Dr. Stephen Healey, who holds degrees in Religion and Society from Eastern Nazarene College, Andover Newton Theological School, and Boston College, taught at Boston College, Andover Newton Theological School, and Merrimack College, before assuming his current role as Director of the World Religions Program at the University. His research and publications have focused on Religion and Human Rights, the Phenomenology of Conversion, Globalization in Religion, and Public Theology. He is currently writing a book with colleagues on Theories of Human Nature. His major teaching and research methods are the comparative analysis of religions and enquiry into the public dimensions of religious belief and practice. He is a member of seven professional societies, including the American Academy of Religion, the Association for the Sociology of Religion, and the Association for Applied and Professional Ethics. His teaching motto comes from Max Müller: "He [or she] who knows one religion, knows none."

Dr. Richard L. Rubenstein is President Emeritus of the University of Bridgeport. A Distinguished Professor of Religion at the University and a Life Member of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Rubenstein also serves as Director of the University's Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. An internationally recognized historian of religion whose writings lie at the root of Holocaust writings, his works have been the subject of more than a dozen doctoral dissertations. Professor Rubenstein's writings have also been cited as a key inspiration for the Academy Award winning film Sophie's Choice. Prior to assuming his role as President of the University of Bridgeport, Dr. Rubenstein served as Distinguished Professor of Religion at Florida State University. Recently Florida State University created the Richard L. Rubenstein Chair for Religious Studies in his honor.

Hans van der Giessen is Chair of the International Political Economy and Diplomacy and the Social Sciences programs of the International College. A University of Bridgeport alumnus, Dr. van der Giessen did his M.A. at the Hague's Institute of Social Studies and his Ph.D. in Political Science at New York University. In addition to the United States, Dr. van der Giessen has lived and studied in Europe and in Asia. He has written and spoken frequently on a variety of topics including health care policy and practices, comparative politics, and North-South relations. He serves as the Managing Editor of the International Journal on World Peace. Dr. van der Giessen is frequently invited by television, radio, and the print media to share his views on national and international political developments. He also serves as the Associate Provost of the University.

Justus van der Kroef, Professor Emeritus, served for many years as the bulwark of the University's political science department. Dr. van der Kroef continues to teach each semester in the areas of International Relations and American Foreign Policy. A world recognized authority on Southeast Asia, Dr. van der Kroef is a frequently sought out for his expertise on foreign affairs by public and private institutions alike. Dr. van der Kroef earned his doctorate at Columiba University and continues to serve as the Managing Editor of the Columbia Univeristy journal Modern Asian Thought.

Thomas J. Ward is the Vice President for International Programs at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut and Dean of the International College. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he did his doctoral studies in politics and education at the Catholic Institute of Paris in France and at De La Salle University in the Philippines where Brother Andrew Gonzalez, later the Minister of Education in the Philippines, served as his thesis advisor. Dr. Ward translated from the original French the first text book ever comparing the pensions systems of the member states of the European Union. He has conducted conferences on comparative political systems for foundations and for academic institutions around the world, including the Academy of Social Sciences in the Peoples Republic of China, the Catholic University of La Plata in Argentina, and De La Salle University of the Philippines. In 1999 and in 2001 he was awarded grants by the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium to develop online courses on regional political economies. Until recently Dr. Ward also served as a Human Rights Commissioner for Dutchess County, New York.

Dr. Yu Yanmin received her Ph.D. at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. She is a Fulbright Scholar and Rolan D. Melton Fellow of the American Press Institute. Currently she serves as the President of the Association of Chinese Professors of Social Sciences in the United States. She teaches a number of courses in the area of mass communication. She has contributed articles and book chapters to various publications. Her recent book, American Media and American Society has been well received. Her research interests include media and society, media and foreign policy, media and international relations, intercultural communication, and U.S.- China relations.

Dr. Mark K. Setton earned his doctorate in Oriental Studies at Oxford. An internationally recognized East Asian scholar, Dr. Setton has been a Visiting Professor at Harvard and at the University of California at Berkeley. Dr. Setton is widely published. His book Chong Yagong: Korea’s Challenge to Orthodox Neo-Confucianism (SUNY Press 1997) pioneers a new area of academic inquiry in the West. Dr. Setton teaches Confucianism, Taoism, Philosophy of Religion, and East Asian political philosophy in the International College.

Professor Kim is an internationally recognized Martial Artist. He earned his undergraduate and his Masters degree in Martial Arts from Korea’s Kyung Hee University. He also holds a seventh degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Professor Kim has a particular academic interest in the historical and philosophical roots of Martial Arts and is becoming recognized for his commitment to mainstream the Martial Arts as an academic discipline in the West. He teaches both practical and theoretical courses in Martial Arts at the University of Bridgeport’s International College.