Joan Chittister is one of the most influential religious and social leaders of our time. For over 50 years she has passionately advocated on behalf of peace, human rights, women’s issues, and monastic and church renewal. A much sought-after international speaker, she is also a best-selling author of more than 60 books, hundreds of articles, and an online column for the National Catholic Reporter. She has served as president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and president of the Conference of American Benedictine Prioresses, and for 12 years, she was prioress of her community, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania. Sister Joan is executive director of Benetvision, a resource and research center for contemporary spirituality, and animator of the online movement, Monasteries of the Heart. She holds a doctorate in communications from Penn State University.