Keynote Speakers

Dr. Steven C. Rockefeller 

Steven C. Rockefeller is professor emeritus of religion at Middlebury College, where he also served as dean of the College. Over the past 20 years, Professor Rockefeller has played a leading role in the drafting and promotion of the Earth Charter, which is a declaration of global interdependence and universal responsibility. He is the author of Democratic Equality, Economic Inequality, and the Earth Charter (Earth Charter International, 2015). Active in the field of philanthropy, he served as a trustee of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) for 33 years and chaired the Fund’s board from 1998 to 2006.

Steven received his Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City and his Ph.D. from Columbia University. He is the author of John Dewey: Religious Faith and Democratic Humanism (Columbia, 1991) and the coeditor of two books of essays, The Christ and the Bodhisattva (SUNY, 1987) and Spirit and Nature: Why the Environment is a Religious Issue (Beacon, 1992). His essays are published in numerous books and journals.

Dr. Lisa Miller

Lisa Miller is the President of The Collaborative for Spirituality in Education and Professor of Psychology and Education at Columbia University, Teachers College. She is Founder of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program in spirituality and psychology. Dr. Miller is the author of “The Spiritual Child; The New Science of Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving.” Her innovative research has focused on quantifiable effects of spirituality in health, resilience and thriving, and an overall sacred and joyful life. Her clinical and consultation work focuses on spiritual awareness and spiritual growth, for individuals, families, groups and organizations.

Dr. Miller is a foremost scientist on spirituality across the lifespan,with her work published in top research journals including JAMAPsychiatry, American Journal of Psychiatry, and the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Based upon her decade and a half of experience, she offers talks, workshops and consultations on spirituality in healthy development to parents and schools, adult wellness groups, and private and public organizations. She is the Editor of The Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality and Co-Editor of the APA journal, Spirituality in Clinical Practice. She has been elected as Fellow by the American Psychological Association, as well as for the Virginia Sexton Mentoring Award of graduate students. A graduate of Yale, she received her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania from Martin Seligman. She frequently is cited in print and in on-line media and has appeared on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and NBC Today Show as an expert.

Dr. Jack Miller

Jack Miller has been working in the field of holistic education for over 40 years. Dr. Miller teaches courses on holistic education and contemplative education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto where he is Professor. He is author/editor of 20 books on holistic learning and contemplative practices in education which include The Holistic Curriculum, The Contemplative Practitioner, Love and Compassion: Exploring Their Role in Education and The International Handbook of Holistic Education. His writing has been translated into nine languages. The Holistic Curriculum was used to develop the program for Equinox Holistic Alternative School in Toronto.

Dr. Miller has worked extensively with holistic educators in Japan, Korea and Hong Kong for the past 20 years. He has been a visiting professor at two universities in Japan and also at the Hong Kong Institute of Education. In 2009 Jack was invited with 20 other educators from around the world to Bhutan to help that country orient its education system to the country’s goal of Gross National Happiness (GNH).

Timothy Shriver

Timothy Shriver leads the International Board of Directors of Special Olympics and serves together with over 5.6 million Special Olympics athletes in 172 countries to promote health, education, and a more unified world through the joy of sports.
In addition, Timothy is a leading educator who focuses on the social and emotional factors in learning. He co-founded and currently chairs The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the leading school reform organization in the field of social and emotional learning.

He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Co-Chairman of the National Commission on Social and Emotional Learning, President of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, Member of the Board of Directors for the WPP Group, LLC, and is a co-founder of Lovin’ Scoopful Ice Cream Company. Shriver earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University, a Master’s degree from Catholic University, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Connecticut. He has produced 4 films, is the author of the New York Times Best Selling book Fully Alive – Discovering What Matters Most, has written for dozens of newspapers and magazines and has been rewarded with degrees and honors which he happily accepted on behalf of others.

Panelists

CONFERENCE PANELS

PANEL 1

School Culture: CSE Research and Findings

Dr. Lisa Miller

Dr. Lisa Miller

Moderator

Lisa Miller is the President of The Collaborative for Spirituality in Education and Professor of Psychology and Education at Columbia University, Teachers College. She is the Author of “The Spiritual Child; The New Science of Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving.” In addition she founded The Spiritual Mind Body Institute at Columbia.

