BTI DIRECTOR

CURRICULUM VITAE OF

Brian C. Alston

Mailing Address

PO Box 3170

Lihue, Hawaii 96766

Phone (808) 378-9096

EDUCATION

08/11 to                                                  Walden University   Minneapolis, Minnesota

05/13                                                       Degree: Over 50 Grad credits towards PhD in Clinical Psychology

08/02 to                                                 Boston University   Boston, Massachusetts

05/03                                                      Degree: MA

08/02 to                                                 Boston Theological Institute  Newton, Massachusetts

05/02                                                      Certificate: Cognitive Science and Religion

10/98 to                                                  Hartford Seminary  Hartford, Connecticut

10/01                                                        Degree: MA

09/82 to                                                 Amherst College   Amherst, Massachusetts

05/86                                                      Degree: BA

09/78 to                                                 Boston Latin High School  Boston, Massachusetts

06/82                                                      Degree: Diploma (College Prep)

06/81 to                                                 Hangzhou University  Hangzhou, China

08/81                                                       Degree: Diploma (Chinese Culture)

PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

COLLEGE TEACHING:

I have two master’s degrees and over 50 graduate credits for my doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a focus on health psychology. I have taught college courses in Biomedical and Social Ethics, Philosophy, Psychology, Neurotheology, and World Religion. I have taught both traditional and nontraditional students of a variety of ages, cultural backgrounds, and nationalities. I have both in-residence and online teaching experience with Blackboard, Angel, and other formats.

Grand Canyon University

Adjunct Faculty teaching online Courses to 15-25 students in Biomedical Ethics and World Religion,

Phoenix, Arizona

Eastern Shore Community College

Adjunct Faculty teaching online courses to 20-35 students in Social Ethics and Philosophy Melfa, Virginia

Quincy College

Adjunct Faculty in the Division of Liberal Arts teaching courses in residence to 20-40 students in Psychology and Philosophy in Quincy, Massachusetts

Bunker Hill Community College

Adjunct Faculty in the Behavioral Science Division teaching courses in Psychology to a culturally and chronologically diverse student population of 30-40 students in Charlestown and Chelsea, Massachusetts

Cameron University

Instructor of weekend courses on Neurotheology – The Scientific Study of Beliefs with a focus on Neuroscience, Religion and Spirituality, and Cognitive Science/Social Beliefs for undergraduate and graduate students in Lawton, Oklahoma

Northern Essex Community College

Developed and Instructed a one-day course on Neurotheology - The Scientific Study of Beliefs from the perspective of neuroscience in Haverhill, Massachusetts

Maine School Department

Developed and Instructed a one-day course on Neurotheology - The Scientific Study of Beliefs from the perspective of neuroscience in Topsham, Maine

Portsmouth School Department

Developed and Instructed a one-day course on Neurotheology - The Scientific Study of Beliefs from the perspective of neuroscience in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology

Developed and Trained professionals (social workers, therapists, etc) in Neurotheology - The Scientific Study of Beliefs and Human Agency from the perspective of Cognitive Science at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology in Boston, Massachusetts

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT:

Since 1990 I have worked in a variety of venues providing psychiatric and substance abuse evaluations, counseling, and therapeutic foster care, and making diagnostic decisions Axis I, III, IV, and V in community, corrections, and hospital settings; as well as developing curriculum and facilitating psycho-educational groups in areas of Loss & Grief, Healthy Sexuality, Abuse and Violence Prevention, Relapse Prevention, Anger Management, Dating Violence Prevention, and Spirituality.

Group Facilitator (Domestic Violence)

The Consultation Center - New Haven, Connecticut

· Facilitated two 52-session domestic violence programs to effect behavioral change in court-mandated men.

· Facilitated one 10-session domestic violence program to effect behavioral change in court-mandated women. Develop violence prevention and healthy relationship curriculum for juvenile justice youth under a Yale University grant-funded initiative.

Curriculum Developer & Group Facilitator

New Haven Public Schools – New Haven, Conn.

Developed curriculum and Facilitated programs in Relationship Literacy addressing issues of respect, bullying, sexual harassment, tools for self-management, and character development for 2nd, 6th, and 8th Grade students.

Curriculum Developer & Group Facilitator

APT Foundation – New Haven, Connecticut

Developed curriculum and facilitated separate Relationship Literacy Programs for adult inmates and youth offenders addressing the prevention of relationship abuse and violence. Developed and facilitated a Spirituality Program for adult inmates addressing faith commitment and decision making.

Curriculum Developer & Group Facilitator

New Haven Drug Court – New Haven, Connecticut

Developed curriculum and facilitated a Loss & Grief program for substance-dependent, court-mandated adults.

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, AND PRESENTATIONS

The Relationship Literacy Program

Since 1999 developed and published the 4 module Relationship Literacy Program to teach nonviolence and abuse prevention and healthy relationship (https://www.relationshipliteracyguide.com/). I have delivered The Relationship Literacy Program curriculum in schools, correctional institutions, treatment facilities, and places of employment in person and online. The Relationship Literacy Program teaches the important role of human relationships to develop personal and social identity, the prevention of abuse and violence in relationships, awareness of individual rights and corresponding responsibilities, along with valuable self-management skills, both emotional and behavioral, and concepts, principles, and tools necessary to effect healthier relationships.

