About

Dr. Angel Acosta is a leading voice in the field of healing-centered education. With a doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University, his research explores innovative frameworks for leadership development and community care. As the Director of the Garrison Institute's Fellowship Program, a Fellow at the Mind & Life Institute, and a Global Advisory Board Member at Keio University's Center for Contemplative Studies in Tokyo, Dr. Acosta bridges the fields of leadership, social justice, and mindfulness. 

He chairs the Acosta Institute, a digital learning and research hub fostering innovation in healing-centered education and slow work. His current focus includes expanding the healing-centered paradigm in education, business, and artificial intelligence. 

Dr. Acosta has fundraised over $2 million for healing-centered education programming and projects, including a multi-year grant from the Kellogg Foundation. He served as the chief curator for the Wounded Healer Portrait Series, a national healing arts project focused on empowering educators. He has given over 500 keynote speeches and presentations, both in the United States and internationally, with notable engagements in the Czech Republic, Japan, Portugal, and Ghana. His international experience started while directing a global leadership study abroad program in Rome through Leadership exCHANGE, fostering cross-cultural communication and social entrepreneurship skills in students worldwide.

As a consultant, he has worked with diverse organizations, including SYPartners, B Lab U.S. & Canada, Salesforce Foundation, SYLVAIN, Accenture, Google Applied Digital Skills Lab, Stanford University's Life Design Lab, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Center for Policing Equity, NYC Department of Education, UNICEF and the House of Beautiful Business. As an educator, Dr. Acosta has taught at Omega Institute, Esalen, and 1440 Multiversity, and has spoken at the Asia Pacific Forum on Holistic Education in Kyoto, Japan.

A proud first-generation Dominican-American and graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh, Dr. Acosta brings a unique perspective to his work. As a member of the 400 Years of Inequality Project, he designed the Contemplating 400 Years of Inequality Experience, supporting communities in understanding structural inequality through mindfulness-based approaches. Lately, he has become curious about the ways in which technology can be used as a force for advancing racial equity and dismantling structural inequality.