Drisana (Dru) McDaniel, MA

Drisana McDaniel is at the vanguard of transformative education and activism, serving as a healing-centered facilitator, educator, writer, and transformation activist dedicated to fostering radical interconnectedness. Her pioneering work, encapsulated in the “Alchemy of Now” framework, explores the nexus of personal and collective liberation through the lenses of embodiment, the social self, and psychospirituality. Her vision for transformational justice is deeply rooted in contemplation and purposeful action.

As the co-founder of the Transformative Teaching Collective, Drisana guides organizations and communities towards generative conflict resolution, social justice education, empathy, non-violent practice, and collaboration. Her mission is to unlock freedom and vitality, advocating for liberation and awakening as universal goals.

Drisana’s workshops, seminars, and events leverage the “Alchemy of Now” to delve into the transformative potential inherent in our interconnectedness. With a BA in Women and Gender Studies and Sociology, an MA in Women, Gender, Social Justice, and Spirituality, and currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Philosophy and Women’s Spirituality at the California Institute of Integral Studies, she brings a rich academic background to her role as Senior Researcher and Curriculum Designer at the Acosta Institute. She’s also the author of two book chapters with Demeter Press: “Beyond the Edges of Order: A Framework for the Motherhood of Becoming” (in Mothering Outside the Lines: Tales of Boundary-Busting Mamas, ed. Michelann Parr & BettyAnn Martin) and “Quiet as Kept” (in The Pain Mothers Must Never Expose: Confronting the Silences of Maternal Life, ed. Michelann Parr, which will be published in late 2024).

Her contributions at the Institute and beyond innovate and inspire, creating educational experiences that challenge and catalyze change. As a mother, her life embodies the principles she advocates, striving for a world where freedom and vitality are accessible to all.

Learn more at drisanamcdaniel.com.