Alane Daugherty, faculty at Cal Poly Pomona, and co-founder of the university’s Mind and Heart Research Lab, kicked off the lecture series with the topic, From Stress and Anxiety to Resilience and Success. Daugherty said, “People will learn how to rewire their stress response and experience life from a state of calm and connectedness. Through a better understanding of the physiology of stress, attendees will gain a blueprint for change and get practical tips they can apply in their daily lives and cultivate expansiveness and possibility.” Daugherty’s research focuses on emotional healing and the neuroplasticity of the brain. It’s believed that the emotional responses associated with past experiences often trigger similar responses even though the present situation may be different. By first recognizing these triggers and then actively cultivating healthier responses one can replace unhealthy emotions and responses with healthy ones. This practiced experience will reprogram the brain at a biochemical level. The series is funded by an endowment from the Love Button Global Movement Integrative Research and Outreach Program. Love Button was founded by alumnus Dr. Habib Sadeghi (’91, microbiology) and his wife Dr. Sherry Sami. “The Love Button Global Movement fosters acts of kindness, collaborating with organizations and individuals who transform and uplift the lives of our human family.” – Love Button Organization