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Chris J. Minnick Photography
Meet Nika
Dr. Nika Gueci is an educator, consultant and thought leader who offers guidance on implementing wellness strategies to improve individual lives and organizational effectiveness. Nika has been recognized as one of the top 50 leaders in Arizona for 2023 by Women We Admire and as Emerging Leader 2024 by Arizona Women in Higher Education.
Nika is a born and bred New Yorker with a background in mindful leadership, public health, and employee well-being. As a leader skilled in steering comprehensive health and wellness programs for diverse audiences, she excels in building human capacity and team morale by leading strategic initiatives that promote whole-person well-being. With a proven track record in program development, evaluation, and quality control, she is able to navigate fluid situations with ease. She is dedicated to leveraging her expertise to enhance the administration of worksite well-being, aiming to create impactful, sustainable health outcomes.
Currently, she is the Executive Director of ASU's Center for Mindfulness, Compassion and Resilience. Here, she furthers individual and community resilience through translational research, academic courses and leadership trainings.
Nika has presented over 1k speeches, workshops, and events; and has been invited to speak on media sources such as Good Morning Arizona 3TV, NPR, ASU News, and keynote at national conferences. She has presented policy recommendations on collegiate recovery to the Acting Director of National Drug Control Policy and student loneliness trends to the U.S. Surgeon General. She serves as Co-Chair of the Mental Well-Being Committee, Arizona Department of Health Services and leads a state-wide strategy to reduce loneliness and social isolation.
In 2023, she was a Senior Fellow at ASU's Learning Enterprise as venture design lead on Personal Development Solutions for learners to develop their full potential as thriving human beings.
She is a registered yoga teacher and ardent advocate for animal rights. She serves on the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association Wellness Task Force and fosters dogs. Read more about Dr. Gueci's work with animal rescue organizations and learn how you can make a difference by visiting moseleysmuttoasis.org.
She holds an EdD in leadership and innovation from Arizona State University, MA in communication from New Mexico State University and a BA in Russian from Columbia University in the City of New York.
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Academic Research
Dr. Nika Gueci's research explores the intricacies of the human experience and the ways in which our humanity both challenges and inspires us. Topics of study include addiction recovery, mindfulness, mind-body connection, life transformations and managing change.
Mindfulness is a powerful tool to foster resilience in the face of social and ecological challenges.
Mindfulness, the practice of present moment experience, can be employed as a tool for grounding in difficult conversations and creating pathways for transformative change in communities.
The task of tackling substance use and providing supportive structures is a massive undertaking within the larger environment of a national epidemic.
Nika Gueci created the first collegiate recovery program for students at Arizona State University, earning her the designation of "Outstanding Graduate"
In 2018, Nika Gueci earned the degree Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation from the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. She was named an "Outstanding Graduate" for her academic achievements, including the creation of the first collegiate recovery program for students.