Carolyn Rivers is Founder and Director of The Sophia Institute. A teacher, visionary, and spiritual mentor, her work centers on fostering an emergent Feminine consciousness, cultivating wisdom and wholeness, for a more just, sustainable, and flourishing world that honors the sacred at the center of life. In the ten years since its creation, The Sophia Institute has drawn participants from all 50 states and 8 other countries to join the core community in Charleston, South Carolina. Carolyn has worked professionally with many of the leading transpersonal teachers and visionaries of our time, many of whom are faculty of the Sophia Institute. She offers coaching and spiritual mentoring to sustain and deepen the work begun at The Sophia Institute.

Ellen Burstyn’s illustrious acting career encompasses film, stage and television. She became a “triple crown winner” when she won an Emmy for her guest appearance in “Law & Order: SVU” (2009) to add to her Oscar win for “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” (1974) and her Tony Award for “Same Time, Next Year” (1974) on Broadway. Ellen has been nominated for an Academy Award five other times for “The Last Picture Show” (1972), “The Exorcist” (1973), “Same Time, Next Year,” (1979), “Resurrection” (1981), and “Requiem for a Dream” (2000). Her theater credits include the Broadway production of “84 Charing Cross Road” (1982), “Shirley Valentine” (1989) and “Sacrilege” (1995). Last year, Ellen appeared in London’s West End in Lillian Hellman’s “The Children’s Hour.” She recently finished shooting a TV miniseries, “Coma,” and taught a Master Class in acting in Australia. Ellen was the first woman elected president of Actors Equity Association (1982-85), and served as the Artistic Director of the Actors Studio where she studied with the late Lee Strasberg. She continues to be active there as co-president. Academically, Ellen holds four honorary doctorates. She lectures throughout the country, and became a best-selling author with the publication in 2006 of her memoir, Lessons in Becoming Myself.