Parker Palmer

Parker J. Palmer (born 1939) is an American author, educator and activist who writes on education, community, leadership, spirituality and social change. Born in Chicago, he studied philosophy and sociology at Carleton College and took a doctorate in sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, then worked as a community organizer and teacher and became involved with the Quakers at Pendle Hill. He founded the Center for Courage and Renewal, which runs the Courage to Teach program for K-12 educators and parallel programs for other professions. His books include The Courage to Teach and To Know As We Are Known, and a 1998 national survey of higher education named him among its most influential senior leaders.