Keynote speakers
A page within INTERNATIONAL DEATH, GRIEF, AND BEREAVEMENT CONFERENCE
Pre-Conference Keynote Speaker
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Darcy Harris, Ph.D., FT®
Biography forthcoming.
Michael Hogue, Ph.D.
Biography forthcoming.
Conference Keynote Speakers
Monday, June 2, 2025
Tashel Bordere, Ph.D., FT®
Biography forthcoming.
Jakob van Wielink, M.A.
Biography forthcoming.
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Kenneth Doka, Ph.D., M.Div.
Kenneth Doka, Ph.D., M.Div.
Dr. Doka was elected President of the Association for Death Education and Counseling in 1993. In 1995, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the International Work Group on Dying, Death and Bereavement and served as chair from 1997–1999. The Association for Death Education and Counseling presented him with an Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Death Education in 1998, Significant Contributions to the Field of Thanatology in 2014 and Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. In 2000 Scott and White presented him an award for Outstanding Contributions to Thanatology and Hospice. His Alma Mater Concordia College presented him with their first Distinguished Alumnus Award. He is a recipient of the Caring Hands Award as well as the Dr. Robert Fulton CDEB Founder’s Award. In 2006, Dr. Doka was grandfathered in as a Mental Health Counselor under NY State’s first licensure of counselors. Dr. Doka is a recipient of the International Center for Loss, Bereavement, Loss and Human Resilience and the Israeli Bereavement Forum Award for Lifetime Contributions to the Study of Loss, Bereavement, and Human Resilience, and The International Work Group on Death, Dying, and Bereavement’s Herman Feifel Award for Lifetime Contributions to the field of thanatology as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award from ADEC (The Association for Death Education and Counseling).
Dr. Doka has keynoted conferences throughout North America as well as Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. He participates in the annual Hospice Foundation of America Teleconference and has appeared on CNN and Nightline. In addition he has served as a consultant to medical, nursing, funeral service and hospice organizations as well as businesses and educational and social service agencies. Dr. Doka is an ordained Lutheran minister.
Kenneth Doka is a prolific author. You can explore his many books and publications on his website.
Alison Penny, Ph.D., FT®
Biography forthcoming.
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Carla Sofka, Ph.D.,
Biography forthcoming.