Bio: Diane holds a B.A. and M.A. in Communication Studies and a Ph.D. in Family Studies from the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. Since completing her doctorate, she has studied theology and trained in spiritual direction, retreat direction, and the practice of interfaith dialogue. She has taught at a number of schools including the University of Minnesota, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University, and Saint Catherine University, and United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. In addition to teaching, Diane founded Companions on a Journey at the College of Saint Benedict and the Journey Conversations Project, hosted and produced Lives Explored for the Collegeville Institute, and served as a coach for the Lilly Endowment, Inc., consulting with leadership teams at colleges, universities, and theological schools throughout the United States.
She is the author of three books, Re-Creating a Life (SDI Press, 2019), Deepening Engagement (SkyLight Paths, 2015), and Conversation–The Sacred Art (SkyLight Paths, 2013).
Diane currently offers retreats, workshops, and presentations in a wide array of sectors—educational, congregational, philanthropic, health care, non-profit and corporate—and has collaborated with the following communities:
Accredited Financial
Ascension Health
Association of Benedictine Colleges and Universities
Aquinas Institute of Theology
Benedictine Center, Saint Paul's Monastery
Benedictine Health System
Benedictine Institute, Saint John’s University
Benet House Retreat Center
Boston College
Boundless Compassion
Carthage College
Catholic Theological Union
Center for Courage and Renewal
Center for Spirituality and Enrichment
Century College
Charis Ministries
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University
Collegeville Institute
Collegium, A Colloquy on Faith and Intellectual Life
DKM&O Attorneys
Drexel University
Duke University
Episcopal Church of Minnesota
Essentia Health
Family Matters
Fetzer Institute
Franciscan Spirituality Center
Fund for Theological Education
General Mills
Grinnell College
Gustavus Adolphus College
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
House of Prayer
Institute for Christian Spirituality, Seton Hall University
Jesuit School of Theology, Santa Clara University
Lilly Endowment, Inc.
Louisville Institute
Luther College
Macalester College
McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University
Mercy Health
Minnesota Council of Churches
National Association of Catholic Chaplains
North Central Prairie Chaplains
Saint Catherine University
Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality
Spiritual Director's International
Saint Paul Interfaith Network
Saint Scholastica Monastery
Siena Retreat Center
Tatamagouchee Retreat Centre
Transformations Spirituality Center
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities
Washington Theological Union
Wisdom Ways Spirituality Center
I have been blessed to work now with Diane several times and she is an excellent presenter and an excellent person to work with. Diane invites people to go deep in a retreat setting and she is incredibly gifted at that. I loved how she invited people to speak from the heart, and people did speak from the heart with great vulnerability. It is hard to get people to do that. In a very short time, Diane’s personal presence communicated the message that it would be safe to do that. People sensed that she could be trusted if they opened their heart. This is a rare and amazing gift. Her teaching is not done through lecture. Instead, she invites people to share what they noticed. Like a conductor leading an orchestra, individual members of the group shared their insights, awareness and questions. Diane weaves all these diverse voices into the lesson allowing the wisdom to emerge from the group. But make no mistake, it takes a conductor to bring that music out. Once again, Diane has a rare gift. This is the difference between leading a retreat and simply being a workshop presenter. I am inspired by Diane’s example. And I hope my future retreats will be enhanced by her example.
—Steve Spilde, Associate Director, Franciscan Spirituality Center
On behalf of the North Central Prairie Chaplains, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your wisdom and the wonderful life-giving story-telling skills you shared with us at our conference. What made your presentation so powerful is that you do not ask us to do anything you have not done yourself, and in your model, we can truly see the path and how it works. You took the time to understand who we are, we felt known and understood, which made you all the more effective as a Teacher (with a capital "T"). So much valuable information was packed into the short time we had with you, there is no doubt that we could benefit from more time spent with you! Thank you again for your wisdom, and "quality of presence" -- deeply present, listening to our needs as a group, it was all just so well done by you and resulted in quite an experience and gift to our colleagues who were able to join us.
—Nicole Reuter, Spiritual Care Coordinator, Essentia Health
This morning's class was wonderful. Thanks so much for the time and care you put into it. Before and during our afternoon practicum students were commenting on how your presentation had jump started their imaginations in all kinds of ways with respect to their respective ministries. Many are looking forward to reading your book. When this unit of the program is run next, I will definitely be in touch.
—Colleen M. Griffith, School of Theology and Ministry, Boston College
I wanted to reach out and let you know that today I received some wonderful feedback about your workshop at Fetzer. The CPE supervisor at our local hospital had a group of chaplain students attend the weekend retreat. The group leader mentioned to the supervisor earlier this week that the tools they learned from you “saved our group.” The supervisor went on to share with me that they us what you taught them “practically every day.” During the difficult year that has gone by since you were here with us in Kalamazoo, the skills you taught had a very lasting effect on the chaplains’ work. Thank you for making a difference.
—Michelle Scheidt, Senior Program Officer, Fetzer Institute
Diane’s keynote presentation for our conference was superb. I knew it would be good but it was outstanding. Diane is a marvelous teacher who skillfully wove in elements of our Boundless Compassion program, widening and deepening those components. I continue to hear many positive comments from our participants.
—Joyce Rupp, Author and Founder of Boundless Compassion
Click here to contact Diane to schedule a workshop, retreat, or conference presentation for your community.
