YALE UNIVERSITY STUDENT-ATHLETE

Yale University, 2009

Cornelia is a visionary leader.  She has clear goals and objectives while still allowing each session room to mold and take shape in “real time.”  Cornelia gives students ownership and allows us and our ideas to be the pillars on which our program is formed.  She understands that not all questions need to be answered immediately; rather, sometimes the questions simply need to be asked.  Cornelia’s extensive and multi-disciplinary background (a background that I can be fairly certain no other individual in the country can claim) gives her the ability to advise students in her Mindful Living programs from a highly unique and effective place.  Read more.

YALE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PLAYER

Yale University, 2007

My work with Cornelia has given me the ability to examine myself, to ask questions of the only person who can truly answer them: myself.  This exercise, I believe, this very ability to be introspective, to constantly re-evaluate oneself, one’s place in the world, one’s desires and dreams, motivations, reactions to occurrences in daily life, one’s responses to pain and pleasure, defeat and success is absolutely crucial to crossing the bridge to adulthood. While adulthood cannot be “taught” in the conventional sense, Cornelia has established a practice that facilitates this passage from young adulthood to true mature adulthood.  Read more.

YALE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR & MASTER

Professor of Psychology, Cognitive Science, and Neurobiology

John B. Madden Master of Berkeley College

In her role as Coordinator of the Senior Mellon Forum (called Commonplace Society) and as Coordinator of the Berkeley Wellness Project (the pilot program for the Fellowship in Mindful Living) at Yale University, I have come to admire Cornelia’s leadership style. 

As President Levin described leadership in his Freshman Convocation speech, Cornelia brings out the best in others.  She has an incredible, natural gift for empowering students.  She is also a highly organized person who knows how to get a team to work effectively with each other.  Numerous seniors commented how the Commonplace Society was one of their best experiences at Yale, and they specifically cite Cornelia as the reason why it was so rewarding and educational.  Read more.

YALE UNIVERSITY ASSOCIATE MASTER

Associate Master of Calhoun College

It is my great pleasure to write this testimonial on behalf of Cornelia Holden.  In the short time that I have known Cornelia, I have grown to admire and respect her immensely.

I have known Cornelia for just over a year.  After our first meeting, Cornelia and I discovered our mutual interests in yoga, healthy lifestyles, meditation, and exercise.  If you pardon the ironic phrasing, Cornelia’s enthusiasm for wellness and inner exploration is infectious.  Very soon, I joined her in early morning meditation exercises and worked with her as she developed a program for Yale undergraduates that helped them understand the essential need for balance, reflection, and service to achieve a life well lived. 

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YALE UNIVERSITY FIELD HOCKEY PLAYER

Yale School of Management, 2012

Yale University, 2008

Cornelia has been an amazing mentor and her guidance in what I call important matters of life has significantly affected my thoughts and actions.  Cornelia has a remarkable ability to judge a group's feeling or state of mind as a unit; this ability allows her to direct each session in a unique manner so as to fill each person's thirst for that session's material.  As a leader, she has the presence of mind to take note of her surroundings and pupils in order to make the overall experience more meaningful.  Some days her guided muscle relaxations would evoke something deep within which is difficult to explain - I would feel completely at ease and light.  Thoughts that are constantly running through my head would disappear.  I was at rest.  Read more.

YALE UNIVERSITY MEN’S GOLF CAPTAIN

Yale University, 2010

With such a strong background in leading groups and knowledge on the pertinent material, Cornelia was the perfect person to lead our group.  She makes an effort to connect with each student and shows a genuine interest in our well-being.   As a leader, she gives the group expert guidance while encouraging students to interact, ask questions, and come up with our ideas.   She created a unique space and environment for us to learn about our peers and ourselves.  We will graduate Yale with a clearer idea of what is best for us and how we can live a meaningful life.

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