Our Plenary Speakers

Rear Admiral Barry C. Black (Ret.) has served as the 62nd chaplain of the Senate since 2003. Prior to Capitol Hill, Black served in the U.S. Navy for over 27 years, ending his distinguished career as the chief of Navy chaplains. His personal decorations as rear admiral include numerous unit awards, campaign, and service medals, including the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit Medal. Black is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and an alumnus of Oakwood College, Andrews University, North Carolina Central University, Palmer Theological Seminary, Salve Regina University, and Alliant International University. In addition to earning Master of Arts degrees in divinity, counseling, and management, he has received a doctorate degree in ministry and a Ph.D. in psychology. In 2006, he released his autobiography, From the Hood to the Hill, and is most recently the author of Make Your Voice Heard in Heaven, Nothing to Fear, and The Blessing of Adversity.

Esther Brimmer is the executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. She has been on the faculty of George Washington University, The Johns Hopkins University, and the College of Europe in Belgium. She was U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs. She received her D.Phil and M.Phil from Oxford University and her B.A. from Pomona College.

Arthur C. Brooks is president of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). He has served as president since January 1, 2009. He is also the Beth and Ravenel Curry Scholar in Free Enterprise. Before joining AEI, Brooks served at Syracuse University, where he taught economics and social entrepreneurship. Prior to his work in academia and public policy, he was a classical musician in the United States and Spain. Brooks is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times and the bestselling author of 11 books; his latest is The Conservative Heart: How to Build a Fairer, Happier, and More Prosperous America. Brooks has a Ph.D. and an M.Phil. in policy analysis from the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He also holds an M.A. in economics from Florida Atlantic University and a B.A. in economics from Thomas Edison State College.

John J. DeGioia is the 48th president of Georgetown University. For nearly four decades, Dr. DeGioia has worked to define and strengthen Georgetown University as a premier institution for education and research. A graduate of Georgetown, DeGioia served as a senior administrator and as a faculty member in the department of philosophy before becoming president in 2001. He is deeply engaged in addressing broader issues in education and currently serves as immediate past chair of the board of directors of the American Council on Education (ACE) and chair of the board of directors of the Forum for the Future of Higher Education. DeGioia also serves in various capacities for the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the National Association of Independent Schools, the NCAA, and the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. DeGioia earned a bachelor's degree in English and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Georgetown.

Brenda Salter McNeil serves as associate professor of reconciliation studies at Seattle Pacific University, where she also directs the reconciliation studies program. She is a dynamic speaker, author, professor, and evangelist with over 30 years of experience in the ministry of reconciliation. Her mission is to inspire, equip and empower emerging Christian leaders to be practitioners of reconciliation in their various spheres of influence around the world. She earned an M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary and her doctorate from Palmer Theological Seminary; she has also been awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters from both North Park University and Eastern University. She is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church and serves as a member of the pastoral staff of Quest Church in Seattle. McNeil is the author of several books, her most recent being Roadmap to Reconciliation.