Tai Sophia Faculty Bios

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Program Director

Anne Huyler Baker, M.A.

Anne received her M.A. degree in Applied Healing Arts from Tai Sophia Institute. She is currently a faculty member, Transformative Practice Group Leader, and advisor at Tai Sophia. Anne is a practitioner of Aquatic Integration Therapy, Reiki, Zero Balancing, Emotional Freedom Technique, Neurofeedback, and other energy modalities. In addition, she holds retreats at her farm/retreat center in Maryland and has taught numerous workshops on topics including: stillness, meditation, the scared labyrinth, EFT, and psychokinesis. Anne is a life long educator whose passion is empowering people of all ages to find their own personal stillness. "She brings a promise to life of grounded nurturing of infinite possibilities." Anne is the mother of Margaret Huyler Baker, of New York, and of Catherine Baker Boyd of Boston.

Core Course Faculty

Tom Balles, M.Ac.
	A member of the Institute's class of '82, Mr. Balles received a Licentiate in Acupuncture from the College of Traditional Acupuncture (UK) in 1986 and his Master of Acupuncture degree from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute in 1990. He is a former Dean of Faculty for the Master of Acupuncture program, and now serves as a Distinguished Lecturer in the Applied Healing Arts program. The author of Dancing with the Ten Thousand Things, Mr. Balles practices acupuncture, Zero Balancing, and Personal Coaching at his office in Laurel, MD. He brings with him a great love of Nature, and a passionate commitment to embodied learning.

David Beares, M.Ac.
	David Beares is a licensed acupuncturist who runs a practice and teaches in both the acupuncture and AHA programs at Tai Sophia. Coming from an educational background in environmental politics, he has spent extensive time in the outdoors, including being a counselor at a wilderness camp for incarcerated youth, hiking the 2,168 mile Appalachian Trail, and studying wilderness survival at Tom Brown Jr.’s Tracker School. David brings a strong background of both educational and experiential knowledge to the Oneness with Nature unit.

Dianne M. Connelly, Ph.D., M.Ac., Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM)
	A practitioner of traditional acupuncture since 1972 and cofounder and chancellor of the Institute, Dr. Connelly received her master's qualification from the College of Traditional Acupuncture (UK) in 1979. She obtained a Ph.D. in crosscultural medicine from Union Graduate School in 1975, an M.A. from New York University School of Education in 1970, and her B.A. from Le Moyne College in 1967. Chancellor of the Institute and an international lecturer (she lectures regularly in Italy and Germany), she is the author of Traditional Acupuncture: The Law of the Five Elements, All Sickness is Home Sickness, and coauthor of Alive and Awake: Wisdom for Kids. She is the mother of Blaize, Jade, and Caeli, as well as grandmother to Tamar, Lennox and Rianna.

Robert M. Duggan, M.A., M.Ac. (UK), Dipl.Ac. (NCCA)
	Robert Duggan is president of the Institute and has practiced traditional acupuncture since 1972. He studied under Professor J. R. Worsley at the College of Traditional Acupuncture (UK), where he received his master's qualification in 1979. He received a master's degree in human relations and community studies from the School of Education of New York University in 1970, and a master's degree in moral theology from St. Joseph's Seminary and College in 1964. He has served as chair of the Maryland State Board of Acupuncture and as a commissioner of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. He is the author of Common Sense for the Healing Arts,published in 2004.

Susan Duggan, M.Ac.
	A graduate of Skidmore College with a specialization in Health and Human Services, Ms. Duggan has practiced bodywork since 1986 and taught at the Potomac Massage Therapy Institute in Washington, DC. She holds a Master's degree from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute and teaches classes on the arts of living and dying. Prior to her studies of acupuncture and bodywork she coordinated educational programs at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. Susan is currently in a leadership program with the Academy for the Love of Learning.

