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Experience transformational education that operates at the crossroads of competence, character, and connection through the Townsend Institute’s life-changing counseling and leadership programs.
The Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers fully accredited online graduate degrees and professional certificates in three content areas: Organizational Leadership, Executive Coaching and Consulting, and Counseling. Masterful psychologist and relationship expert Dr. John Townsend founded the Institute to address both the head and the heart, incorporating scriptural truths with current neuroscience. Discover how the Institute’s approach goes deeper than behavioral change and moves us to growth.
Dr. John Townsend is a New York Times bestselling author, leadership consultant, psychologist, and relationship expert. He has written 35 books, selling 10 million copies, including the bestselling Boundaries series. His depth of experience and research result in practical counsel that has been sought-after by scores of listeners through his live broadcasts. Built from the foundation of his teachings, Dr. Townsend established the Townsend Institute in 2015 and still plays an active role with leading the way we learn about counseling and leadership.
Experience a new kind of relational education. Join us online LIVE and hear from our faculty, academic advisors, current students, and alumni about their experience in the Townsend Institute.
Jan
14
Townsend Institute PhD Information Night
Wed, Jan 14, 2026, 5:00 PM PST
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M.A. Information Night - Townsend LIVE
Wed, Jan 14, 2026, 5:30 PM PST
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This program not only gets into your mind, it gets into your heart. I feel like the Townsend Institute is behind me in my endeavor to supply restorative support to others.
Kaylie Housewright
Meet the Fellows
When you make a choice to invest in your future by continuing your education, you want to be sure your time is well spent. That’s where the Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers a distinct advantage. In addition to top-tier faculty, Dr. Townsend has assembled a world-class team of influencers, author-teachers and practitioners with broad platforms who are widely recognized. Enrolled students will connect to these top thinkers and practitioners in the monthly virtual symposia.
Current Fellows are involved in this year’s program and events, contributing to our academic community.
Jon Acuff is the New York Times Bestselling author of six books and was named an INC top 100 leadership speaker. His work is taught by the NFL Player's Association and each year he talks to some of the biggest brands in the world including Microsoft, Nissan, Comedy Central, and FedEx. Acuff.me
Psychiatrist, brain disorder specialist, founder of the Amen Clinics, bestselling author, Change Your Brain, Change Your Mind. Amenclinics.com
Founder and chairman, New Life Ministries and New Life syndicated radio program, founder of Women of Faith, bestselling author, including Every Man’s Battle. Newlife.com
Founder of the Barna Research Group, leadership expert and bestselling author of many books, including Master Leaders. barna.org
Past President of Continental Airlines, past CEO of Burger King; past CEO of Quiznos; past CEO of Price Waterhouse Cooper Consulting. ccmpcapital.com
Jim Burns speaks to thousands of people around the world; he has over 1.5 million resources in print in over 25 languages including Faith Conversations for Families. homeword.com
A Management and Leadership Consultant and author of books on effective leadership. A prior partner of Coldwell Banker Corporation and Richard Ellis, Inc.
Psychologist, marriage and family expert, founder of the Gary Chapman Chair at Moody Bible Institute, author of many books, including the New York Times bestseller The Five Love Languages. 5lovelanguages.com
Leadership expert, business consultant, psychologist and bestselling author, including Boundaries for Leaders. drcloud.com
Popular author, including the title Finding Home. focusonthefamily.com
Ron has worked in marriage and family ministry since 1988. He currently serves as President of Smart Stepfamilies™ and Senior Director of FamilyLife Blended®. He is the most widely read and viewed author on blended families in the country. RonDeal.org
Executive Coach, Therapist, Townsend Leadership Program Director.
