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Chiara is a curator, project manager and researcher whose mission is to explore and create transformative artistic experiences that put people deeply in touch with themselves and their emotions, for a more peaceful and empathic world. Chiara holds a Masters in Management of Creative Processes. She has contributed to run and curate the "Global We" project at UN Live, as well as "Karl Lagerfeld" exhibition at the Met from Fendi side. Chiara curated several art performances for Live Art Denmark; started a series of talks on art and empathy; the art program at KUNE; and, directed the art program of an art and music festival focused on multimediality and community.

My current role is Director of Communications, where I’ve been focused on establishing our newly launched department and refining external communications. Prior to this, I worked with a literacy nonprofit in Philadelphia and earned an interdisciplinary master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. My academic interests lie at the intersections of history, anthropology, religion, and philosophy, and I am especially curious about how scholarly insights can be applied for broader public impact. Outside of work, I enjoy the outdoors, reading, staying active, my dog, and a great cocktail.

Bret Bostock is Assistant Director at Glencairn Museum. His chief responsibilities include coordinating exhibitions and collections management. He holds an M.A. in Heritage and Interpretation from the University of Leicester, and a B.A. in Anthropology from Temple University. His interests lie at the intersection of religion and material culture, particularly how spirituality is expressed through artistic practice, and how religious heritage can be used to foster interreligious dialogue. Bret is also a musician and avid gardener.

Curtis Childs is an international speaker and influencer, and the Chief Visionary Officer at the Swedenborg Foundation. He is the creator and host of the Off The Left Eye brand which has over 50 million video views and over 600,000 followers across social media. Curtis is passionate about trying to make spirituality accessible and practical in order to help people solve problems they previously thought were unsolvable.

Kate Christen is an environmental historian, writer, and consultant. Presently she's exploring research themes regarding back-to-landers and mountain cultures, as well as topics on urban ecology and carbon neutral housing/facilities development. Winters lately find Kate working on a trail maintenance and snowfarming crew at White Grass Ski Touring Center in West Virginia's Canaan Valley. Pondering both the graces and pitfalls of empathy and empathic behavior is constituent to all that’s above. In association with this collective, Kate may be contemplating some new empathy-themed writing, perhaps drawing upon regenerative personal experiences from the remarkable field of vision therapy.

Wendy Closterman is an Associate Curator at Glencairn Museum and a Professor of History and Greek at Bryn Athyn College. She holds a PhD in Classics, and her research examines funeral ritual in Greco-Roman antiquity, with a particular focus on what such burial practices meant for the living.

My specialty is crafting narratives for experiences that resonate with audiences. As a consultant, I assist teams in uncovering, distilling, and shaping their ideas into

memorable exhibitions and engagements. I assist clients by providing interpretive

planning, content development, exhibition planning, and project management support

tailored to their team’s needs. I have years of experience creating exhibitions and

educational spaces for museums. My specialties are content, exhibition, experience, and interactive planning for imaginative, family-focused spaces that are relevant and resonant to target audiences.

I teach in the Graduate Exhibition & Experience Design program at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NY City. I hold a BS in Biology and an MFA in Exhibition Planning and Design. 

Throughout her career, Nina Cooper Dewees has been a health and physical education teacher, coach, athletic director and residence life director at the high school and college levels. These decades in education were foundational in her learning and teaching about, as well as practicing empathy.

In 2011, she began working for Bryn Athyn Church, helping to connect people with meaningful volunteer activities, and learning and support programs. In every moment of her professional and personal life, empathy is critical. She is thrilled to participate in this Summit.

Since 1987, Ed Gyllenhaal has served as the Curator of Glencairn Museum, where he leads the research and interpretation of the museum’s collection, curates exhibitions, develops tour narratives, and produces publications. Ed uses art and artifacts to explore religious experiences across different cultures and historical periods, with the goal of fostering empathy and reflection in museum visitors as they engage with diverse spiritual perspectives. Ed holds an M.A. in Egyptology from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in Religion from Bryn Athyn College.

Allison is a strategic organizational finance leader with over two decades’ experience in Higher Education and Mission Driven organizations. She currently serves as a Global Finance Director at The Nature Conservancy, working with colleagues around the world to mainstream Healthy Food System solutions that nourish people and nature.  A graduate of West Georgia College and The George Washington University, she has recently been inspired on her leadership journey to practice conscious compassion in business contexts. The 7th Annual Designing for Empathy Summit & Workshop resonates with this inspiration.

