Jared teaches courses in writing, mindfulness, and critical thinking. His research interests include mindfulness and writing, contemplative pedagogies, selfhood, and reflective writing. From 2009-2022, he directed the University Writing Center at James Madison University and is now an Associate Professor in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies. Before entering academia full-time, he worked as a reporter, editor, and musician. He has an MFA in Creative Writing and a BA in Journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a certified mindfulness meditation teacher, completing both the two-year Koru Mindfulness teacher certification, and Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s two-year mindfulness teacher certification program in partnership with the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley.