Valerie Lesniak, Ph.D.     Director of Formation & Associate Professor     (206) 296-6936     vlesniak@seattleu.edu

Educational Backgroun:

Dissertation:

Professional Background:

Administrative and Committee Positions:

Other Professional Experience:

Publications:

• “Denominational Recognition of the Charism of Spiritual Direction” Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction. Vol.11, No. 4, 2005: 42-47.  (refereed journal/peer reviewed)
• Mudras:  A Hands on Experience,” Seattle Theology and Ministry Review, Vol.2, 2002:94-99. (Editor reviewed)
• “Reimagining our Academic Journeys through Spiritual Metaphor,” Advancing Women in Leadership, Winter 10:1, 2001: 1-17. (refereed journal/peer reviewed)
• Co-authored with Michele Collay, PhD, Sandra Gehrig, M.A., Carol Mayer, PhD.    
• The Courage to Gaze:  Engaging and Receiving a Religious Work of Art,” Seattle Theology and Ministry Review, Vol 1, 2001: 69-74. (Editor reviewed)
• “The Myths of Success,” The Way, 1989:100-109. (refereed journal/peer reviewed)
• “Political Prophecy of Religion in the Emerging Basic Communities,” in Disciple in the Emerging Church Conference Proceedings, National Sisters Vocation Conference, 1982.
• Poetry Sequence in Dare the Dream Conference Proceedings, National Sisters Vocation Conference, 1981.

• Contemporary Spirituality” (Essay) in The New Westminster Dictionary of Christian Spirituality, edited by Philip Sheldrake, SCM Press in the U. K. / Westminster John Knox in the U.S.A., 2005: 7-12.
• “New Age Spirituality” in The New Westminster Dictionary of Christian Spirituality, edited by Philip  Sheldrake, SCM Press in the U.K. /Westminster John Knox in the U.S. A., 2005: 460-462.
•  “North American Spirituality, in The New Westminster Dictionary of Christian Spirituality, edited  by Philip Sheldrake, SCM Press in the U.K. /Westminster John Knox in the U.S. A., 2005: 466-469.
• Co-author, Towards Healing: Guidebook for Pastoral Teams, A Catholic Hospital Association Publication, 1984.  Video programs for use in hospital cable networks are included in this program. I was involved in the production and editing of these videos and developing the accompanying guidebook.

• Review of A Monk in the Inner City by Mary Lou Kownacki in Journal of Peace and Justice Studies, Vol. 19:2, Fall, 2009.
• Review of Living Deeply: The Art and Science of Transformation in Everyday Life by Marilyn Mandala Schlitz, Cassandra Vieten and Tina Amorok, in Seattle Theology and Ministry Review,  2008:82-83.
• Review of A Brief History of Spirituality, by Philip Sheldrake in Seattle Theology and Ministry Review, 2007: 136-137.
• Review with Le Xaun Hy  of “Into Great Silence,” by Philip Groning, Zeitgeist Films, in  PsycCRITIQUES: APA Review of Books,  October 24, 2007, Release 43, Article 18.
• Review of Passionate Spirituality: Hildegard of Bingen and Hadewijch of Brabant, by Elizabeth Dreyer in Spiritus,( 2006: 6:2): 278-280.
• Review of Minding the Spirit: The Study of Christian Spirituality, Edited by Elizabeth Dreyer and Mark S. Burrows, in Seattle Theology and Ministry Review, 2005: 111-112.
• Review of Sacred Longings: Ecofeminist Theology and Globalization by Mary Grey in The Way, July, 2004: 150-151.
• Review of Mysticism and Transformation edited by Janet Ruffing, in Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction, Winter issue, 2003 (9:1):53-55.
•  “Gender and Spirituality: Comparative and Personal Approaches,” Review of At the Root of this Longing: Reconciling a Spiritual Hunger and a Feminist Thirst, by Carol Lee Flinders and Through the Earth Darkly: Female Spirituality in Comparative Perspective by Jordan Paper, in Christian Spirituality Bulletin, Vol. 7:2 (Fall/Winter 2000): 31-32.
•  Review of Vine Deloria Jr. For This Land: Writings in Religion in America edited by James Treat (New York: Routledge, 1999), Modern Believing, October, 1999, 96-97.
• “Crossing Boundaries,” Reviews of Eastward Toward Eve: A Geography of Soul, by Madonna Kolbenschlag; Through a Glass Darkly: A Spiritual Psychology of Faith, by Mary Jo Meadows; Just Spirituality in a World of Faith, by Barbara and Tom Butler, and God and the Web of Creation by Ruth Page, in The Way, (April, 1997): 173-176.
• "A Spirituality for the Laity?”  Review of Earth Crammed with Heaven by Elizabeth Dreyer, Christian Spirituality Bulletin, 1994: 23-24.
• Review of Christian Spirituality: High Middle Ages and Reformation, edited by Jill Raitt, Pacific Theological Review, 1988:85-86.

