Joan Kirby

Sister Joan Kirby, a "Religious of the Sacred Heart, was Executive Director of the Temple of Understanding from 1994-2000. She now represents the Temple at the United Nations. In collaboration with Auburn Theological Seminary and the Psychotherapy and Spirituality Institute she developed educational interfaith programs in Seven Different Religious Traditions and with the Tibet Center co-planned a program for Universal Masters of Meditation."

"In 1995 Sr. Joan represented the Temple of Understanding at the United Nations Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen; in '96 participated in the Fourth World Women's Conference in Beijing; and in 1999 attended the 17th Assembly for the World Conference on Religion and Peace in Amman, Jordan and the Parliament of the World's Religions in South Africa as a member of the Religious Leaders Assembly of the Parliament. In 2001 she attended the International Interfaith meeting in Oxford."

"Before joining the Temple Sr. Joan was Headmistress of the Sacred Heart Schools in Princeton and New York City and Dean of Students at Newton College. She has worked at Catholic Charities in the Office of Neighborhood Preservation as a legislative advocate for low-income housing, and she was the first Executive Director of Homes for the Homeless."

"At present she is a member of the International Commission for Justice and Peace for the Religious of the Sacred Heart and serves on the Advisory Committee for the Center for Urban Bioethics of the New York Academy of Medicine."