“When you need advice, make sure you choose your advisor wisely. There.”
Robert T. Kiyosaki
Rev. Dr. James Ewing
Former Executive Director, American Association of Pastoral Counseling and Professor of Pastoral Care: Before retiring in 2011, Jim built a vast career in pastoral ministry and education, focusing on grief and loss. In the 1950’s Jim served as Parish Minister and Associate Pastor in Montana and Kansas, then moved to St. Louis, MO to begin a new ecumenical campus ministry program at Washington University (WU). He later joined the WU administrative staff and worked with students involved in activism and social justice. In the 1960’s, Jim began a private practice as a Pastoral Counselor. He served as professor at Edens Seminary, where he developed D.Min level courses on grief and loss, and in 1975, he became Chair of the Pastoral Care department and fully tenured Professor. Jim served as the first full-time Executive Director of the American Association of Pastoral Counseling and developed Pastoral Counseling and Doctor of Psychology degree programs for United States International University (now Alliant International University). He earned a Bachelor of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary, Master of Sacred Theology from Eden Seminary, and Ph.D. in Psychology and Education. He developed courses in Gerontology and the broader context of loss, and believes that healing grief involves having a companion with whom to journey as one moves through the “dark night of the soul.”
Dr. Lydia Woods
Founder & CEO of Drum Arizona, Inc. Minister, Poet & Masters Athlete. Dr. Lydia Woods is the first African American to earn a Doctorate in Kinesiology (the study of Human Movement) from the University of Georgia, in 1990. In 2012, she earned a dual degree, Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Education from Gammon Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC), in Atlanta, Georgia. Woods retired from Morehouse College in 2012 (after 38 years of teaching) to become an Outreach Minister. She founded the non-profit organization Drum Arizona, Inc. in 2016 with a mission to promote mental, emotional and physical healing through the experience of African Djembe and Native American Style drumming. Drum Arizona makes and paints Native American style drums to give to children who have been traumatized through hospitalization, homelessness, and foster care, and those with special needs. The non-profit has given away over 970 drums. Woods is Founder & CEO of two non-profit organizations: Drum Arizona, Inc. and Ambassadors for Senior Olympics. As a Senior Olympian and Masters track and field multi-event athlete, Woods is a prolific medal winner. In 2008, she became the first person to be nationally ranked in her age group in all 22 events in Masters track & field. Woods is mother of four and grandmother of eight, originally from Chicago, Illinois.