Humanitarian Sustainability Initiative

Developed the Humanitarian Sustainability initiative with 5 Pillars of Humanitarian concern (https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-c-alston-b13b542b/). Host meetings, conferences calls, and webinars regarding community initiatives to create solutions to the crisis as the General Secretary for the Humanitarian Sustainability Initiative - a virtual community of 240 professionals from over a dozen different countries that work pro-bono in distressed communities nationally and abroad, to effect healthy sustainable communities.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Presenter at a symposium entitled “Peacebuilding and Resiliency-Shaping Community Paradigms-Local, National, and International” at the 118thAnnual Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA). Presentation entitled “Haiti: Mediating Current Conflicts through Green Collaboration.” San Diego, California

American Psychological Association (APA)

Developed the Visions in conflict series (2006) (http://www.visionsinconflict.com/). Co-chair of the symposium for the Visions in conflict series entitled“Serving Peace with Justice---International Perspectives and Paradigms” at the 117thAnnual Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA). Presenters: Steven E. Handwerker PhD, A. Marco Turk JD, and William R. Clough D.Min. Toronto, Canada

2nd Annual C. Moana Baptiste Diversity Conference

Developed definition (1988) and understanding of new discipline Neurotheology – the Science of beliefs (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140514202737-107358783-neurotheology-the-science-of-beliefs/).  Presentation on “Neurotheology – The Scientific Study of Beliefs from Perspectives of Psychology and Hawaiian Culture.” Honolulu, Hawaii

American Psychological Association (APA)

Chair of two symposia at the midyear conference of APA Division 36 Psychology of Religion for the Visions in Conflict series. Presenters: Dr. William R. Clough D.Min, Abdullah Hassan MD, Richard Gorsuch PhD, MDiv, Cathy O'Keefe M.Ed, Susan E. Hawes PhD., Lisa Miller PhD, Haroon Ullah MA, and Steven E. Handwerker PhD.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Presentation on “Neurotheology – The New Discipline” at the 114th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association. New Orleans, Louisiana

Virginia Tech

Presentation on “Power and Beliefs - perspectives from the new discipline Neurotheology” at the Seventh Annual International Social Theory Consortium (ISTC) in Roanoke, Virginia. The Alliance of Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Thought (ASPECT) at Virginia Tech sponsored the conference entitled “Theorizing Power in the post 9/11 World” in partnership with the International Social Theory Consortium, (ISTC).

New England Psychological Association (NEPA)

Presentation on Neurotheology – The New Discipline from the perspective of neuroscience and religion at the annual conference of the New England Psychological Association held at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut.

Cambridge Center for Adult Education

Presentation on Neurotheology - The Scientific Study of Beliefs for a culturally and academically diverse audience in Cambridge, Massachusetts home to Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Boston University

Lecture on Neurotheology – The Scientific Study of Beliefs for the spring Cognitive Science class in the Psychology Department at Boston University.

PUBLICATIONS (Author and Editor)

Visions in Conflict: International Perspectives on Values

and Enmity (210 pages)

A conflict in visions stands at the center of major international and national crises in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, or elsewhere. Whether in mass killing, genocide, or intractable conflict, ideology is usually present and plays important role. By ideology (political, religious, economic, social, or some other) is meant visions of social arrangements and human relations that provide meaning and hope for a group. Such ideologies can identify others as enemies who stand in the way of their fulfillment. The present volume contains essays written by authors from around the world on powerful vehicles of conflict resolution-namely, religion, psychology, education and training, psychotherapy, and sports. It is our sincere hope that these essays shed light on the process of peace and reconciliation.

Relationships are Treasures (130 pages)

In December 2007 published the first book in a series of The Relationship Literacy Program entitled Relationships are Treasures. This curriculum resulted from 10 years of developing and facilitating violence prevention – healthy relationship curricula in schools, treatment programs, and other community venues. The Relationships are Treasures curriculum is an abuse/violence prevention - healthy relationship curriculum for middle childhood ages 8-12. It is effective as a stand-alone curriculum in families, and schools, or as a supplement to existing prevention efforts. www.xlibris.com/RelationshipLiteracy.html

What is Neurotheology? (100 pages)

In March 2007 published the book “What is Neurotheology?” The book represents a distillation of my Master’s thesis suggesting the formation of a new discipline for the study of science and beliefs. http://www.amazon.com/What-Neurotheology-Brian-C-Alston/dp/1419668250/re

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Boston University   Sept 2002 - April 2003

Developed and conducted the project “Beyond the Bars – From Faith to Freedom” distributing over 1000 questionnaires to state prisons and prison ministries in 48 states focusing on possible connections between religious faith and inmate change benefits.

Boston University   Oct 2002 – April 2003

Part of a team in the Department of Psychology conducting research measuring differences in emotional responses between first and second languages for subjects who spoke natively Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, as well as English monolingual college students.

Hartford Seminary   October 2001

Researched and wrote a Master Thesis entitled “Neurotheology - A Perspective from NeoPentecostalism”concerning philosophical and scientific understandings of belief formation and utility.