In a long-term career, Roy has owned minor league baseball, hockey, and football teams. He has sold his fight promotions company 4 times. Socafights.com
President and Founder of Trochia Ministries providing Christian discipleship online, a Teaching Pastor at Mariners Church, host of Uncharted Podcast, and CFO of J.D. Franklin Holdings. inesfranklin.com
He has served as senior vice-president for LifeWay Christian and authored the bestselling church leadership book, Simple Church. marinerschurch.org
Bob Goff is the author of the New York Times bestselling books Love Does, Everybody Always, Dream Big, and Undistracted. He is the Honorary Consul to the Republic of Uganda, an attorney, and the founder of Love Does—a nonprofit human rights organization operating in 14 countries.
BobGoff.com, LoveDoes.org
George and Tondra Gregory have worked with many current and retired couples throughout the National Football League and started a marriage ministry called Journey for Life. journeyforlifenow.org
Townsend Leadership Program Director theparcvet.com
Leading over 1,000 staff members in 65 countries who serve athletes and coaches. athletesinaction.org
Hyatt has scaled multiple companies, including a $250M publishing company with 700+ employees and his own leadership development company, Full Focus. He is the author of several New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling books.
Teacher and author of Biblical Concepts for Christian Counseling, Board Member for the Narramore Christian Foundation. Ncfliving.org
Pat is one of the founders of The Table Group and is the pioneer of the organizational health movement. He is the author of 13 books, which have sold over 8 million copies. Pat speaks and writes about leadership, teamwork, and organizational health. www.tablegroup.com
Award winning psychiatrist, columnist, teacher and mental health advocate. LylesandCrawford.com
Gabe Lyons is a bestselling author, sought-after speaker, and the founder of THINQ, a groundbreaking media company dedicated to exploring the intersection of faith, culture, and the next generation.
Miles McPherson is the pastor of the Rock Church in San Diego, former defensive back for the San Diego Chargers, author, actor, motivational speaker, and founder of DoSomethingChurch.org.
Author of several books including the bestsellers Building a StoryBrand 2.0, Marketing Made Simple, Coach Builder, and How to Grow Your Small Business. Donald lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Elizabeth and their daughter, Emmeline. storybrand.com, coachbuilder.com
Kairos Company provides branding, strategy and public relations counsel to leaders and organizations.
Townsend Leadership Program Director elainemorris.com
Dr. Phillips is a trauma therapist who is widely recognized as a thought leader at the intersection of mental health, faith, and culture. She is the author of the book The Garden Within: Where the War with Your Emotions Ends and Your Most Powerful Life Begins.
Former NFL Player, Current NFL Ambassador. Certified Transition Coach for the NFL Player Engagement Program and family expert for the NFL Players Association. Author of The Dad I Wish I Had.
Cindy Steinbeck is the owner-president of Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery in Paso Robles, California; a frequent speaker at conferences, conventions, and retreats; and the author of The Vine Speaks: Eleven Lessons from John 15—a book that reflects her passion for the vineyard and for the Vine, Jesus Christ.
Psychiatrist. Author of Anatomy of the Soul. curtthompsonmd.com
Associative Fellows are recognized for their ongoing affiliation and valued presence within our fellowship network.
Karen Bergstrom optimizes her over thirty years of experience as an executive in nonprofit agencies and enjoys her role as a leadership coach and directing Safe Families for Children. safe-families.org
Management expert, founder and spiritual director of the Blanchard Companies, Founder of Lead Like Jesus, speaker, bestselling author, including One Minute Manager. kenblanchard.com
Former CEO LensCrafters and Family Christian Bookstores. athletesinaction.org
Speaker, author, teacher, and leader of an organization that invests in equipping women to serve God’s purpose in missions and ministry. Inspire Women reaches thousands of women each year through its citywide events, programs and Leadership Academy curriculum.
Anthony is a highly sought-after adviser to CEOs, Key Executives, and their companies. Anthony has authored: The Execution Pipeline, The Happiness Map, The 120 Planner & Zero to Seven Figures. www.amazingCEO.com
Relationship researchers, clinicians and bestselling authors, including The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. gottman.com
Founder and past CEO of Mardel Christian and Education bookstores, and co-host of illumiNations, a collective impact alliance working to eradicate Bible poverty. illuminations.bible
Chairman of the Board for the Museum of the Bible. Steve started working at Hobby Lobby when he graduated from high school when there were only 8 stores. Today Hobby Lobby has over 900 stores in 47 states. hobbylobby.com
Halderman Companies is one of the largest family-owned professional farm management and real estate organizations in the United States. halderman.com
Teays River Investments is a food and agribusiness company with over 1,200 employees. teaysinvestments.com
Ray is also the Co-Founder of Truth at Work, an association which helps Christian business leaders build strong organizations, popular author, including The Janitor. truthatwork.org
Psychologist, psychoanalyst, co-director of The Brookhaven Institute for Psychoanalysis and Christian Thought (BIPACT). bipact.org
Psychologist, psychoanalyst, founding director of The Brookhaven Institute for Psychoanalysis and Christian Thought (BIPACT), author Toward Mutual Recognition, When the Roll Is Called. bipact.org
Actor, artist, speaker dedicated to living an exceptional life as a witness that God doesn’t make mistakes, even when one is born with an extra chromosome. Widowed suddenly after eleven happy years married to her inspirational co-Fellow and advocate, Austin, she is learning to love again.
Townsend Leadership Program Director
Psychiatrist, speaker, author of The God-Shaped Brain. comeandreason.com
The Gathering is a learning community of philanthropists motivated by their Christian faith. Previously, he was the Co-Founder and Partner at Praxis, a creative engine for redemptive entrepreneurship. thegathering.com
Retired Founder and CEO of State National Companies, Inc., a leading provider of niche property and casualty insurance services.
Psychologist, best-selling author, including The Birth Order Book.
Defender Direct is a $500m security and home automation company and founder of Companies With a Mission. homedefenders.com
Chairman of The Mabee Foundation, M.S and an M.A. Psychology, M.S. , Counselor for 32 years. mabeefoundation.com
Psychiatrist and bestselling author, including Blue Genes.
Co-Host Discover the Word, Speaker, Author. elisamorgan.com
Zondervan is a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. zondervan.com
Psychologist, bestselling author, including Mad About Us: Moving from Anger to Intimacy with Your Spouse. liferelationships.com
Leadership expert, former pastor at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church and teaching pastor at Willow Creek Church. Author of several books, including If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat.
Business consultant, speaker, popular author, including Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands. tbc.city
Psychologists, bestselling authors, including Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts. lesandleslie.com
Sacred Harvest Foundation is a ministry targeting Kingdom development worldwide. sacredharvest.org
Todd Peterson played for 13 years in the NFL. He has been chairman of different non-profits, interim CEO and a member of four private company boards.
Pastor. Bestselling author, The Emotionally Healthy Leader, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, The Emotionally Healthy Church. emotionallyhealthy.org
The Gathering is a learning community of philanthropists motivated by their Christian faith. thegathering.com
Authors, speakers, marriage & family strategists at LifeWay. Famous at Home help leaders build emotional intelligence and 22:6 Parenting. famousathome.com
Professor of Clinical Psychology at Azusa Pacific University. Private practice clinical psychoanalyst and psychologist. Co-author of Lacanian Psychoanalysis and Eastern Orthodox Christian Anthropology in Dialogue.
Popular leadership speaker. mainstreetinvestments.com
Telec is a company specializing in connectivity, and a futurist thought leader. amphenol-ns.com
Clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst practicing in Roswell, GA. Clinical consultant, speaker and facilitator of women’s retreats. drtessawolf.com
Consultant, author, founder of third largest Direct Marketing Agency, as a Private Equity partner, he has helped grow and sell five companies. johnwrightunlimited.com
Writer, Author of the New York Times bestseller, The Shack. wmpaulyoung.com
The Townsend Institute is housed within Concordia University Irvine, a private, Lutheran university. Located in Southern California, Concordia serves over 5,000 students annually, on campus and online. Centered by a Christian worldview, and guided by the Great Commission, Concordia is home to a thoughtful and caring community of learners.
The Townsend Institute
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