Michael Gurian is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty five books, translated into twenty one languages.  He is founder of the Gurian Institute, and has pioneered efforts to bring neuro-biology and brain research into homes, schools, faith-communities, corporations, and public policy. As author of THE WONDER OF BOYS, LEADERSHIP AND THE SEXES, BOYS AND GIRLS LEARN DIFFERENTLY! and THE WONDER OF GIRLS, he lectures internationally.
 
His Gurian Institute team has developed specific programming for Christian and Catholic Churches and Synagogues and Jewish educators.  Michael has also been active in the Jewish renewal movement, helping to create new Jewish liturgy in English (see Jewish Books).  Michael’s work has been featured in the major media, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, Reform Judaism magazine, Educational Leadership, Time, Newsweek, and on the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, PBS and National Public Radio.

For more details please visit www.michaelgurian.com.

Kathy Stevens, MPA, is Executive Director of the Gurian Institute. She is co-author with Michael Gurian of The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Falling Behind in School and Life (Jossey-Bass, 2005), Strategies for Teaching Boys and Girls: Elementary Level and Strategies for Teaching Boys and Girls: Secondary Level (co-authored with Michael Gurian and Kelley King, Jossey-Bass, 2008).

Kathy presents keynotes and training throughout the US and internationally. Her work has been featured in national publications including Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, Educational Leadership, Education Week and Library Journal.

As Executive Director, Kathy works with educators, parents, youth serving professionals, and faith-communities--helping them understand nature-based theory and adapt curriculum to help both boys and girls maximize their potential in the classroom and in life. Kathy has over 25 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector, focusing on children, youth, families and women’s issues. Her professional experience includes designing and administering programs in early childhood care and education, domestic violence, juvenile corrections, adult community corrections, teen pregnancy prevention, cultural competency and women’s issues. Much of her early work was done in economically disadvantaged minority communities.

Kathy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and a Masters In Public Administration from the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.  She lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Adie Goldberg, ACSW, M.Ed is a board certified social worker who has worked in many clinical and university settings, as well as synagogues and Jewish communities. She has been a psychiatric social worker at WomanHealth, an OB-GYN practice  for over twenty years.

Adie became a certified Gurian trainer while working at Temple Beth Shalom in Spokane, Washington as education director. She utilizes the model in both clinical and educational settings, specializing in early childhood education and Jewish education.

She recently co-authored two parenting books on infancy and early childhood; It's a Baby Boy: The Unique Wonder and Special Nature of your Son from Pregnancy to Two Years and It's a Baby Girl! The Unique Wonder and Special Nature of your Daughter from Pregnancy to Two Years published by Jossey Bass in 2009.  Her work has been featured in various media, including Parenting Magazine and Reform Judaism.

Tim entered ministry as an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in April of 1984 when he joined Community Church of Joy, Glendale, AZ, as the associate pastor.  At the time Tim joined the staff, Community Church of Joy had 1000 in worship.  In the next 10-15 years he was an integral part of the next phase of growth as Joy grew from 1000-3000 in worship.  Much of that growth came as a result of his leadership in developing new, innovative forms of worship at Joy.  He was the “preaching pastor” at two of the 5 weekend services and was the point person/creative leader over all 5 of the services.

In 1994 Abingdon released Tim’s first book: A Community of Joy: How to Create Contemporary Worship.  The book was a part of a larger series called, The Effective Church Series.  Though a “niche” book, the book went on to become a “standard” book in Church Growth Circles on Worship and was even used in some Christian colleges/Seminaries as a recommended text on Contemporary Worship. 

Growing out of Tim’s passion for helping pastors and church leaders better serve their communities, he wrote other books niched to certain areas of ministry including Unfinished Evangelism: More Than Getting Them in the Door (Augsburg)—a book on following up with newcomers, and a handbook on worship called, Contemporary Worship (Abingdon.)

In March of 2005 he left Joy to start a sister congregation of Joy called, Community of Grace, in Peoria, AZ. This new church start has enabled him to pursue new ministry opportunities, specifically in the areas of connecting the church’s mission to the wider world, resulting in 3 trips to Rwanda; and finding new ways to disciple children through adults based on the latest in brain research and theology.