Who We Are

Steve Ellenwood, PhD
Dr. Steve Ellenwood is the current Faculty Director of the Center for Character and Social Responsibility. Professor Ellenwood served on the original advisory board for the CCSR (formerly known as the Center for the Advancement of Ethics and Character founded in 1989). Professor Ellenwood’s new role with the CCSR follows three decades of serving as the Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Teaching at Boston University’s School of Education. Dr. Ellenwood’s areas of professional expertise and research include law-focused social studies education, intercultural education, and character education.

Hardin Coleman, PhD
Dr. Hardin L.K. Coleman served as Faculty Director of the Center for Character and Social Responsibility from 2008 to 2012. In 2008, he was appointed Professor of Counseling Psychology and Dean at Boston University’s School of Education. Dr. Coleman spent 10 years as a high school religion teacher and school counselor in Quaker Schools. Prior to coming to Boston University, Dr. Coleman served as a Professor and Associate Dean at the School of Education at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Kevin Ryan, PhD
Dr. Kevin Ryan is the founder and director emeritus of the Center for Character and Social Responsibility (CCSR – formerly known as the Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character). He is a former high school English teacher and taught on the faculties of Stanford University, the University of Chicago, Harvard University, Ohio State University and the University of Lisbon. In 2003, Dr. Ryan received the honor of being appointed to the Pontifical Academy for the Social Sciences by Pope John Paul II. Reference our resources for Dr. Ryan’s publications.

Karen E. Bohlin, EdD
Dr. Karen Bohlin is head of school at the Montrose School in Medfield, MA and senior scholar at Boston University’s CCSR. Before serving as head of school, she was a high school English teacher, executive director of the CCSR and assistant professor of education at Boston University School of Education. Reference our resources for Dr. Bohlin’s publications.

Bernice Lerner, EdD
Dr. Bernice Lerner is an author, speaker and consultant. She is the director of adult learning at Hebrew College and senior scholar at the CCSR. Prior to working for the Hebrew College, Dr. Lerner served as the executive director of the CCSR, worked for Boston’s Bureau of Jewish Education and taught several courses related to the Holocaust and character and ethics education. Reference our resources for Dr. Lerner’s publications.