Modern Elder Academy (MEA), a midlife wisdom school, has opened a second campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Launched in 2018 in Baja California Sur, Mexico by Chip Conley, the MEA program and curriculum center around navigating transitions, cultivating purpose and owning wisdom. Since then nearly 5,000 people from 48 countries have taken part of the program. MEA also offers customized retreats and experiences for corporate teams and private groups, which are designed to promote team-bonding and drive employee engagement.

Located on Rising Circle Ranch, a secluded 2,600-acre regenerative horse ranch, the new campus continues the MEA mission. Comprised of two retreat centers with 43 rooms, it features everything from equine-assisted learning with EQUUS Experience® trained practitioners to immersive experiences of regenerative ranching, soil science, astronomy, and cooking.

The ranch’s architecture draws inspiration from the traditional Santa Fe Pueblo-Spanish Revival style with furniture and art from local artisans. Chef Krista Steinhauer will oversee the menu development at the campus, sourcing primarily organic, local ingredients to create a unique culinary experience.

Highlights of MEA Santa Fe’s 2024 program include an exclusive Blue Zones workshop in October, as well as workshops taught by author and storyteller Elizabeth Gilbert, menopause and women’s health expert Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, and novelist Pico Iyer. MEA has also partnered with INC magazine for a workshop exploring entrepreneurship at any age.

The MEA program is centered on three main pillars: Navigating Transitions (embracing change and thriving in times of transition); Cultivating Purpose (tools to ignite life with purpose); and Owning Wisdom (unlock wisdom and unlock hidden potential).

Its social science and wellness program draws inspiration from research done by Becca Levy, a professor at the Yale School of Public Health, which shows that individuals who shift their mindset on aging from negative to positive gain 7.5 additional years of life.

In addition to workshops at the two campuses, MEA offers online programs and a regular lineup of free live virtual events.