 

Reverend Dr. Julian Bull

Reverend Dr. Julian Bull

Panelist

The Rev. Canon Julian P. Bull is the third headmaster of Campbell Hall (est. 1944), an Episcopal school in Los Angeles, California with 1130 students in grades K-12. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, his Master’s in Philosophy from Boston College, and his Master’s in Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary.

 

 Dr. Ann Marie Krejcarek

Dr. Ann Marie Krejcarek

Panelist

In her 30 plus years in education, Ann Marie Krejcarek has served in three Pre K-12 schools each with a focus on the whole child – mind, body and spirit. Each of these schools varied geographically and emerged from different core faith traditions. She currently is the President of Schools of the Sacred Heart-San Francisco and is in her 7th year in this role.

 

Ivan M. Hageman

Ivan M. Hageman

Panelist

Ivan is the founder of The East Harlem School, a middle school in El Barrio  in their 27th year.  As a proud son of Spanish Harlem, he describes the school as a place of serenity and virtue. Ivan holds a BA in Social Anthropology from Harvard College and a MA from Harvard Graduate School of Education.  

CONFERENCE PANELS

PANEL 1

School Culture:

CSE Research and Findings

Dr. Lisa Miller

Dr. Lisa Miller

Moderator

Lisa Miller is the President of The Collaborative for Spirituality in Education and Professor of Psychology and Education at Columbia University, Teachers College. She is the Author of “The Spiritual Child; The New Science of Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving.” In addition she founded The Spiritual Mind Body Institute at Columbia.

 

Rev. Julian Bull

Rev. Julian Bull

Panelist

The Rev. Canon Julian P. Bull is the third headmaster of Campbell Hall (est. 1944), an Episcopal school in Los Angeles, California with 1130 students in grades K-12. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, his Master’s in Philosophy from Boston College, and his Master’s in Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary.

 

 Dr. Ann Marie Krejcarek

Dr. Ann Marie Krejcarek

Panelist

In her 30 plus years in education, Ann Marie Krejcarek has served in three Pre K-12 schools each with a focus on the whole child – mind, body and spirit. Each of these schools varied geographically and emerged from different core faith traditions. She currently is the President of Schools of the Sacred Heart-San Francisco and is in her 7th year in this role.

 

Ivan M. Hageman

Ivan M. Hageman

Panelist

Ivan is the founder of The East Harlem School, a middle school in El Barrio  in their 27th year.  As a proud son of Spanish Harlem, he describes the school as a place of serenity and virtue. Ivan holds a BA in Social Anthropology from Harvard College and a MA from Harvard Graduate School of Education.  

PANEL 2

Teaching Interconnectedness:

The Dynamics of Nature, Ecology and Civility

Robin Young

Robin Young

Moderator

Robin Young brings more than 25 years of broadcast experience to her role as host of Here & Now. She is a Peabody Award-winning documentary filmmaker who has also reported for NBC, CBS and ABC television and for several years was substitute host and correspondent for “The Today Show.”

Robin has received several Emmy Awards for her television work, as well as cable’s Ace Award, the Religious Public Relations Council’s Wilbur Award and the National Conference of Christians and Jews Gold Award. She has also received radio’s regional Edward R. Murrow Award.

Dr. Walter Fluker

Dr. Walter Fluker

Panelist

Professor and Minister Walter Fluker was born on August 26, 1951 in Vaiden, Mississippi. He served in U.S. Army as a Chaplain’s Assistant from 1971 to 1973, received his B.A. degree in philosophy and biblical studies from Trinity College in 1977, and M.Div. degree in 1980 from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Fluker completed his Ph.D. degree in social ethics at Boston University, in 1988. 

Drawing on the work of Howard Thurman and Martin Luther King, Jr., Fluker says that in a global community it is important for religious leadership to be both reflective and active in compassionately negotiating various ethical viewpoints.

 

Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker

Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker

Panelist

Mary Evelyn Tucker is a Senior Lecturer and Research Scholar at Yale University where she has appointments in the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies as well as the Divinity School and the Department of Religious Studies. She teaches in the joint MA program in Religion and Ecology and directs the Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale with her husband, John Grim

Mary Evelyn created an Emmy Award winning film, Journey of the Universe, along with a book published by Yale Press and online course with Yale/Coursera.

 

Dr. Sam Crowell

Dr. Sam Crowell

Panelist

Sam Crowell is professor emeritus from California State University, San Bernardino where he was the recipient of both the Outstanding Teaching Award and the Outstanding Professional Accomplishments Award.  He is the founder of the Masters Program in Holistic and Integrative Education and a founding member of the Network in Spirituality and Education. 

