Keynote Speakers

Pre-conference Workshop (June 2, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Robert Stevenson, Ph.D., Mercy College, NY

Robert Stevenson is currently a professor in the Counseling Program at Mercy College, NY. He has published over 60 journal articles and book chapters and edited/authored several books dealing with grief, loss and death education. He has 30 years experience as a classroom teacher, 20 as a counselor, and 12 as a college professor. He is a member of the International Work Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement and the Association for Death Education and Counseling.

Keynote Session (June 3, 9-10:30 a.m.)
Fernando Cabrera, Ph.D., NYC Council Member, Mercy College

Fernando Cabrera, Ph.D., has served as the NYC Council Member representing the 14th district in the Bronx since January 2010.  His leadership positions in the NYC Council include: Co-Chair of the NYC Council Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, Co-Chair of the Gun Violence Task Force and Chair of the Technology Committee. Councilman Cabrera had been a staunch advocate for tenants, youth and seniors. Dr. Cabrera also serves as the senior pastor of New Life Outreach International in the Bronx. He is the former program director for the Mental Health and Counseling program at Mercy College, where also taught for the last 12 years.  Dr. Fernando Cabrera earned his B.A. in Religion from Southern California College, M.A. in Counseling from Liberty University and Doctorate in Counseling from Argosy University. MORE

Keynote Session (June 3, 1:30-3 p.m.)
Illene Noppe Cupit, Ph.D., Professor, Educational Psychology Department, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Professor Illene Noppe Cupit received her Ph.D. in 1979 from the Educational Psychology Department of Temple University. Dr. Cupit came to UW-Green Bay in January of 1984, where she currently teaches courses in Dying, Death and Loss, First Year Seminars, Gender Development and Developmental Research Methodology. Her research and publications have focused on college student bereavement, adolescent grief, gender issues in death and dying and death in child care centers. She recently co-edited the book, Dying, death and grieving in an online universe, which was published in 2012 by Springer. She is an active member of the Association of Death Education and Counseling (ADEC), where she was editor of The Forum, its quarterly publication, and is the President for 2012-2013. In addition, she founded and directs Camp Lloyd, a week-long summer day camp for grieving children. In her miniscule spare time Dr. Cupit enjoys traveling, running, swimming, cycling, playing the piano, reading, cooking and then eating the fruits of her labor!

Keynote Session (June 4, 9-10:30 a.m.)
Robert A. Neimeyer, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, University of Memphis, TN

Robert A. Neimeyer, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology, University of Memphis, where he also maintains an active clinical practice. Neimeyer has published 25 books, including Techniques of Grief Therapy: Creative Practices for Counseling the Bereaved and Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society: Bridging Research and Practice, and serves as Editor of the journal Death Studies. The author of nearly 400 articles and book chapters and a frequent workshop presenter, he is currently working to advance a more adequate theory of grieving as a meaning-making process. Neimeyer served as President of the Association for Death Education and Counseling and Chair of the International Work Group for Death, Dying, & Bereavement.  In recognition of his scholarly contributions, he has been granted the Eminent Faculty Award by the University of Memphis, and made a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. MORE

Keynote Session (June 4, 1:30-3 p.m.)
Donna L. Schuurman, Ed.D., FT, Executive Director, The Dougy Center for Grieving Children & Families, Portland, OR

Donna L. Schuurman, Ed.D., FT, is an internationally recognized authority on grief and bereaved children, teens and families. She serves as an Expert Witness in court trials relating to the impact of death on children, parents and families, and has provided training and consultation to the FBI’s Rapid Deployment Teams, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Family Assistance programs, the City of Tokyo and other national and international organizations. She is the author of Never the Same: Coming to Terms with the Death of a Parent, and has written extensively on topics related to bereaved children. Her articles and other contributions have been published in scholarly journals and textbooks and she has been interviewed as an expert on the subject by Redbook, The New York Times, SmartMoney, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, NRP’s ‘Talk of the Nation,’ and many other consumer publications. MORE

Keynote Session (June 5, 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.)
Irene Renzenbrink, Social Worker & Art Therapist, Australia

An Australian pioneer in hospice/palliative care, grief counseling and death education, Irene Renzenbrink is a social worker and art therapist and a  Board member of the International Work Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement. Her most recent publications include Fluttering on Fences: Stories of Loss and Change and Caregiver Stress and Staff Support in Illness Dying and Bereavement. Irene is currently undertaking doctoral studies in Expressive Arts Therapy at the European Graduate School and divides her time between Australia and Canada. She studied children's responses to the death of a grandparent as part of her Master's studies in Social Work.

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