officers
ALLAN COMBS
Allan Combs is an American consciousness theorist who studies the complexity of the mind. As of 2020, Combs held appointments at the California Institute of Integral Studies, where he built the program in consciousness studies in 2015, and The Graduate Institute in Connecticut. He also was Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. As of 2020, he had authored over 200 articles, chapters, and books on consciousness and the brain. He is the founder, Academic Advisor, and President Emeritus of The Society for Consciousness Studies, co-founder of The Laszlo Institute of New Paradigm Research, and a member of the one-hundred-member Club of Budapest. He is the Senior Editor of Consciousness: Ideas and Research for the Twenty-First Century, co-editor of the Journal of Conscious Evolution, and Associate Editor of Dynamical Psychology.
— Allan Combs, Ph.D. President https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Combs
JULIE COMBS
Julie's commitment to community service started at an early age in North Carolina when she formed her high school's first ecology club and started recycling newspapers. She worked her way through college, earning a degree in Psychology. After college, she worked with autistic adolescents, and later in the locked ward at a state mental hospital. Julie continued her education, earning a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Syracuse University. She worked as an Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator and a Rehabilitation Engineer and later became a Senior Plans Reviewer for the city of Asheville, North Carolina, working to save historic buildings without compromising public safety.
Julie then started her community involvement by founding the Neighborhood Association for Bennett Valley (95405. org). She was also instrumental in the establishment of the Southeast Greenway Campaign.
— Julie Navin Combs, Vice President
email: julie.combs@4-rivers.org
DEBBY FLICKINGER
Debby Flickinger, Ph.D. is an affiliated faculty at Union Institute and University (UIU) teaching doctoral courses on social justice, engaging difference, and sustainability through a caring science lens. She facilitates workshops, participates in panels, and does presentations on Caring Sustainability™, Caring Science Theory, Critical Race Theory, and Social Justice around the globe. She has contributed a chapter in Miracles and Mysteries Witnessed by Nurses, a collection of stories edited by Jean Watson, Ph.D. In addition, she is certified as a Caritas, an Eco-therapist, and a Sustainability Coach. Dr. Flickinger received her Ph.D. from the California Institute of Integral Studies in Transformative Studies with a concentration in Consciousness Studies, a MA in Consciousness and Transformative Studies, and BA in Philosophy and Religion from John F. Kennedy University
— Debby Flickinger, Ph.D. Director of Education Programs
MAGDALENA
Dr. Magdalena holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness, a master’s degree in Religious Studies, a bachelor’s degree in Communications/ Journalism and is an ordained Interfaith Minister. She is an adjunct professor at The Graduate Institute in Bethany, Ct, and The New Seminary in N.Y., N.Y and Jacksonville, Fl., and has numerous certifications in the fields of healing arts, health, and well-being. She is also a documentary filmmaker, and CEO/Founder of EmerjAnew- a company dedicated to creating conscious media and providing education and distribution of transformative techniques, technologies, media, and services
— Magdalena, PhD, Director of Education Design
email: magdalena@4-rivers.org
STEVEN MITCHELL
Steven Mitchell is currently working on his dissertation for a Ph.D. in Transformative Studies from CIIS. He holds a master’s degree from the State University of New York and a bachelor’s from St. John’s University. Steven is a former United States Marine and corrections officer. Much of his coursework has focused on understanding social psychology.
Steven has helped to support the Institute in co-creating this webpage and helped this organization to achieve 501(c)(3) status. Mitchell is currently a resident of Western New York where he lives with his two children.
— Steven Mitchell, Information Technology (IT)
email: steven.mitchell@4-rivers.org
ELIZABETH W. KRASNOFF
Dr. Elizabeth W. Krasnoff, PhD, is a world expert on the healing powers of music and sound. Her doctorate is in Transformative Studies, with a focus in Consciousness Studies at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). Her groundbreaking dissertation on "The Effects of Auditory Binaural Beats on Consciousness and the Human Nervous System" can be found here. She is a master certified Energy Healer, Sound Practitioner and HeartMath® Practitioner. Her MA is in Depth Psychology and Mythology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Her non-profit work includes the Center for Reproductive Rights, NARAL, The Society for Consciousness Studies and the Medical Sound Association. Elizabeth has been published in the World Futures Journal, the Journal of Conscious Evolution and in SFYogamag. In addition to working with private clients and speaking on her topic, Elizabeth is a professional musician and has released 8 albums, and is writing, producing and working with other artists around the world in creating binaural beats music for all. www.sound-medicine.com.
— Elizabeth W. Krasnoff, PhD Officer at Large