Gail Geller, Sc.D., M.H.S.
	Gail Geller, Sc.D., M.H.S. is an Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine with a joint appointment in the Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is a core faculty member in the Berman Bioethics Institute (BBI). As a social & behavioral scientist, her main interests center around communication and decision-making under conditions of uncertainty, and social and cultural differences in values and beliefs about health and illness. The overlap of these two interests, coupled with her training in the SOPHIA program has pointed her in the direction of research and education regarding complementary & alternative medicine. She developed and co-directed the educational component of the Johns Hopkins Center for the Study of Complementary & Alternative Medicine in Cancer. She is also the ethics representative on the Data Safety & Monitoring Board of the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). In 2000, she received a fellowship from the Kornfeld Foundation to explore the intersection between bioethics, complementary medicine and healing. Gail co-directs a course for Hopkins’ medical students called the “Healer’s Art” (established by Rachel Remen at UCSF). She is an adjunct faculty member (and ombudsperson) at the Tai Sophia Institute where she and Bob Duggan co-direct the “New Science, New Thinking” course in the Masters Program in the Applied Healing Arts.

Allyson Jones, M.Ac., L.Ac.
	Allyson Jones is a licensed acupuncturist and co-owner of Point Well Taken Acupuncture Center in Baltimore, Maryland. She holds a Master of Acupuncture from the TAI Sophia Institute for the Healing Arts where she continues to serve on the faculty in both the Applied Healing Arts and Acupuncture degree programs. Allyson also teaches Tai Sophia’s “Redefining Health” workshops to business and community groups, both nationally and internationally. She is a Diplomate of Acupuncture with the National Certification Commission on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Allyson’s prior work experience includes clinical social work, child advocacy and corporate public affairs consulting. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland and a BA in Russian Studies from the University of Virginia.

Tina Lightner-Morris, M.S., RH (AHG), LCPC
	Tina Lightner-Morris, MS, RH(AHG), LCPC: is a graduate of Dr Christopher's School of Natural Healing with a certificate as Master Herbalist and Loyola College with a Master of Science and Certificate of Advanced Standing in Pastoral Counseling and currently, a PhD canidate. Tina is a Lisenced Clinical Professional Counselor, Nationally Board Certified and a Fellow in The American Association of Pastoral Counselors as well as a Professional Member of the American Herbalist Guild. Tina's other studies include the professional training in Mind, Body, Spirit Medicine, Reiki and EMDR, trauma resolution therapy. And most important, Tina is a spiritual seeker whose other roles include wife and mother to a son, two dogs, a cat and a garden.

Helen Buss Mitchell, Ph.D.
	Dr. Mitchell is a professor of philosophy and director of women's studies at Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland. She is the author of Roots of Wisdom, an introductory text in world philosophy, and Readings from the Roots of Wisdom, a compilation of diverse fiction and nonfictional writings. With her husband, Joseph R. Mitchell, she is co-author/editor of two history readers in the Dushkin/McGraw-Hill Taking Sides series - one on World History and the other in Western Civilization - as well as The Holocaust: Readings and Interpretations. In partnership with Howard Community College, Dr. Mitchell created, scripted, and hosted a 23-lesson telecourse "For The Love of Wisdom," based on her philosophy text and reader, that is currently being distributed nationally by PBS. Dr. Mitchell is a graduate of the SOPHIA Program and has been in practice with the SOPHIA distinctions for over 15 years.

John G. Sullivan, JCD, Ph.D.
	John Sullivan is Powell Professor of Philosophy Emeritus and Distinguished University Professor Emeritus at Elon University. A long-time participant in the work of Tai Sophia, he is the principal designer of Tai Sophia's Master of Applied Healing Arts program. Dr. Sullivan is the author of Living Large:Transformative Work at the Intersection of Ethics and Spirituality (2004) and To Come to Life More Fully: An East West Journey (1990). His abiding interest is the place where philosophy, psychology, and spirituality - East, West, and beyond - intersect and mutually enhance one another.