•  “Dancing on the Edges: Rediscovering our Spiritual Roots,”  Catholic Network of Retreat Directors and Spirituality Annual Conference, January 5-7, 2007, Swannick, Derbyshire, England. Conference sole presenter for this three day conference.
• "Reverencing the Inner Source,” Womanspirit Center, Issaquah, WA. July, 2005.
• “Touchstone Day of Reflection for Alums,” Keynote speaker. Seattle University, School of Theology and Ministry, June 14, 2004.
• “Eastern Contemplative Prayer,” Womanspirit Center, Issaquah, WA, July, 2004.
• “The Mystical Way,” Seattle First Baptist Church, Seattle, WA.  February, 23, 2004.
• “The Mystical Path,” Seattle First Baptist Church, Seattle, WA. February, 29, 2004.
• “Contemplative Prayer Practices,” Womanspirit Center, Issaquah, WA, July, 2003.
• “Reverencing the Inner Source: Contemplative Prayer Practices,” Womanspirit Center, Issaquah, WA, February, 2003.  
• “Spirituality and Social Transformation: East- West,” Panel Respondent and Planning Team Member, October 2, 2003, Seattle University.
• “Jesus’ Third Way: Nonviolence,” Conference MC, October, 2003, Seattle University, Seattle, WA.
• “Making Use of Ignatius’ Application of the Senses for the Reception of a Piece of Sacred Art,” Dedication of Steven Heilmer’s   Gratia Plena, St. Ignatius Chapel, Seattle University, April 26, 2001, Seattle, WA.
• “Interfaith Blessing,” Interfaith Community Church, Seattle, WA.February, 21, 2001
•  “Spirituality at STM,” Institute of Ecumenical Theological Studies Advisory Board, April 25, 2000.
• “Gender and Faith: Buddhist-Christian Dialogues,” March 29, 2000, Seattle, WA.
• “Academic Stories Lives Tell: Four Women on Academic Pilgrimage” AERA SIG: Research on Women and Education Conference, East Lansing, Michigan, October 22-24, 1998. The paper was presented by one of the co-authors on behalf of the other authors.
•  “Holistic Living: Spirituality’s Quest and Challenge,” Fourth Biennial Conference on Religion and Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, September 16-18, 1998, London, England.
• Sexuality and Spirituality Conference.  A weeklong conference co-presented with Cornelius Hubbuch.  National Marist Conference, North Palm Beach, Florida, July 30-August 6, 1995.
• “Before the Garden: Women’s Bodies as Sacred: Reflections on Virgin, Mother and Crone,” Theological Insight Series, College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN, April 8, 1994.
• "Women’s Alchemy: Raissa Maritain’s Contemplative Journey,” John Ireland Library Forum, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, November 10, 1993.
• “Journey of Reintegration: Raissa Maritain’s Last Years,” Catholic Theological Society of America Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas, June 12, 1993.

Professional Organizations:

• American Academy of Religion
• Catholic Theological Society of America
• Spiritual Directors International
• Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality
• The Thomas Merton Society