About RUPI
The Right Use of Power Institute (RUPI) is a global force, guiding people to utilize their power with awareness, wisdom, compassion and skill.
Founded in 2011, RUPI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
RUPI was formed to further the reach of the Right Use of Power™ mission. We serve the general public, professionals, and members of the Right Use of Power™ Teacher’s Guild.
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Learn more about the history of RUP
Watch this video featuring our Founder, Dr. Cedar Barstow and Executive Director, Dr. Amanda Aguilera
Our Leadership Team
Dr. Cedar Barstow
Founder & Executive Director Emerita
Sarah Silvas-Bernstein
Interim Training Director
Dr. Amanda Aguilera
Executive Director
Cedar is a consultant and teacher on ethics and ethical issues. She has been designing, developing, and teaching this approach since 1994. Cedar’s background includes 30 years as a psychotherapist and 25 years as a teacher.
She is the author of books and articles on ethics, counseling with elders, women and independence, and psychotherapy and spirituality. Cedar is also a Hakomi Experiential Psychology Trainer and a member of the Naropa University Adjunct Faculty.
She maintains a private psychotherapy and ethics consulting practice in Boulder/Denver and teaches both Right Use of Power™ and Hakomi nationally and internationally.
The Right Use of Power™ educational materials and exercises were developed by Cedar over a period of 20 years and dozens of trainings.
These teachings have been influenced by many sources in Cedar’s background. She is particularly grateful for her extensive experiences as an administrator, therapist, and trainer of the the Hakomi Method of Experiential Psychotherapy, chair of both the Hakomi Institute International Ethics Committee (HIEC) and the United States Association of Body Psychotherapy (USABP) Ethics Committee, ethics expert contributor to GoodTherapy.org, consultant to numerous organizations, and ceremonialist with the Earth Song Ceremonial Dance Community.
Learn more about Cedar’s additional contributions to the world on her website, www.CedarBarstow.com.
Bio coming soon
Dr. Amanda Aguilera is a consultant and facilitator in the area of power-and-equity consciousness and conflict resolution. Driven by her core values of curiosity, courage, and connection, Amanda is adept at putting things together in new ways, creating visuals that help make learning more accessible, and communicating complex ideas in simple ways.
Amanda has a commitment to be courageous in the service of reducing and repairing harm in relationship and promoting the cultural shift toward power-and-equity consciousness, conflict positivity and conflict competency.
At the core of her academic and personal passion is the advancement in understanding social power dynamics and deepening the personal and collective uses of power in the world with wisdom and compassion.
Her doctoral dissertation focused on the dynamics of shame and power in the justice system and she continues to develop theoretical models in the intrapersonal and interpersonal experiences of power dynamics, including the integration of neurobiology, contemplative practices and restorative practices as they relate to power differentials.
Our Staff
Ritu Niolfer Yousuf
Administrative Assistant
Melynn Barber
Marketing Assistant
Alejandra Betanzo
Online Event Support Assistant
Ritu began with a thirst for understanding the complexities of human behavior and the desire to help individuals lead emotionally healthy lives. Pursuing a pre-doctoral degree in clinical psychology provided her with a solid foundation to delve into the human mind and emotions, enabling me to offer profound insights and support to those in need.
Beyond the realm of psychology, her heart has always been dedicated to social activism. For six transformative years, she actively engaged in empowering communities and advocating for justice and equality. This invaluable experience opened her eyes to the profound impact of power dynamics in all aspects of life. Apart from being a self-professed nerd, she is a daughter, a sister, a grand daughter and friend to her lovely circles, a shoulder to some and a fun spirit for others.
As the Administrative Assistant of the Right Use of Power Institute, she gets to combine her expertise in clinical psychology with her passion for being part of a bigger vision.
Melynn is an ambitious and driven media studies graduate from The University of Colorado, Boulder. I am originally from Austin, Texas and is currently living in Denver, Colorado. She is passionate about our mediated world specifically among photography, video editing, content creation as well social media management. She is eager to use her skills to strengthen The Right Use of Power Institute’s digital presence.
Alejandra Betanzo is an independent consultant with a passion for working with groups in cultivating resilience, cohesion, connection, and trust within diverse professional environments. She strongly believes that a strong foundation in these areas is the key to achieving organizational goals and advancing towards shared purpose and vision.
As a certified trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication she works in empowering individuals and groups to build bridges of understanding and find common ground amidst conflicts and challenges. Throughout her work she incorporates a systemic lens to ensure relevance and applicability, especially in culturally diverse contexts where an awareness of power imbalances and privilege is vital.
