Honorary Board
Karissa Thacker is a psychologist, author, and practical theologian whose work is about helping individuals and institutions cultivate lives of purpose, wisdom, and human flourishing. Drawing on experience as an organizational psychologist and a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, she brings together insights from the behavioral sciences, ethics, and classical religious wisdom texts to foster meaningful dialogue across diverse communities. As a fellow at Columbia University, she led multifaith education programs and created programming for students who define themselves as spiritual but not religious.
She is the author of The Art of Authenticity, an influential book on authentic leadership that has been widely adopted in executive education and university classrooms. Throughout her career, she has advised senior leaders and organizations on organizational culture and the human dimensions of change, while speaking and writing on the enduring questions of character, vocation, and the common good. A passionate advocate for civil discourse and lifelong learning, Karissa is particularly interested in creating spaces where people from different backgrounds can engage the moral, philosophical, and spiritual questions that shape contemporary society. Her work reflects a deep conviction that attention to the spiritual dimensions of human life and skillful ethical reflection is essential to creating a human-centered future amid an era of rapid technological change.