Transformative Practice Group Faculty

Douglas G. Drewyer, DDS, MA
	Douglas Drewyer received his B.S. in Biology from James Madison University in 1978. He continued on to the University of Maryland Dental School, earning his D.D.S. In 1982. He enjoyed a partnership with his father, Darwin, in their General Dentistry practice, and is now in private practice with an emphasis in General Dentistry and Implant Prosthetics in Silver Spring, MD. In January, 2002, Douglas began his studies with the inaugural class of the Applied Healing Arts program, becoming its first graduate in 2005. His Project of Excellence has continued as an annual course offering at the University of Md Dental School: What is possible, and How Might we Build on That? Transforming What It Means to be a Dentist in the 21st Century. Douglas is a member of the Dean's Faculty at the dental school, a Transformative Practice Group Mentor and Faculty Advisor at the TAI SOPHIA Institute, Coordinator of Coaches Training for HCYP Baseball, and coach of the Laurel Post 60 American Legion Baseball Team. He is husband to Elaine, father to Douglas, Jr., Danielle and Austin. Douglas declares with his initial acknowledged breath of each and everyday, that he is on vacation, whether at his beloved schools, with his cherished teams, his staff and patients, family time or amongst the tribe of troubadours that follows him on his life's path.

Diane B. Kane, M.Ac., L.Ac.
	Diane Kane is a licensed acupuncturist and an associate faculty member in both the Masters in Acupuncture and the Masters in Applied Healing Arts programs at Tai Sophia Institute. In addition to teaching and conducting a private practice, Diane supervises interns at a West Baltimore clinic and contributes to the medical community as a lecturer and a resource to physicians. She obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 1990 from Towson University A great honor to her has been her role as mother to her son who was born in March of 2006. and a Master’s in Acupuncture Degree in 1998 from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute, now Tai Sophia Institute.

Sarah Kirk, M.A.
	Sarah Kirk is a graduate of the August '02 class of the Applied Healing Arts program. She joined the faculty in the role of Transformative Practice Group Faculty in 2005. She came to Tai Sophia Institute through their partnership with Kennedy Krieger Institute where she worked for 6 years. In addition to her faculty position she is currently tending the future generation as a stay-at-home mother.

Stacey MacFarlane, M.Ac.
	A graduate of the acupuncture program at Tai Sophia, Stacey MacFarlane has been joyfully practicing and teaching since 2001. Prior to her studies of acupuncture, she spent 15 years engaged as a performer and creator in the theatre arts. She studied, worked, and performed in the US and abroad. The unique intersection of these passions, theatre and acupuncture, has helped her to understand that the creative arts are healing and the healing arts are creative. Same river, different shape -- it's all about living fully and truly.

Belinda Reed, J.D., M.A.
	Belinda Reed is an attorney, mediator and restorative justice practitioner. A 2005 graduate of the first Applied Healing Arts class, she is now a Transformative Practice Group faculty member in this graduate degree program. She is President-Elect of the Maryland Chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution and co-chair of the Restorative Justice section. In this capacity, with the assistance of a number of people from a variety of dispute resolution and criminal justice backgrounds, she spearheaded the planning of Maryland's First Annual Restorative Justice Conference that was held in November 2006 at Howard Community College. In addition to the basic 40-hour mediation training, she has received training in Victim-Offender Mediation, Community Conferencing, and most recently, in Peacemaking Circles. She is teaches Introduction to Conflict Resolution at Howard Community College and has developed a curriculum for an Introduction to Restorative Justice Course that she will facilitate in Spring 2009.

Nancy Takahashi, M.Ac.
	Nancy has served in the human services and community health fields and counseled in outpatient and college settings for over 16 years. She received a Master’s degree in Acupuncture from the Tai Sophia Institute; practices in Ashton, MD; and teaches in the Acupuncture and Applied Healing Arts Programs.

Jen Violi, M.A., M.F.A.
	A full-time graduate admissions counselor for Tai Sophia, Jen is also a writer, dreamer, and make-things-happen-er. In May 2007, Jen graduated from the University of New Orleans with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. She also holds an M.A. in Theological Studies and a B.A. in English and Theatre from the University of Dayton (U.D.). For seven years, Jen worked as a campus minister and Director of Retreats and Faith Development at U.D. She has designed and facilitated numerous retreats and has written over fourteen spiritual dramas. Her fiction has been published in The Baltimore Review, Ellipsis, and The Impact Weekly. She lives in Takoma Park with her beloved, Jeremy, and quite a bit of whale paraphernalia.