THE ASSISI FOUNDATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- President
- Jungian Analyst
Dr. Michael Conforti is a Jungian analyst and the Founder and Director of The Assisi Institute: International Center for the Study of Archetypal Patterns. He is a faculty member at the C.G. Jung Institute, New York, Jung Institute, Boston, and for many years served as a Senior Associate faculty member in the Doctoral and Master's Programs in Clinical Psychology at Antioch New England.
A pioneer in the field of matter-psyche studies, Dr. Conforti is actively investigating the workings of archetypal fields and the relationship between Jungian psychology and the New Sciences. He has presented his work to a wide range of national and international audiences, including the C.G. Jung Institute - Zurich and Jungian organizations in Australia, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, Italy, Russia, South Africa and Venezuela.
He is the author of Threshold Experiences: The Archetype of Beginnings (2007) and Field, Form and Fate: Patterns in Mind, Nature and Psyche (2002), which have been translated into Italian, Russian and a soon to be released Spanish edition. His articles have appeared in Psychological Perspectives, San Francisco Jung Library Journal, Roundtable Press, World Futures: The Journal of General Evolution, and Spring Journal.
Dr. Conforti maintains a private practice in Mystic, CT and consults with individuals and corporations around the world, including working as a consultant for film and television projects.
Job Titles:
- Board Member - at - Large
Dr. Nina M Kelly is a mythologist with an emphasis on depth psychology, an archetypal analyst, dream pattern analyst, best-selling author, executive film producer, humanitarian, storyteller, and a cultural and art activist. Dr. Kelly earned her doctorate from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Her research was conducted at Louisiana State Medical School in New Orleans, LA. Her doctoral research focused on reducing the rejection episodes post-transplant to implement the overall quality of life for the patient.
Her research brought her to write, The Lost Heritage, in Psychology at the Threshold. Nina received her Archetypal Analyst and Dream Analyst training from The Assisi Institute and authored Weaving Story into the Web. She continues her educational endeavors in psychology, mythology, religion, neuropsychology, along with post doctorate studies in clinical hypnotherapy, through St John University. She believes if you understand a person's culture, stories, myths, and rituals then you more readily open your world to greater compassion.
Nina is the author of Grace Has a Silent Voice which honors the silent heroes and the resilience of the human spirit in times of tragedy. Her work with death and with dying patients helps her to acquire a tremendous respect for the proper honoring of story. In her book she acknowledges the silent heroes that walk into our lives for a moment then quickly disappear. This inevitably leaves an imprint that continues to remind us that there is beauty in humanity.
After serving as president/CEO of the Children's Bureau of New Orleans she published the history of the bureau, Saving Wednesday's Child, authored by Mark Cave. In addition to professionally working in the medical field she has served as president of the New Orleans Opera, vice-president of the Shreveport Opera, president of Southern Repertory Theatre, the Chair of Loyola School of Music Visiting Committee, along with serving on numerous non-profit boards.
Nina has co-authored the bestselling The Big Question with Larry King, as well as Success Breakthroughs and Success Mastery with Jack Canfield. Her first children's book, Leo Learns a Lesson, was co-authored with Jack Canfield. She is also an award-winning executive producer of the following films, The Voice of a Generation: The Life of Larry King, The Emmy Award-winning A New Leash on Life: K9 for Warriors, and humanitarian award for Folds of Honor. She is also the executive producer of the documentary, Dandelion, winning the Judges Award.
Nina continues to challenge us through the inspiration and motivation of storytelling. She continues to believe that the art form of storytelling and story sharing originate from the heart of everyone searching for expression - thus healing both listener and teller.
Job Titles:
- Vice - President
- Director of International Studies of the Assisi Institute
Dr. Silvia Behrend is Director of International Studies of The Assisi Institute: International Center for the Study of Archetypal Patterns. She develops, supports, teaches and maintains programs in Latin America, Russia, Australia and Cyprus. She has presented international webinars and lectures in English and in Spanish and currently serves as translator and faculty in the Latin American program.
She has a private practice in Olympia, Wa as a Certified Archetypal Pattern Analyst, mentor and educator. As a clinical leader, Silvia has co-developed and co-implemented programs and retreats for the Assisi Institute, for Gonzaga University in the Doctoral Leadership Program, as well as many intergenerational programs utilizing the arts as a means of individual and collective transformation.
As senior faculty of The Assisi Institute, she hosts national and international webinars on many subjects; dream pattern analysis, the field of leadership, psychological development, the creative, unconscious communication, voice of psyche and others. She has researched and published articles on the transformational power of art, the archetypal fields of leadership and exile.
Kevin Richard, MA serves as an administrator in the Rhode Island (RI) Family Court system. Through several decades of working with the Court and its respective population, Kevin has overseen large judicial programs and departments; worked on policy and system reform, served as an advocate for children; and worked as a counselor.
He has been appointed to numerous committees designed to address areas of child welfare, juvenile justice, and areas of mental health. In 2015, he was part of a three person delegation from Rhode Island invited to the White House in order to address the growing concern with child trafficking.
In 2019, Kevin received recognition through a RI LaSallian Award for his contributions for Juvenile Justice reform. In his most recent appointment, he serves on the New England Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative which consists of Chief Justices from each respective state with the aim to address the judicial response to the opiate epidemic.
Kevin has been part of The Assisi Institute since 1993 and has been certified as an Archetypal Pattern Analyst. He has served as the Institute's Director of Studies and has assisted with programmatic design. He continues to serve as a speaker, student mentor, consultant, and as of 2021 serves on the Assisi Foundation's Board of Directors. As a senior faculty member of The Assisi Institute, his presentations examine the interface of science and Jungian Psychology, initial conditions, and the objective role of images in art, stories and in the human condition.
Job Titles:
- Board Member - at - Large
- CEO and Founder of the LAL Group
Letizia Amadin-Lane is CEO and Founder of the LAL Group, a results-focused consulting firm providing development, coaching and training to boost performance in leaders and organizations. She is also creator of Visiva Leadership®, an innovative and transformational experience that builds deeper self-awareness and strengthens personal connections across leadership teams and boards.
Letizia was a business executive for over 25 years before founding the LAL Group in 2011. She has extensive experience in corporate development, business transformation, strategic alliance creation, and government relations, primarily in the life sciences. Letizia was VP, Strategic Alliances for Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. Previously, she held multiple executive roles at GlaxoSmithKline, including VP & Global Head of Employee Value Proposition, VP & Head of R&D Leadership Culture, and VP, Strategy, Operation and Alliance Management for Worldwide Business Development. Prior to joining GSK, she was an independent consultant in the cardiovascular therapeutic area for SmithKline Beecham. She was the principal of AXTEN-Health Corporation, an international case management, consulting and referral service. Prior to AXTEN, she was pharmaceutical specialist for The World Bank.
Letizia holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from University of La Sapienza and Master of Herbal Medicine from University of Urbino. Her interest in the underlying drivers of business success led her to shift from profit center leadership to organizational and leadership development, with further personal development and training in psychology.