I've always been fascinated by culture, languages, and understanding humankind. This curiosity has led me to pursue a path in diplomacy, where I hope to utilize my skills for positive change. I’m currently enrolled at Virginia Tech and pursuing a degree in International Studies with a minor in Chinese. Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/abner-parzen-51a399274

Laurie is an award-winning artist/designer, life coach, and leadership trainer. She co-created Museum Sage, an innovative program that transforms museum visits into personal, reflective journeys. Visitors ask meaningful life questions and find insights through their chosen artwork, fostering deep connections with the art, other participants, and their own wisdom. Museum Sage has been featured at AAM conferences and at museums like the de Young, the Phillips Collection, and the High Museum. A free app is available on Apple and Android. Ask her about the all-ages oracle card deck and an SEL-based K-12 card deck coming in 2025.

Dina has worked in nonprofit organizations serving Muslim, intercultural, and interfaith communities in Chicago for twenty-five years. She holds three advanced degrees from the University of Chicago in Social Service Administration, Middle Eastern Studies, and Religious Studies.

Seldon Institute is a collaborative space for research, knowledge exchange, immersive experiences, and social entrepreneurship to explore a more relevant and nuanced understanding of Islam. The Institute explores the various definitions of Islam, their history, and implications on understanding and lived experience. Seldon aims to bridge educational, religious, and cultural institutions—traditionally working in silos on Islamic thought and the arts—with each other and the public.

Alissa Schapiro serves as Associate Curator and Collections Specialist at the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles. Schapiro has contributed to museum exhibitions and catalogues at institutions including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Princeton University Art Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Her research on the relationship between American art and antisemitism during World War II has been supported by leading Jewish and Holocaust Studies organizations and has been featured in exhibitions, publications, and films. Schapiro holds a B.A. from Harvard University, an M.A. from London's Courtauld Institute of Art, and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University.

Michelle (Shelly) Seaters is an empathy-driven leader with over 25 years of experience in the museum, healthcare, technology, and energy sectors. As a founding leader of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), founding director of Saudi Arabia’s first children’s museum, and director of the Saudi Aramco Community Heritage Museum, Michelle created exhibits and programs explicitly to foster empathy, curiosity, and creativity among diverse communities. With an M.A. in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester and a B.A. in International Relations from UC Davis, she also led strategic vision care and disaster relief programs for underserved communities at VSP. Michelle is now seeking her next career challenge.

Leah Smith graduated from the University of Illinois with a BA in history in 1987. She was employed in a wide variety of jobs after graduation including working for an engineering company in their catastrophic investigation department. In 2004 Leah was hired as a part-time education assistant at Glencairn Museum. Leah’s position at Glencairn Museum grew to include managing tours, volunteers, rental events, visitor services, and marketing. She served on several committees at Glencairn Museum and served as chair of the DEAI advisory committee. She is now semi-retired working 20 hours per week at the museum.

Mary Hall Surface is an award-winning Washington, DC-based director/playwright with productions across the US, Europe, Japan, Taiwan and Canada, including eighteen productions at the Kennedy Center.  A museum educator and teaching artist, she uses creative writing, drama and movement to expand perspective, uncover complexity, and deepen understanding.  She served on the faculty of Harvard’s Project Zero Classroom from 2014 – 19 and presents workshops nationwide through the Smithsonian Associates, Kennedy Center, National Gallery of Art and more. From 2009 – 15, she was the artistic director of DC’s Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival, where she designed over 600 performances and events to deepen connections among artists and audiences of all ages, communities, and perspectives. www.maryhallsurface.com

John Wetenhall is founding director of the George Washington University Museum and serves on the faculty of GW’s Graduate Program in Museum Studies. A museum director for over 25 years, he has led transformations at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida, the Cheekwood Museum of Art in Nashville and the Birmingham Museum of Art. Service on museum association boards includes AAM, ICOM-US and AAMG. He is an art historian, educated at Dartmouth (BA), Williams (MA) and Stanford (MA, PhD), with an MBA from Vanderbilt. Recent writings focus on the values, ethics, and “business” of museums.