Staff

Announcement:

The Center is seeking a new Executive Director.  Please click here to learn more.

Co-Directors

Marcy Jackson, M.S.W., M.P.H., has primary responsibility for programs, including the Facilitator Preparation Program. She has been facilitating Courage to Teach and Circle of Trust retreats since 1996. For the past 25 years Marcy has worked extensively with individuals, groups, and families as a child and family therapist. She has led retreats in a variety of settings—in hospitals and health care, educational and retreat centers, community mental health and tribal settings.

Terry Chadsey, M.S.T., has primary responsibility for finance, personnel, research and evaluation, and program and organizational development. He has worked in public education for 32 years, teaching grades K through 8 in Chicago, Australia and Washington for 22 of those years. He received a principal credential in 1988 at the University of Washington. For the past 12 years, he has provided leadership to school and district improvement efforts and coaching and professional development to districts and schools, principals and teachers. He is a founder of Sound Discipline, a lead trainer for the Positive Discipline Association and has facilitated Courage & Renewal retreats for six years.

Senior Partner

Parker J. Palmer is founder and Senior Partner of the Center. A writer, speaker and activist, he serves as senior advisor to the Fetzer Institute and previously served as senior associate of the American Association of Higher Education. His seven books include A Hidden Wholeness, Let Your Life Speak, The Courage to Teach, The Active Life, To Know as We Are Known, The Company of Strangers and The Promise of Paradox. He holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley, along with ten honorary doctorates, two Distinguished Achievement Awards from the National Educational Press Association, an Award of Excellence from the Associated Church Press, and major grants from the Danforth Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, and the Fetzer Institute. In 1998, the Leadership Project, a national survey of 10,000 educators, named him one of the thirty “most influential senior leaders” in higher education and one of the ten key “agenda-setters” of the past decade. Living the Questions: Essays Inspired by the Work and Life of Parker J. Palmer, was published in 2005.

Director of Development and Partnerships

Rick Jackson, M.A.R., M.Div., focuses primarily on community and financial development, evaluation, and outreach. Rick consults and speaks with non-profit organizations and foundations on a range of topics, including sustaining the identity and integrity of teachers and leaders, the role of youth in culture, community leadership development, and strategies to foster long-term social change. He was ordained a minister in the United Church of Christ in 1979, and was an executive with the YMCA for 25 years.

Program Manager/Registrar

Robin Gaphni, M.A., has a background in Adult Education and has been an instructor in Motheread/Fatheread, a national family reading and literacy program. Robin has been involved in local education efforts, volunteering in the classroom, on committees and is currently on a board that provides funding for professional development for teachers.

Communications Director

Tracey Denlinger is the daughter of a public school teacher and has more than 18 years of experience serving non-profit organizations as a staff person, board member, and volunteer, and has particular expertise in fundraising and political activism. Prior to joining CCR in 2003, Tracey worked for Planned Parenthood of Western Washington for more than ten years.

Program Director, Courage & Renewal for Clergy

John Fenner is Program Director for the Center for Courage & Renewal's Courage to Lead for Clergy and Congregational Leaders.  He prepared for formation facilitation with Parker Palmer and the Center in 2003 and has co-facilitated numerous national Circle of Trust retreats as well as a seasonal series for nonprofit leaders. John also works as a consultant to nonprofits, churches, and communities on conflict resolution, dialogue, racial equity, and organizational/community change processes. Between 1989 and 2006, John served as Executive Director of the Center for Dialogue, a community-based nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of peaceful communities and positive change in individuals and organizations.

Administrative Coordinator

Cyndi Merritt Prior to joining CCR in June 2006, Cyndi served non-profits for many years as a staff person and volunteer in finance, operations, volunteer program management, development and records management, including 10 years with the Nature Conservancy and 8 years with the University of Washington.

Development Associate

Ann New, M.A., worked in regional educational non-profits for 20 years before joining our staff. She directed the Preparatory Dance Program at Seattle’s Cornish College of the Arts, and Community Programs at IslandWood.