Joan Chittister, O.S.B.

Joan Chittister is a Benedictine sister, the former prioress of her congregation and past president of the Leadership Conference for Women Religious.She is the founder and executive director of Benetvision, a research and resource center for contemporary spirituality based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Sister Joan co-chairs the Global Peace Initiative of Women, and international, multi-faith network of women leaders working to achieve peace and a partner organization of the United Nations. She also serves on the Niwano Peace Prize Committee in Tokyo Japan. The recipient of eleven honorary degrees, a bestselling author, and international lecturer on peace and social justice, she has been called "one of America's visionary spiritual voices."