PROFILE

Loren L. Toussaint, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. He has served as a consultant to Mayo Clinic, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, and Boise State University. He is the associate director of the Sierra Leone Forgiveness Project. Dr. Toussaint’s research examines virtues, especially forgiveness, and how they are related to health and well-being. He and colleagues recently published a compendium of research titled Forgiveness and Health: Scientific Evidence and Theories Relating Forgiveness to Better Health (Springer). Dr. Toussaint directs the Laboratory for the Investigation of Mind, Body, and Spirit at Luther College. Students of all levels study in this laboratory, and many co-author peer-reviewed research papers and presentations. Dr. Toussaint encourages “everyday forgiveness” to build resilience and minimize stress in families, schools, healthcare, workplaces, and communities. Everyday forgiveness is taught through the Forgiveness, Resilience, and Growth (FoRGo) program which is an education and outreach program emphasizing the role of forgiveness in building resilience and encouraging personal growth. Dr. Toussaint’s work has been highlighted in a number of print, online, and radio media outlets such as: TIME, U.S. News, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Des Moines Register, Georgia Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Radio, CNN, Huffington Post, Today.com, Ladies Home Journal, Scotland on Sunday, Men’s Health, Psychology Today, and the Associated Press.