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IONS announces Cassandra Vieten as new CEO/President


Special Message from Bill Sechrest, IONS Board Chair

Dear IONS Community,


It is with great pleasure that I am writing to let you know that on Monday, March 25, Cassandra Vieten accepted the offer from the IONS Board of Directors to succeed Steve Villano as the new CEO and President of the Institute of Noetic Sciences. We are grateful for Steve's important transitional leadership, his vision, and his commitment to restructuring and reorienting our organization in ways that will enable IONS to flourish in the 21st century.Cassandra VietenCassandra Vieten, PhD

The IONS Board of Directors named Dr. Vieten as the 7th president of IONS with great enthusiasm, and we believe she is the ideal person to lead the Institute into the future. She combines a deep love and respect for IONS and its history with an inspiring vision for what IONS can become, with scientific investigation of consciousness at the core. She has been an integral part of IONS work for many years and has a profound connection with the organization, most recently serving as IONS Executive Director of Research.

Expressing his excitement about Dr. Vieten's appointment, IONS Founder Dr. Edgar Mitchell said, "The appointment of Cassi as CEO and President is directly in line with my original founding vision for the Institute of Noetic Sciences, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Her years of service and dedication to the IONS mission are a valuable asset to IONS as we go into the future."

Cassandra Vieten is a leader of a new generation of Noetic Scientists. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and has served as the co-director of the Mind-Body Medicine Research Group at California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute in San Francisco, and co-president of the Institute for Spirituality and Psychology. Her primary interest is in exploring how psychology, biology, and spirituality interact to affect experience and behavior. She has authored numerous books, chapters, and academic articles, and presented at international scientific conferences, as well as workshops and events for the lay public.

Speaking about her appointment, Cassi said, "Words cannot convey how honored I am to take the helm of an organization that for four decades has led the way in scientific investigation of realms of human experience that are important to most people, yet have been relatively neglected by mainstream science. I am proud to be a part of this community of visionary scientists, scholars, explorers, educators, healers, and others who are dedicated to shifting our individual and collective consciousness in ways that promote well-being for all."

Cassi is highly respected both inside of IONS and by her colleagues across the country and around the world. We are fortunate to have both her intellect and her heart at our service. This is an exciting time of change and new beginnings for IONS, and you'll be hearing more details in the coming weeks.

Best regards,





Bill Sechrest
IONS Board Chair