Manager in the Brain, Mind, and Healing Division (BMH) of the Samueli Institute, and Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). In the BMH Division at Samueli Institute, Dr. Jain engages in and oversees clinical research in biofield, mind-body, and whole-systems approaches for healing in patient populations.
She is also involved in initiatives and research surrounding systems biology approaches to understanding wellness, and placebo mechanisms in the healing response. At UCSD, Dr. Jain teaches and mentors students in the areas of complementary medicine research and psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). She also serves as an active member of UCSD’s Center for Integrative Medicine’s Research Steering Committee.
Dr. Jain’s specialized research examines psychoneuroimmunologic and psychoneuroendocrine underpinnings of complementary and whole-systems approaches for healing in cancer populations. Dr. Jain has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in integrative medicine and PNI, and has received several awards from scientific organizations for her work. Dr. Jain is an active member of several professional societies, including the American Psychosomatic Society and the Society for Integrative Oncology. She also serves as a member of Healing Touch Program’s Research Council.
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Lensci Angel
Lencsi was born and raised in Wisconsin by her parents who were Hungarian immigrants. English was her second language and by the end of high school she was also fluent in Spanish. Lencsi has an extensive background in teaching from Special Education to First and Second grade and also in developing after school and service programs for her classrooms. More recently her new studies engaged her in yoga as well as the completion of her degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica.
Joe Monkman
Joe Monkman loves to help people rediscover and embrace their positive, peaceful, powerful and prosperous selves . He has been guiding individuals and motivating the masses since 1996. Joe’s interest in the healing arts and a deep desire for personal change led to the start of his conscious spiritual journey in 1993, studies with healers and visionaries in the U.S. and Peru, a career in the fitness industry, a certification in Polarity Therapy, and the creation of nationwide workshops and teleclasses that inspire people to pursue and live their rich vision.
