2023 Journal Article Authors

Andrew M. Crockett, CPA, is a civic activist committed to thriving democracy and empowered citizenry. He ran for public office in Silicon Valley in 2022, earning 98,459 votes. He shares his hard-earned wisdom in his 2023 journal paper “Belonging on the Ballot: Rediscovering Democracy.” He acknowledges his partner of 15 years – Jane Beckman – for her support through the campaign and with the paper. Together, they recently saved a community center from closure, and they both serve as executive producers of the feature-length documentary, “Reenactress,” which tells the history of women who covertly fought as soldiers in the American Civil War.

Barbara Lewthwaite is a pioneer, mother, teacher, healer, psychic, and spiritual life coach. Through her love of humanity and Mother Earth, she brings enlightenment and transformation to people and communities worldwide in a variety of contexts, including Māori language schools, English as a second language education, bereavement courses, parenting skills education, and the Hollybush campsite spiritual community, which she ran for 14 years. She is currently gathering champions for leadership in Africa with the Diamond Communities project. Standing for every sector of society to come from compassion, tolerance, creativity, productivity, sustainability, and love, Lewthwaite is currently writing her autobiography.

Diana Page Jordan uses her love of fact-centered and inspirational interviewing — that she developed as a radio and television news anchor and reporter — in her work as a seasoned book coach, publicist, ghostwriter, media coach, and voice talent. As an award-winning multimedia journalist — who concurrently freelanced for transformational authors, entrepreneurs, experts, and organizations – she thrives in all those worlds. Jordan has interviewed thousands of authors, hosted podcasts and videos, written and created book segments for the Associated Press Radio Network’s 800 stations, Martha Stewart Living, SiriusXM, BN.com, and ABC and CBS televions stations, as well as cover stories for Writers Digest.

The Rev. Dr. Eileen Epperson has been a Presbyterian minister for 33 years, serving as a parish minister and a chaplain in several hospitals and hospices. Her ministry now is spiritual life-coaching with individuals and groups. Epperson’s programs empower clients and teams in releasing the past and learning to communicate authentically. She is a seasoned grief-support facilitator. She lives in northwest Connecticut in the United States. Her commitment for the world is: freedom from the past; power in the present.

Lori Watkins was born in Santiago, Chile, and, as an infant, was adopted by American diplomats serving at the U.S. Embassy in Santiago. Living in underdeveloped countries much of her childhood, she is a “third-culture kid.” Watkins absorbed the cultures, history, and traditions of the countries where she lived and, for the past 23 years, has brought all of this to bear on her work as a vocational nurse. Watkins also creates custom paintings with oils and acrylics on canvas and demonstrates her love for community by video-editing for organizations that serve the public. Her commitment for the world: All beings are heard, including human beings.

Peg Miller was born March 31, 1944, in Yakima, Washington. She was born to a mother with undiagnosed bipolar disorder and an alcoholic father. She was abused emotionally, physically, and sexually as a child. These experiences led to her work as a swim instructor and lifeguard, a physical therapist with disabled adults and children, a drug and alcohol counselor and somatic psychotherapist with homeless, traumatized, and addicted criminal men and women. She retired in December of 2020 and has spent the last two years writing with the objective of sharing stories as a way of creating a world of belonging.

Rich Schuster might be considered one of the elders of the Wisdom Course Area. He is committed that all people have access to the created dimension of being, that they are thereby empowered to be up to great and challenging work. In addition to having had a productive career in physics and engineering, he is a student of, and has trained many people in, practices of communication to support aliveness and productivity. Rich and Noreen Schuster live in the San Francisco Bay Area and have been married for more than 40 years.

Sel J. Hwahng, Ph.D., (they/them/their) is an assistant professor of women’s, gender, health, and sexuality studies at Towson University and is also pursuing a master’s degree in cardiovascular epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University. Hwahng is currently leading cardiovascular and nutritional health studies on LGBTQ+ and women of color populations and recently edited a book on global LGBTQ+ health (Springer Nature). Hwahng also teaches the “Being A Leader and the Effective Exercise of Leadership” course to graduate and undergraduate students at two different higher-educational institutions and has been involved in the Wisdom Course Area of Landmark since 2004.

Dr. Te Raukura Roa is a former center manager for Landmark’s Auckland Center. She is an indigenous Māori woman from Aotearoa, New Zealand, and a powerful stand for the empowerment and freedom of her people. She is passionate about the revitalization of her language and culture and the transformation for all people of Aotearoa. She has a Ph.D. in Māori Studies, was a Fulbright Scholar, and is a published author. She owns two Māori businesses, Roa Ltd. and ManaWhatuĀhuru Ltd., which are committed to the creation of Māori language resources and the development of mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge base) programs.