Sharon G. Solloway, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Developmental Instruction, Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. Her teaching and research seek to illuminate the value of mindfulness practice in the university classroom using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Her work is the first to use Rasch models to measure mindfulness practice effects. She can be contacted at ssollowa@bloomu.edu.

"DTS is the perfect partner for making the Solloway Mindfulness Survey accessible to teachers (and others) interested in evaluating the effects of the mindfulness strategies they teach. (The assessment will be most useful if you are teaching novices or relatively new mindfulness practitioners.) DTS’s commitment to assessment as a playful dialogue between the teacher and the student, captures an important aspect of mindfulness practice…non-judgment. An important aspect of mindfulness practice is the gentle back and forth non-judgmental dialogue of the individual with her experience. Noticing when attention has wandered from the present moment and gently, playfully bringing it back without negative judgment is important. Negative judgments encourage an attachment to the ideal and limit openness to what is in the present moment. Mindfulness practice as playful dialogue, on the other hand, encourages openness…the opportunity to see more of what is present than would be accessible when judgment prevails. Assessment—in whatever domain—that is engaged as playful dialogue affords skillful means for living well. Affording yourself skillful means for living well in body, mind, soul, and spirit is the essence of mindfulness practice.

The generosity of expertise and support by DTS staff make collaborating with them an ongoing pleasure."

Mike Jay

Mike Jay has been a professional business coach, consultant, and entrepreneur for more than forty years. An award-winning U.S. Marine and collegiate athlete, he initially parlayed his leadership experience into agribusiness innovation and, subsequently, management success in medicine, hospitality, and business services. Mike has served business leaders in more than twenty-seven countries in many companies, including Bharat Petroleum, Central Bank of Indonesia, Coca-Cola, Exxon, Ford, General Dynamics, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Hewlett Packard, Vodaphone, and UGS.

"I've worked with the LDMA for almost as long as it's been around, testing hundreds of leaders in more than 6 different cultures, and if you said, "Mike, go to the moon, you can only take one thing"—I'd take the LDMA. Clearly, the LDMA helps us hold candid, transparent, DIFFICULT, yet generative conversations with leaders about where they are, and where they are going. If I could, I would buy the company. Dr. Dawson has bent over backwards to help us in situations around the globe and her staff has ramped up to satisfy our toughest requirements—my work in more than 27 countries can't happen without them—thank you Developmental Testing!"