MIU student Katherine Eid is a poet, storyteller, and budding filmmaker. She hails from the state of Georgia, where she attended college before embarking on a 10-year journey of working on farms in Hawaii, traveling the world, and exploring her family history.

On her way to Hawaii, Katherine made a stop at MIU and spent a memorable weekend. A few years later she learned the Transcendental Meditation® technique and, when she decided to return to school, she joined MIU’s online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Program.

Over the past few years Katherine has been working on a book based on the family stories she has collected from her father. When she took a course on cinematography, she decided to switch majors and tell her tale via film.

Katherine’s classes have been instrumental in giving her directions on how to bring her stories to life. “Because every class is project based, they were supporting what I already wanted to do,” she said.

She is now working on a documentary about her ancestors, including the story of her great-grandfather, who was orphaned in Crete and was sent in a barrel across the sea to Turkey, where he became a guard of the sultan and was imprisoned in a war camp, from which he escaped by sea to Lebanon. Katherine has recently taken a trip to Lebanon to interview relatives and film the locations of her father’s stories.

In her documentary, Katherine wants to explore intergenerational trauma and heroism, the idea that the emotional experiences of our ancestors get passed down to subsequent generations.

Katherine says her TM practice of 5 years and the online TM retreats offered by MIU have made a tremendous impact on her personal growth and creative expression. “There is less inhibition, and there is an ability to focus and persevere, to follow the idea into creation,” she said. “It’s also easier to be myself in the world.”

You can watch Katherine’s short film she made in a recent class here.

Raju Luitel was studying to be a Chartered Certified Accountant in Katmandu, Nepal, when he heard about MIU through a friend. He wanted to study abroad, so he immediately visited the local Transcendental Meditation® center for more information. “They explained the block system, the paid internship, and everything matched; I applied that day,” he said.

Raju started the Accounting Professionals MBA in 2008. He felt immediately welcomed on campus and enjoyed the international family of students and faculty. “TM helped me focus on my studies and adapt to the new environment and culture,” he said.

After completing his on-campus studies, Raju moved to the Washington, D.C. area in search of a paid internship. In spite of being in the middle of the financial crisis, he found a job within two months at The Tower Companies, a family-owned sustainable commercial real estate development firm in Maryland.

Raju began at accounts payable and a couple of years later, using his IT experience, he helped the company transition to a new property management software. “That experience helped me grow my career because I got the opportunity to work with every department at the company,” he said.

Raju has been with The Tower Companies ever since and is now the comptroller, working directly with the ownership. He has received three employee awards, including the Albert Abramson Annual Award of Excellence, named for the founder of the company.

Raju enjoys the healthy work environment in the LEED Platinum Certified office building which houses the company’s headquarters. He also appreciates that the practice of the TM program is one of the company’s benefits and values, with a meditation room on site.

Raju’s wife, whom he met at MIU, also works at The Tower Companies. He spends most of his free time with his family, including his three young children. He also enjoys stargazing, reading books, and watching movies.

MIU alumnus Bill Thompson grew up in the small town of Moberly, Missouri. At age 16 he hitchhiked to San Francisco, where he learned the Transcendental Meditation® technique. “I knew from my very first meditation that I wanted to teach TM,” he said. “My experience was so deep and blissful, I wanted to share it with others.” Bill worked three jobs to save money for the course and became a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique at age 19.

During the next two decades, Bill taught the TM® technique, attended MIU, and worked in real estate development in Texas and Florida. He managed the development of Radiance Ideal Village in Austin, Texas, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Capital of the Age of Enlightenment in Florida. He co-founded Agriboard Industries, which manufactured sustainable building systems from compressed wheat straw.

In 1999 Bill began working at Global ID Group, where he was promoted to CEO of Genetic ID within a few years. He set up a worldwide network of 22 laboratories for identifying genetically modified organisms, critical to creating the company’s global brand of non-GMO food testing and certification. Between 2009 and 2015 he revived the company’s European subsidiary, expanding the customer base in over 50 countries.

After 17 years at Global ID Group, Bill moved to Sky Factory and helped grow the company’s international sales network.

“I have been blessed in my career that I have always worked with companies embracing life-supporting missions,” said Bill, “whether promoting safe and ethical food, expanding consciousness, creating sustainable building systems, or improving patients’ hospital experience.”

Throughout his career, Bill has done business in 45 countries and truly experienced that the world is his family. “I have met so many people from diverse cultures and was able to relate to them on a deep level, from the foundation of consciousness that binds all of us,” he said.

Bill is now semi-retired, living in Fairfield. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially with his first grandson, and he is exploring new sustainable business opportunities.

MIU alumna Jennifer Kachler earned her BFA in film from the School of Visual Arts New York City in 2009 and began working in various media roles, including producer and director.

In 2011 she read Catching the Big Fish by David Lynch and immediately learned the Transcendental Meditation® technique. Jennifer is a big fan of David Lynch, so when she heard about the David Lynch MFA in Film Program starting in 2014, she was thrilled to apply.

Jennifer enjoyed practicing the TM® technique in a group, making friends, and expanding her network. Meeting David Lynch and receiving his advice on her work were the highlights of her year. “It was such an unreal experience, one that I will never forget,” she said. “I am so grateful I had that experience.”

After graduating, Jennifer returned to New York City and continued to work in commercial film, working her way up to executive producer. She has directed and produced an impressive list of commercials, short films, and documentaries.

Creating content for big name brands in a fast-paced, demanding environment can be stressful, but Jennifer’s TM practice helps her stay calm. “I meditate every day and it helps me tremendously,” she said. “I can’t imagine what life would be like without it.”

Jennifer has also been completing the postproduction of her MIU thesis film, Kennedy Hill, a short movie set in the late 1930s about a 17-year-old girl who finds out she is adopted. The film was inspired by the adoption story of Jennifer’s grandmother.

Jennifer appreciated MIU’s approach of incorporating the Transcendental Meditation program and other self-care practices in the creative process, and she would like to see that happen in the film industry worldwide. “My goal is to direct film and work in an environment that promotes positivity, empowerment, and inspiration,” said Jennifer.