Center Staff

Kelsa DeBrabant, Operations Director
Kelsa DeBrabant (she/her) has been teaching mindfulness and meditation techniques to children and adults for over a decade. After a successful career in the field of mental health and subsequent pivot into the creative world of fashion design, Kelsa was once again looking for a profound change in career and lifestyle. After studying the teachings of Tibetan Buddhist master practitioners and scholars for many years, she decided to get certified and teach her practice to others in her community. Her workshops are designed to benefit a wide range of students looking to feel more confident, creative and connected to others. To learn more, visit www.kelsadebrabant.com. Email

Francesca Leo, Marketing Director
Francesca Leo, MM, MBA (she/her) is a flutist, administrator, meditation practitioner, and performing arts medicine advocate. She is the founder of www.playingwithoutpain.com, an award-winning website and social media platform committed to connecting musicians with resources to treat and prevent performance-related injuries and take care of their mental health. Francesca is passionate about meditation and has been with the Shambhala Meditation Center of New York as their Marketing Director since 2020. She holds degrees in music performance with a minor in Entrepreneurship from Bowling Green State University and the Manhattan School of Music, and an MBA from Bowling Green State University. Email

Mary Beth Minton, Finance Director
Mary Beth brings a wealth of financial expertise to Shambhala New York. She previously co-founded and ran the financial operations of a children’s toy company, Zylie and Friends, a highly-acclaimed new toy innovation.  Before that, she was Executive Director of the Red Ribbon Foundation, the largest HIV/AIDS fundraising organization in Connecticut. Her experience in the non-profit world also includes many volunteer roles and participation on several charity boards. She holds an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School. Email