BUSTH Prof. Steven Sandage and Team Awarded Peale Foundation Grant
The Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) is pleased to announce that Steven J. Sandage, Albert and Jessie Danielsen Professor of Psychology of Religion and Theology and his research team was awarded a $2.19 million grant by the Peale Foundation for a five-year research project titled “Positive Psychology and Formation-Based Flourishing among Spiritual Leaders and Therapists.” The project seeks to address the need of spiritual leaders and therapists by promoting healthy formation and seeking to reduce risks for vocational burnout, distress, and mental and physical health problems as a result of enduring exposure to grief and stress. The intersection of spiritual formation and positive psychology offers the opportunity to address these challenges and support resilient faith leaders, and as a result, the long-term goal of the project will be to develop such networks through research and training to cultivate healing resources for nurturing healthy societies.
The Peale Foundation was founded by BUSTH alumnus Norman Vincent Peale (STH’1924, HON’1986; 1898 – 1993) and his wife Ruth Stafford Peale (1906 – 2008) to “provide financial support to organizations
whose ever-positive words and works closely align with the values, beliefs and ideals of Ruth Stafford Peale and Norman Vincent Peale, emphasizing the development of a positive attitude and a spiritual faith that foster meaningful change and growth.” This grant is not only the first-ever Peale Foundation gift to BUSTH, but it has also made history as the first-ever gift by the Peale Foundation to fund a research program. It is notably the largest gift ever awarded by the Foundation.
“Our founders, Norman Vincent Peale and Ruth Stafford Peale, always strived to make a difference and improve the lives of real people through a positive vision driven by faith,” said Margaret Peale Everett, president of the Peale Foundation. “With this grant to the Boston University School of Theology, we hope to continue that legacy. This is the largest grant in our history, and we are delighted to join in partnership with the School of Theology to positively impact the important work of counselors, therapists and faith leaders.”
The core research team for this project is comprised of Prof. Sandage as the primary investigator, and he will be supported by:
- Sara Crabtree, PhD, co-investigator, academic researcher and therapist at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University
- Laura Captari, PhD, co-investigator, postdoctoral fellow at the Danielsen Institute
- Elise Choe, PhD, co-investigator, research postdoctoral associate at the Danielsen Institute
- Peter Jankowski, PhD, co-investigator, visiting researcher at the Danielsen Institute, and associate professor of counseling at Bethel University
- Kristen Hydinger, MDiv, research associate at the Danielsen Institute
- Lauren Kehoe, MA, associate director of administration and finance and the Danielsen Institute
“[W]e were invited [by the Peale Foundation] to make a formal proposal bringing together a focus on research, training, and practice with established leaders/practitioners in the community and also with emerging leaders/practitioners among students at BUSTH,” said Prof. Sandage. “[T]his project offers a wonderful partnership between BUSTH, Danielsen, and the Peale Foundation, and we look forward to drawing in many of our other collaborators.”