Alejandra has had the privilege to collaborate with a wide array of organizations across the public, private, and social sectors. Her expertise has been deeply enriched through partnerships with civil society organizations committed to social change and human rights initiatives, primarily based in Mexico, Latin America, and the US. RAs part of the emerging Nonviolent Communication (NVC) practitioners community in Mexico, she enjoys discovering the strength of coming together, supporting each other, and building a powerful collective. Alejandra is also co-founder of Colmena, an online NVC learning community. Her dream is to bring transformative power consciousness accessible to the Spanish-speaking world.
Our Board of Directors
Sari Ajanko
Sari Ajanko (she/her) is deeply honored to join the board and is committed to assist and support advancing “The Right Use of Power” across the spectrum of professionals.
Sari’s professional career is rooted in hospitality management. Twelve years as a leader in the language service sector was an integral step for Sari in learning how to thrive in client-focused consulting services. Since 2008 Sari has worked in professional coaching and training services. In 2013 she became the founder and CEO of Diversitas Oy (Ltd).
Her company and client offerings are the vessel of fusing her passions, leadership development, professional coaching and personality models and maps. Sari’s mission has been to take the D & I discussions to the next level including the less visible aspects of diversity that we all share. Sari’s book on ”Leading multiplicity – Leader’s self-awareness as it’s core” (in Finnish) was published in 2016.
Sari is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) certified by ICF (International Coaching Federation), Certified Business Coach Master, and Trainer/Mentor of Coaching & Leadership skills. Sari also holds certifications as a WholeBody Focusing Trainer and as a Enneagram Teacher in the Narrative Tradition.
Sari is always looking for new concepts and modalities to make her training and coaching more impactful. Sari is excited about the potential of somatic therapies, currently progressing through certification with Hakomi Mallorca.
Sari lives in Helsinki beside the Baltic Sea with her Canadian husband, Jim Grant, who is also a RUPI teacher, and their “power pawsitive” Office Manager Reiki (Shih Tzu).
Bárbara Castro
Bárbara (she/her/ella), with an accent on the first “á,” was born in the lands of the Mexihcah indigenous peoples and is grateful to live and learn from the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh Nations.
About 20 years ago, she was formally introduced to contemplative practices. Since then, as a passionate Leader and Mentor, she has expanded her knowledge and practice in mindfulness, EQ, authentic leadership, and awareness of power while accompanying and inspiring emerging leaders, immigrants and refugees.
Over the past 15 years, she has collaborated with start-ups, non-profits and corporate institutions within advertising, events, education and technical apparel, to name a few.
Bárbara’s superpower is “connection.” As an athlete, she enjoys outdoor activities in the mountains. Her purpose is to inspire humans to practice intraconnection while recognizing the interconnection between sentient beings and nature.
Jeff Couillard
Jeff Couillard (he/him) holds an M.A. in Environmental Management from Royal Roads University and is the founder and chief facilitator at Attainability Group, a small consulting firm dedicated to building incredible teams of professionals in organizations big and small in a wide range of sectors.
Attainability Group focuses on bringing Right Use of Power™ principles into organizations
to improve employee engagement, develop leadership capacity, and achieve
better client outcomes. From team development to conflict resolution, leading multi-disciplinary teams of professionals tackling the complex issues of addiction and mental health, to sharing stories on the TEDx stage, Jeff is focused on creating highly functional individuals, teams, and communities.
Farzin Farzad
Farzin Farzad (he/him) is an Organizational Justice practitioner with experience in higher education, trade associations, local government, and the private sector. Holding two master’s degrees in international affairs and diplomacy as well as a certificate in conflict resolution skills, Farzin leverages his unique academic background, extensive travel experience, and experiential knowledge to provide comprehensive, thought-provoking local and global approaches to his work.
In addition to training and education programs, Farzin is a seasoned project manager with expertise in developing strategies that build equitable workplace environments and government services, as well as build internal capacity.
Farzin is the founder of Critical Equity Consulting, LLC, a boutique Organizational Justice consulting firm focused on helping organizations rebuild with a primary focus on creating equitable outcomes and seeking justice.
Dr. Loren Intolubbe-Chmil
Loren Intolubbe-Chmil, Ph.D. (she/her) is an educator and activist with over thirty years of experience in teaching and diverse educational contexts. Loren’s deepest interests encompass representative stakeholder engagement, education for change, and human rights-based decision-making. Loren’s work in the world is significantly shaped as a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma as well as the experience of completing K-12 education in multiple and divergent locations as the child of a parent in the U.S. military.
