Leadership
Organization
Insight San Diego is a community of practitioners in the Buddhist Vipassana tradition. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all-volunteer organization with a Board of Directors as central governing body. The work of the Board is supported by a number of committees and a generous group of volunteers. The Board and all committees follow a core value that the Dharma guides us in our decisions.
The Program Committee plans and implements our Dharma-related offerings. In this central role, the committee is responsible for Dharma talks, classes, sitting/affinity groups, workshops, daylongs, and retreats that reflect our mission of cultivating mindfulness, wisdom, and compassion for the benefit of all beings, without exception.
We always welcome new participants. Find out more about our community and volunteer opportunities.
Board of Directors
Dianna Crawford
Dianna was introduced to Buddhist meditation practice in 1993. Today Dianna has a dedicated meditation practice, enjoys studying the Dharma and has attended numerous retreats, including several month-long retreats. Dianna worked in both the high-tech and biotech industries where she enjoyed leading innovative projects at the interface of biology, medicine and technology. Dianna has been a volunteer and participant in Insight San Diego since moving to the area in 2020. She is grateful for the opportunity to serve on the ISD Board, to continue to learn and to help share the Dharma with the San Diego community.
Dennis Cutler
Dennis' earliest experience in mediation was with Transcendental Meditation in the 1970’s. In 2010 he completed an 8-week Compassion Cultivation Training through UC San Diego Health Center. He now practices Vipassana and metta meditation. Dennis worked for 37 years as a social worker, supervisor and manager at San Diego County Children’s Services, where he worked with families of abused and neglected children and with foster families. Dennis is thankful for the opportunity to serve on the Insight San Diego Board of Directors to support Dharma study and Vipassana style meditation in San Diego.
Irene Folk, founding member
Irene is retired from over 25 years as a legal assistant, and lives in San Diego, California. She started practicing Vipassana meditation to deal with chronic pain and fell in love with the Dharma. She has sat many long retreats and has a non-negotiable daily meditation practice. She is passionate about helping create and maintain a community where the Dharma and meditation can thrive, and delights in seeing the personal transformation of individuals through this practice. She is grateful and proud to be one of the founding members of Insight San Diego.
Noriko Morita Harth
Noriko, originally from Japan, considers herself a Heritage Buddhist and holds Buddhism close to her heart. Her mindfulness and compassion journey have helped her balance her bicultural identity and connect with others on their paths of self-discovery. Noriko also teaches mindfulness and compassion-based programs, and mentors teachers in MBSR and MSC. She is grateful for the opportunity to serve on the ISD Board, to continue to learn and to help share the Dharma with the San Diego community.
Hal Mirsky, founding member
Hal first practiced meditation as a child. His mindfulness practice began after reading Tara Brach’s Radical Acceptance. He is grateful for the deeper connections with family, friends, and the world that has grown from his practice.
Hal is a software engineer and small business owner by profession. He shares his life with an amazing spouse and two wonderful children. He has been involved in the San Diego community through support to The Child’s Primary School, the San Diego Archaeological Center and currently, Insight San Diego.
Mark Warmbrand
Mark’s Buddhist journey began after hearing his first dharma talk in the mid-90s. This awakening was followed by numerous yoga and Vipassana meditation retreats that deepened his resolve to follow this path. To this day, Mark continues to be amazed by the clarity and brilliance of the Buddha’s teachings. Mark has worked professionally as a social worker, graphic designer, and learning and performance manager. Mark has been active with Insight San Diego from its beginning, serving on various committees to help develop and grow the organization. He is pleased to be a member of the Board where he can continue to live his practice and share the dharma with the San Diego community.
Emeritus Board Members
Rich Bradway
Rich has been engaged in contemplative practice since 1981 and is grateful for the many teachers who have shared their experience and knowledge with him over the years. His practice during the past decade has been dedicated primarily to the Insight Meditation tradition. Rich is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience in treating co-occurring substance use and mental health challenges both as a nonprofit executive and clinician. He is currently an adjunct professor at San Diego State University and maintains a private psychotherapy practice.
Alby Quinlan, founding member
Alby has been practicing Insight Meditation since the mid-1980s. She has attended several 10-day retreats and completed the Dedicated Practitioner Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Currently she is participating in the Advanced Practitioner Program at Spirit Rock. Alby has been the facilitator for the Foundations of Mindfulness study group, along with several others, for the past 2 years.
Alby, along with several talented and dedicated practitioners, started Insight San Diego.