Jason A. Kaufman, Ph.D., Ed.D., is a professor of educational leadership and director of the institutional review board at Minnesota State University, Mankato and a licensed psychologist. His teaching uses a lean and lab-rich approach to promote scientific thinking. His research explores the potential of contemplative psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) to inform mind-body medicine, ecopsychology, and space policy. His writing focuses on leadership development. He is co-author of Leadership in Star Trek: Lessons from the Captain's Chair and Captain Pike in the C-Suite: Humble Leadership in Star Trek from McFarland, as well as the anthology Second Star to the Right: Essays on Leadership in Star Trek and the upcoming anthology Beyond the Next Star: The Importance of Failure in Star Trek (anticipated 2027) from Vernon Press. He also co-hosts the podcast Dice in Mind.