As a reflection of commitment to a world that embodies dignity, belongingness, justice, curiosity, and interdependence, Loren has taught several courses – including study abroad programs in Nepal and southern Africa – and led a variety of workshops and trainings with those collective values at the center.
Loren has a BA in Sociology with a Minor in Women’s Studies from Mary Baldwin University, and earned an M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education at the University of Virginia. Loren is currently a Teaching Assistant Professor and Leadership Instructor in the Student Academic Success Center at the University of Colorado-Boulder, and is co-founder and partner of the educational consulting firm CoreCollaborative International.
Dr. Rob Miller
Rob Miller, Ph.D. (he/him) is currently a consultant in the field of biotechnology, R&D, nutrition and Medical Foods. He is currently a Senior Advisor to the venture development company, Portal Innovations, located in Chicago, IL.
Rob was previously the CSO for the microbiome startup Kaleido Biosciences located in Boston and became the President and CSO of their Nutrition Division. He is a member of the Investors Advisory Committee for Venture Investors based in Madison, WI and continues to work with start-ups in the Boston area.
Rob had a successful 30-year career at Abbott Nutrition where he was ultimately responsible for global pediatric, adult, and performance nutrition product development, new ventures, medical affairs, clinical and preclinical research as the Divisional Vice President of R&D, Scientific and Medical Affairs at Abbott Nutrition.
He was part of the Executive team managing the $7 billion global nutrition business. He was an architect of the global expansion of Abbott Nutrition, establishing R&D Centers at UIUC, Granada, Spain, Singapore, Shanghai, China and Bangalore, India.
Dr. Miller was co-chair of the Abbott Scientific Governing Board from 2013-2016, overseeing the Volwiler Society, talent development and program efforts of Abbott’s 2,500 scientists for all Abbott Laboratories divisions.
Rob is married to the artist Anita Miller and they have 3 grown children and 2 grandsons. He holds a Ph.D. in Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and completed a Staff fellowship at the National Institute of Health.
Tejumo Ogouma
Tejumo Ogouma (he/him) worked in the area of international development for 15 years, and managed projects focused on health, education, and food security. During his tenure, he worked in war zones, including Afghanistan and Mali.
Tejumo is an accomplished meditator, conflict resolution practitioner, facilitator, and coach with a keen interest in Non-Violent Communication. He has mentored and coached people from all walks of life and different cultures. He is currently being trained as a coach through the Co-active Training Institute.
Tejumo believes in fostering awareness, empathy, and
communication in order to bring about a more peaceful and progressive world.
Tejumo is also a practicing artist trained in Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) and Miksang (contemplative photography).
Dr. Sherri Taylor
Sherri Taylor, Psy.D. (she/they/femme) is a contemplative, teacher, end of life doula, consultant, and facilitator. She completed her undergraduate education in Feminist Studies at Stanford University and earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, California.
Her scholarship and research interests include contemplative leadership, dreamwork, the intergenerational transmission of benevolence and resilience, and the somatics of belonging and unbelonging. She is also the guardian of the soulstudiolab and Black Womxn’s Dream Lab.
The soulstudiolab offers relevant and meaningful group trainings, playshops, and workshops for community and professional audiences that integrate innovative approaches and practices from the contemplative traditions, expressive arts, and psychology, with a special focus on the psycho-spiritual importance of creativity and embodiment to inspire personal growth, interpersonal understanding, and social justice.
Jamelah Zidan
Jamelah Zidan (she/her) is the Restorative Community Coordinator at Naropa University. She was born in New York City to Palestinian parents. She earned her B.A. in Political Economics from Sarah Lawrence College, where she was the recipient of the Scholarship for the Environment. She then pursued her M.S. in Education from Sarah Lawrence, where she was the recipient of the Regina Arnold Memorial Scholarship.
For several years, Jamelah worked as a teacher in New York City. Desiring to work in a more spiritual atmosphere and impact the quality of people’s lives, she later changed careers, taking up a position as Assistant Director at the Abode, a Sufi and Interfaith retreat center in the Berkshires.
She moved to Colorado in 2020 to be with her husband, Netanel Miles-Yepez, and is now happy to be working with the compassionate and skilled staff, students, and faculty of Naropa. She’s currently a fellow in the Emerging Leaders Fellowship, and volunteering in the Restorative Justice program of the Boulder County DA’s office.