Fred Stella was born, raised and educated in Detroit. He graduated the University of Detroit in 1977 with a degree in Communication Studies. His interest in world religions dates back at least that far. Fred became involved with Interfaith Dialogue Association by joining one of its long standing discussion groups in 1994. Shortly after, he was elected to the IDA board of directors. After a brief stint as vice president, his tenure as president began. During this time Fred has lectured extensively on matters of faith, spirituality and inter-religious cooperation. In 2005 he completed a 30 city tour of India where he spoke on meeting aggressive evangelical conversion campaigns with nonviolent resistance. Much of Fred's work with IDA consists in producing the weekly radio program, Common Threads, which is aired on the NPR affiliate in Grand Rapids, WGVU. For over a dozen years this show has offered a forum for authors, clergy and lay people alike, as the various world wisdom traditions are explored.

Deana Weibel was born in Orange, California and received her Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from UC San Diego in 2001. She began teaching anthropology at Grand Valley State University in 2003 and her most frequently taught class is Comparative Religions. Deana does ethnographic research primarily in Rocamadour, France and Chimayó, New Mexico, studying Roman Catholic pilgrimage sites and their use by both Catholics and people from other religious groups. She has also written on the religious practices of astronauts with her husband, Glen E. Swanson.

Steve Sampson was born in Fremont, Michigan and lived on a farm in Oceana County. He took vows with the Missionary Brothers of Charity in Los Angeles in 1981. After being assigned to Houston and working in the county jail he began questioning many concepts learned in his youth. He left the community before final vows and took over as production manager of Butterball Farms. During this time he converted to Theravada Buddhism. Steve retired in 1997 and now writes. He is currently working on his 2nd book. He took his Precepts in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh at the Vietnamese Buddhist Temple in Lansing in April of 2007. Steve is also a member of the 'Mindfulness Meditation Community' which meets weekly in Grand Rapids.  For more information, contact Steve at 616-915-2024 or Steve.Sampson@comcast.net.

 

Gloria Holmes was born in Niles Twp, Michigan. She is a retired school teacher who graduated with her master's in Early Childhood from Western Michigan University. She's married with two grown children and is a member of the Baha'i Faith since 1961. She currently is a member of the local administrative body of her faith in Grand Rapids. She also tutors adults, children and youth about the spiritual teachings of her faith.

 

Sheldon Kopperl did his undergraduate work in chemistry at Case Western Reserve University in his home town of Cleveland.  There he also undertook some advanced Hebrew studies at the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland.  He received his Ph.D. in chemistry and the history of science in 1970 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Since 1970 he has taught at Grand Valley University and is Professor of Biomedical Sciences, History of Science, and Religious Studies.  His research interests include scientific and medical thought in the Hebrew Bible and post-Biblical authoritative (Rabbinic) Jewish texts.

Debbie Mageed was born in England and raised in the USA.  She worked as a nurse and administrative assistant until her last child was born in 1997.  She converted to Islam in 1998 while her husband was working in Saudi Arabia.  Debbie is active in the Muslim as well as the interfaith community.