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Meet the Founders and Directors of The Mindfulness Center

Founder and President

Deborah Norris, Ph.D.

Deborah Norris, Ph.D. – Founder of The Mindfulness Center™, based in Washington, D.C., author of In the Flow: Bridging the Science and Practice of Mindfulness, and Editor-in-Chief of MindBodyJournal.com. Dr. Norris is Psychologist-in-Residence at American University where she has taught Behavioral Medicine, Alternative Medicine and Meditation since 1984. She was Founding Director of the Psychobiology of Healing Program at American University, and past professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical School. Renowned for her online meditation teacher training program, SOMA, The Science of Mindful Awareness, Dr. Norris is an internationally recognized speaker and educator on mindfulness, yoga, integrative mind-body medicine mindfulness in education, and neuroscience. A health scientist with over 40 years of experience ranging from traditional medical and psychotherapeutic practices to integrative therapies and lifestyle practices, she teaches and conducts research in mindfulness, behavioral medicine and other holistic approaches to happiness and well-being.

Dr. Norris is a registered yoga therapist (C-IAYT) with the International Alliance of Yoga Therapists and a 500-hr E-RYT with Yoga Alliance. She has been a certified instructor for the Arthritis Foundation. She has trained with the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, and is also certified by the Washington Center for Consciousness Studies in the theory and practice of Gestalt Psychotherapy and meditation. Dr. Norris is also an accomplished dancer, having apprenticed with the New York City Ballet. She studied ballet and modern dance with principles from the Royal Danish Ballet, Harkness Ballet, and Broadway star Honya Holme; and has studied Spanish, African, Jazz and Hindu dance. Dr. Norris is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist, certified in exercise physiology by the American College of Sports Medicine and other certifying organizations.

In her practice, Dr. Norris draws on both her scientific research and ancient wisdom to integrate lifestyle elements of meditation, physical exercise, spiritual development, relaxation therapy, nutrition and herbs for maximal health and happiness! Working with you and your physicians, Dr. Norris and the team members of The Mindfulness Center can help you formulate an integrative approach to your health care.

Co-Founder and Business Director

Jacqueline Hernandez

Jacqueline Hernandez is Co-Founder and Business Director of The Mindfulness Center. She is a graduate of Frostburg State University, where she majored in Business with a concentration in General Management. During her studies at Frostburg, Jacqueline became Vice President of the Society for Advancement of Management, and attended the Sloop Institute for Excellence in Leadership. At TMC Jacqueline oversees all aspects of business development, marketing and staff training, integrating TMC’s mission of mindfulness into its functioning and outreach. Jacqueline is 200-Hour certified Yoga Teacher.

Co-Founder and Director of Education

Jessie Taylor

Jessie Taylor is Co-Founder and Director of Education at The Mindfulness Center (TMC), a nonprofit online health institute offering charitable, educational and research programs in mind-body practices. As Educational Director, Mrs. Taylor oversees the development, accreditation and implementation of TMC’s SOMA (Science of Mindful Awareness) professional training programs in yoga, meditation and yoga therapy.

For nearly 2 decades Mrs. Taylor has studied a number of yoga and meditation traditions including, hatha yoga, therapeutic yoga, mindfulness meditation, gestalt psychotherapy and trauma-informed mind-body practices.  Mrs. Taylor is also a renowned wellness speaker and educator and has developed and conducted wellness programs for numerous area corporations, hospitals, schools, government agencies and the military (including MCPS, PGCPS, Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Johns Hopkins, MedStar Health, National Institutes of Health, Astra Zeneca, the US Department of Homeland Security, and the US Army National Guard, among others). As a speaker and educator, Mrs. Taylor brings a deep understanding of the current scientific, evidence-basis for mindfulness practices in an easy to follow and fascinating delivery, along with practical and yet profound techniques for improving our own health, wellbeing and work-life balance.  Mrs. Taylor recognizes the ability of mindfulness to balance and enhance all aspects of our lives and to cultivate optimal wellbeing.

Communications Director

Tiffany Kuo, MPH

Tiffany Kuo is the Communications and Community Relations Director at The Mindfulness Center. She strives to bring mindfulness, healing, and well-being of mind, body, and spirit to all dimensions of our communities. As a complement to her traditional training in public health, she is a healing arts professional and a 500-hour RYT with Yoga Alliance. She has a background in holistic yoga , as well as specializations in Reiki, Ayurveda, and Therapeutic yoga. Tiffany graduated with a Bachelor’s of science in Molecular & Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley and received her Master’s degree in Health Policy & Management from Columbia University. In addition to having broad industry expertise in the U.S. health care delivery systems, she is an integrative health care professional with hands-on experience in numerous settings, including clinical, non-profit, and healthcare technology. Tiffany co-creates with others to transform the historical, evolving models of care and aspires toward our highest wellness models that provide for positive health communities in our individual and collective health.


Through her personal and professional journey, she continues to cultivate her yoga in the day-to-day moments of life and strives to communicate the wisdom of yoga to others. Tiffany serves from a space of community and sharing through movement, breath, and healing. She invites you to experience first-hand the community at The Mindfulness Center and what it truly means to live being well.

Community Director

Dr. Amanda Skowron Romano, Psy.D.

Dr. Skowron Romano specializes in mindfulness based interventions and stress management. At TMC, Dr. Skowron Romano oversees community and corporate programming, which is working to bring mindfulness and wellbeing to the greater community. Dr. Skowron Romano also sees individual clients and offers telehealth visits, in order to increase accessibility to therapy and meditation training.

Dr. Skowron Romano graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelors of Science degree in psychology and sociology. She received both her Masters and Doctoral degree from the APA-Accredited clinical psychology program at La Salle University in Philadelphia where she served as Chief Extern. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh where her training focused on stress management techniques. Dr. Skowron Romano has extensive specialized training in mindfulness-based therapeutic techniques. She has conducted research on mindfulness and published articles on postpartum depression.

In addition to working at The Mindfulness Center, Dr. Skowron Romano teaches mindfulness at Mind Body Health in Arlington, VA. Prior to joining The Mindfulness Center, Dr. Skowron Romano was part of a clinical team at Casey Health Institute (renamed) CHI Health Care), an integrative primary care office in Gaithersburg, MD. Her work at the integrative center helped clients better understand the interplay of one’s physical and mental well-being. Dr. Skowron Romano ran the Mindfulness programming at CHI. Dr. Skowron Romano had also previously worked as a staff psychologist at the University of Maryland. Her passion is to work with a clinical focus on prevention and wellness.

Begin Your Journey To Health With Us!