Retreat Managers
Our local spring and late fall residential retreats wouldn’t be possible without the substantial efforts of our talented retreat managers. Preparing for and running retreats takes dedication, time, skill, and a deep appreciation of the dharma. Our managers reflect their practice through the work they do to support and run our retreats. Our community is richer for their generosity, presence and practice on the cushion and off.
A special thanks to Sharon Safer, One Dharma’s first retreat manager when we began our Bethany Hills retreats in 2012. She singlehandedly managed our first eight retreats and laid the groundwork for future managers. We wouldn’t be where we are without her.
Frankie Fachilla
Frankie is a native Nashvillian who has been practicing for 20 years. She deeply values retreats as a time to deepen and renew her practice.
The Dharma is a mental and emotional touchstone for Frankie, helping her to find stability “no matter what.” She is a mental health therapist working at a women’s prison. She is also working on completing her Ph.D. in Clinical Counseling with a focus on Teaching and Supervision.
She lives with her husband, stepson, and three precious fur children (cats).
Geoff Lovett
Geoff has been practicing with One Dharma for 6 years. He appreciates the opportunity to give back to the community through retreat management and planning.
Each retreat is an opportunity for him to, “learn the backwards step,” to reconnect to the inner quiet from which suchness springs forward, and to open to all experience that comes his way. He lives with his wife and three boys.
Jeffrey Samuels, PhD
Jeff completed his first meditation retreat in Thailand in 1987 under the direction of Ajahn Buddhadasa.
Since then Jeff has completed a number of retreats in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Mexico, and the United States, in both the Mahasi Sayadaw and the Thai Forest traditions.
Jeff also earned a Ph.D. in Buddhist studies at the University of Virginia in 2002. He has been studying with Lisa Ernst since 2012 and completed multiple biannual retreats with her. Jeff taught a Pali language course through One Dharma as well as a recent daylong retreat on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness.
Wendy Weber, PhD
Wendy Weber has practiced vipassana meditation and taught mindfulness and meditation in schools for over 10 years. She has felt the healing and empowering qualities of meditation firsthand. She has written a book on mindfulness for students and is currently writing a book on self-care through mindfulness/meditation for educators.
Wendy has dedicated her life to teaching and supporting others as they discover their own inner beauty and strength through meditation. She is in the current Mindfulness Meditation Teacher training with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach.