Jeanette Banashak, Ph.D., Ed,D.Co-Director, Lead Teacher
Jeanette Banashak has a background in traditional and alternative education, Spiritual Formation, Creativity, pedagogy, mindfulness as an educational tool, interdisciplinary studies, leadership development, human development, hermeneutics, Spanish, Forest Bathing and the Enneagram. She is the author of The Mindful Pilgrimage: A 40-Day Pocket Devotional for Pilgrims of Any Faith or None.
Jeanette completed her dissertation on the interrelationship between creativity and mindfulness. Her phenomenological study drew from Western and Eastern contemplative practices and considered their influence on one's creative life. Originally a high school teacher, Jeanette has taught mindfulness to Kindergartners through second graders in Chicago Public Schools and is currently a senior instructor at Erikson Institute and a Visiting Professor of Spiritual Direction at The Graduate Theological Foundation. She is a member of Spiritual Directors International. After 24 years of teaching and leading workshops, Jeanette has received consistent feedback that includes comments about her caring nature, attention to reflection, creativity, deep interest in participant/student growth, as well as facilitating thoughtful and informative presentations. Jeanette has also presented for the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Toronto and Chicago. Jeanette is a spiritual guide and supervisor—she practices both in English and Spanish. Jeanette received her certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Dominican Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She holds a PhD in Education and an EdD, both from the Graduate Theological Foundation, an interreligious school in Oklahoma City, OK. When she's not teaching, Jeanette enjoys playing board games and telling stories with friends and family. |
Janice L. Lundy, D.Min., Psy.D
Co-Director, Lead Teacher
For over twenty-five years, Janice L. Lundy has been helping people connect with their truest selves and the divine as they understand it. She does this as a spiritual guide, educator, author and retreat leader.
Jan is an educator by training, having taught Comparative Religion courses in public education for many years. She holds a BA in The Academic Study of Religion in Public Education from Western Michigan University. She earned her Certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Center for Spirituality at Dominican Center in Grand Rapids, MI. She holds Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Direction, Doctor of Psychology in Pastoral Logotherapy, and Master of Pastoral Counseling degrees from the Graduate Theological Foundation; a Grief Support Specialist Certificate from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is currently the Gerald May Professor of Spiritual Direction and Counseling for The Graduate Theological Foundation. Jan just completed serving a 3-year term on the Coordinating Council of Spiritual Directors International as well. Passionate about supporting people of all faiths as they journey through life, Jan serves as a Spiritual Guide with an interfaith-interspiritual focus. She has a private practice in Michigan and internationally over the telephone and Zoom. Since 2002, she has been offering one-on-one spiritual guidance, supervision, and training to spiritual directors and other spiritual care professionals, as well as leading contemplative workshops and retreats nationwide. Jan is the acclaimed author of nine spiritual growth books including Your Truest Self: Embracing the Woman You Are Meant to Be and Portable Peace: A Weekly Guidebook. Her newest book, My Deepest Me: A 30-Day Guided Retreat to Nourish Your Inner Life, is used in spiritual formation programs across the U. S. Jan is the originator of the Pure Presence® model of sacred listening. Audiences, students, and readers alike comment on her peaceful presence and describe her as warm and genuine—"practical and poetic, possessing deep and gentle wisdom.” You can learn more about Jan at her personal website. |
Note: The Fall 2023 training program for Interfaith and Interspiritual Guidance will be taught by Dr. Banashak and Dr. Beulah.
Tejai Beulah Howard, Ph.D., SGTI Intern
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Tejai Beulah Howard, Ph.D. is assistant professor of history and African American religious and ethical studies at Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio and a certified spiritual director. Her research interests include Black religious intellectuals, gender and sexuality in U.S. history, African American music, spirituality, and social movements, and race/ethnicity studies. Outside of teaching, she is involved with Freedom Church of the Poor and several professional organizations. Tejai’s recent writing is featured in the book, We Cry Justice: Reading the Bible with the Poor People’s Campaign (Broadleaf, 2021) edited by Rev. Liz Theoharis, The Other Journal, Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology, Black Perspectives, and Journal of American Academy of Religion. As a spiritual director, she is currently companioning a diverse group of individuals in West Virginia, New Jersey, Ohio, and London, England via Zoom and she hopes to host companions in person starting in 2023. Tejai is working on two monographs. The first is a study on the role of the black power movement and black evangelical preachers. The second is an essay collection on grief, spirituality, history, and music. For fun, Tejai enjoys building playlists, bookstores, true crime documentaries and podcasts, making collages and watching sports. She resides in Columbus, Ohio with her incredibly amazing spouse.
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Guest Faculty
SGTI makes use of gifted teachers and experts in their fields to join in our Spiritual Guidance Training programs, including John Mabry, Rabbi Howard Avrum Addison, Kaira Jewel Lingo, Bayo Akamolafe, Imam Jamal Rahman, Dr. Beverly Lanzetta, Rory McEntee, Duane Bidwell, Ashley Davis Bush, and more.
The Spiritual Guidance Training Institute is proud to be an active and contributing institutional member of Spiritual Directors International, abiding by its "Guidelines for Ethical Conduct" and "The 5 Principles of Spiritual Direction Training Programs." Drs. Lundy and Banashak are frequent presenters at SDI's annual conference.
"The environment created by Drs. Banashak and Lundy is intimate even though it is primarily a distance learning format. And they both bring such a depth of knowledge, experience, and support, that I feel incredibly privileged and full of gratitude to have them as mentors and guides."
~ Kelly G., Student, Cohort 2
~ Kelly G., Student, Cohort 2
