Opening Remarks

Psychedelic Science Summit: Austin, Texas (November 1-3, 2019)
Speakers: Merete Christiansen and Liana Sananda Gillooly
Merete Christiansen, Associate Director of Development at MAPS, earned her B.S. in biology at the State University of New York at Geneseo in 2012. While attending Geneseo, and after graduation, Merete cultivated her passion for community organizing and education through participating in student groups, teaching outdoor science, and becoming a certified yoga instructor. Since joining the MAPS team in 2014, Merete has provided administrative, operational, and programmatic support in her roles of Operations Associate and Executive Assistant to Rick Doblin, Ph.D. As Associate Director of Development, Merete coordinates the work of MAPS’ fundraising team through campaign and program management, grants management and narrative crafting, and supporting the cultivation of major gifts. Merete’s work with MAPS is driven by her belief that all people should have access to the information and tools they need in order to heal themselves.
Liana Sananda Gillooly, Development Officer at MAPS, is a lifetime activist for social justice, drug policy reform, ending war, and the environment. Before joining MAPS, Liana worked as Outreach Manager for a prominent cannabis investment and market research firm, The Arcview Group, where she helped grow the accredited investor network, advocated for legalization, and supported the work of Marijuana Policy Project. She has worked in event, festival, and film production, as well as artist representation, art curation, and art creation. She owned a visionary art gallery in Venice Beach, California, called Sananda Gallery. She has produced fundraisers, parties, and art happenings for special events and festivals, including High Times Cannabis Cups, MAPS conferences, Envision Festival, Serenity Festival, and Fractal Planet at Burning Man. She has been a featured speaker at numerous events, lobbied Congress, lectured MBA students, and given a TEDx talk. She is an experienced meditator and trained death midwife.
Learn more:
psychedelicscience.org
Hosted by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS):
maps.org

[@timchang3833]

amazing job, Liana!!! Thank you for your leadership in this important space