Dr. Judd Kruger-Levingston

Dr. Judd Kruger-Levingston

Panelist

Judd Kruger-Levingston is the Director of Jewish Studies at Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy and the author of Sowing the Seeds of Character: The Moral Education of Adolescents in Public and Private Schools.  He teaches that instead of offering sermons, precepts, and prescriptions, educators can most effectively instill moral intelligence through example, critical thinking and role-playing exercises, and real-world applications outside the classroom. He serves as the lead advisor to his school’s Derech Eretz/Honor Council which is based on four core values:  Honor, Moral Courage, Kindness and Community.

Robin Young

Robin Young

Moderator

Robin Young brings more than 25 years of broadcast experience to her role as host of Here & Now. She is a Peabody Award-winning documentary filmmaker who has also reported for NBC, CBS and ABC television and for several years was substitute host and correspondent for “The Today Show.”

Robin has received several Emmy Awards for her television work, as well as cable’s Ace Award, the Religious Public Relations Council’s Wilbur Award and the National Conference of Christians and Jews Gold Award. She has also received radio’s regional Edward R. Murrow Award.

Dr. Walter Fluker

Dr. Walter Fluker

Panelist

Professor and Minister Walter Fluker was born on August 26, 1951 in Vaiden, Mississippi. He served in U.S. Army as a Chaplain’s Assistant from 1971 to 1973, received his B.A. degree in philosophy and biblical studies from Trinity College in 1977, and M.Div. degree in 1980 from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Fluker completed his Ph.D. degree in social ethics at Boston University, in 1988. 

Drawing on the work of Howard Thurman and Martin Luther King, Jr., Fluker says that in a global community it is important for religious leadership to be both reflective and active in compassionately negotiating various ethical viewpoints.

Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker

Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker

Panelist

Mary Evelyn Tucker is a Senior Lecturer and Research Scholar at Yale University where she has appointments in the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies as well as the Divinity School and the Department of Religious Studies. She teaches in the joint MA program in Religion and Ecology and directs the Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale with her husband, John Grim

Mary Evelyn created an Emmy Award winning film, Journey of the Universe, along with a book published by Yale Press and online course with Yale/Coursera.

 

Dr. Sam Crowell

Dr. Sam Crowell

Panelist

Sam Crowell is professor emeritus from California State University, San Bernardino where he was the recipient of both the Outstanding Teaching Award and the Outstanding Professional Accomplishments Award.  He is the founder of the Masters Program in Holistic and Integrative Education and a founding member of the Network in Spirituality and Education. 

Dr. Judd Kruger-Levingston

Dr. Judd Kruger-Levingston

Panelist

Judd Kruger-Levingston is the Director of Jewish Studies at Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy and the author of Sowing the Seeds of Character: The Moral Education of Adolescents in Public and Private Schools.  He teaches that instead of offering sermons, precepts, and prescriptions, educators can most effectively instill moral intelligence through example, critical thinking and role-playing exercises, and real-world applications outside the classroom.He serves as the lead advisor to his school’s Derech Eretz/Honor Council which is based on four core values:  Honor, Moral Courage, Kindness and Community.

PANEL 3

Educational Initiatives: Collaboration and Convergence

Linda Lantieri

Linda Lantieri

Panelist

Linda Lantieri has been in the field of education for over 40 years in a variety of capacities: classroom teacher, assistant principal, director of a middle school in East Harlem, and faculty member at Hunter College in New York City. She is a Fulbright Scholar and internationally known speaker in the areas of Social and Emotional Learning, Contemplative Teaching and Learning and Mindfulness in Education.

Linda is one of the co-founders and presently a Senior Program Advisor for the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL). She is also core faculty of the Spirituality Mind Body Intensive M.A. Degree Program at Teachers College, Columbia University and has been involved with designing and leading the concentration in K-12 education since its beginning in 2014.

Dr. Maurice Elias

Dr. Maurice Elias

Panelist

Maurice J. Elias is a professor in the Psychology Department at Rutgers University, director of the Rutgers Social-Emotional Learning Lab, and academic director of the Collaborative Center for Community-Based Research and Service at Rutgers.

Professor Elias lectures nationally and internationally to educators and parents about students’ emotional intelligence, school success, and social-emotional and character development. He is a recent recipient of the Sanford McDonnell Award for Lifetime Achievement in Character Education.