Current Students | Faculty and Staff | Alumni | Parents

Amanda E. Feller

Biography

Amanda E. Feller

  • Ph.D., Humanities, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA
    • Transformational Learning & Change
  • M.A. Cultural Anthropology, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA
    • Human and Organizational Transformation
  • M.S. Speech Communication, Portland State University, Portland, OR
  • B.A. English/Theatre, University of Denver, Denver, CO
Dr. Feller holds a teaching position in Experiential Learning in Pacific Lutheran University's School of Arts and Communication (SOAC). This is a unique position, not only at PLU but at universities across the nation. At PLU, Dr. Feller applies transformative learning theory to the development and assessment of experiential learning programs.

From 2000-2004, Dr. Feller applied this work by serving as PLU's Director of Forensics, a position she previously held at Portland State University among others. Forensics education remains an interest as an expression of experiential education. Since 2005, Dr. Feller has applied transformative learning to the study of conflict management and peace building.

A main intersection of Dr. Feller's teaching and scholarship is in the area of dialogue as related to conflict and transformation. Dialogue has been a central interest since her undergraduate study of political theatre. Communication 313, Dialogue is offered annually within the department and recommended to a variety of majors.

 In 2004 she began working with Steinar Bryn and the Nansen Dialogue Network, an organization established by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry to facilitate communication throughout the Balkan region. The Network is an extension of Nansenskolen, a peace-building academy in Lillehammer, Norway. Dr. Feller is an ongoing lecturer for the NDC's Virtual School. In 2008 she connected with Maureen Hetherington and The Junction based in Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The Junction's project Towards Understanding & Healing uses storytelling and dialogue to help heal and build community.

For academic year 2010-2011, Dr. Feller is on sabbatical. Her sabbatical research will include time in Bhutan (what does conflict and conflict management look like in a culture that measures Gross Domestic Happiness?"), Norway, Northern Ireland, Macedonia.

Dr. Feller's research interests include educational pedagogy, experiential learning, dialogue-conflict, and transformative learning theory. Her primary research project is "Quadrinity: a Theory of Transformation".

California Institute of Integral Studies

University of Denver - Theatre

Nansen Dialogue Network

The Transformative Learning Centre

Friends of Washoe

Network at Linked In


Chihuly Glass at PLU

chihuly


Don & Mary Feller in Croatia

Don & Mary in Croatia






Seniors, Spring 2007

Seniors Spring 2007