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Boelhower Academic Bio Sketch
Gary J. Boelhower, PhD is professor of theology and religious studies. He teaches courses in healthcare ethics, health humanities, contemporary moral issues, death and dying, leadership, and religions of the world. He has taught at secondary, undergraduate, graduate, and executive development courses and has administered educational programs for over 45 years, serving as founding executive director of the Center for Spirituality and Leadership, dean of lifelong learning, dean of graduate studies and vice president for academic affairs. He has consulted with a broad range of organizations (healthcare, government, education, non-profit, business) on values, teamwork, mission and strategy, diversity, professional ethics, wise decision-making, and the respectful workplace. He has given over a thousand professional presentations and has keynoted at national and regional conferences on nursing, rural healthcare, health information management and critical access hospitals. He has facilitated executive development programs on dialogue, authentic leadership, values and vision, and appreciative inquiry. He has published scholarly articles and educational texts. His recent books include A Common Thirst (children’s book by Beaver’s Pond Press 2020), Step Close In: Poems From the Path (The Orchard Street Press 2020) Naming Rites: Poems (Holy Cow! Press 2017), Choose Wisely: Practical Insights from Spiritual Traditions (Paulist Press 2013), Mountain 10: Climbing the Labyrinth Within (Mountain 10 Resources 2013), and Marrow, Muscle, Flight: Poems (Wildwood River Press 2011) which won the Midwest Book Award. He enjoys backpacking, hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sailing, and writing poetry.
Boelhower Poetry Bio Sketch
Gary Boelhower’s recent poetry collections include Step Close In: Poems From the Path (The Orchard Street Press 2020) Naming Rites: Poems (Holy Cow! Press) and Marrow, Muscle, Flight: Poems (Wildwood River Press) which won the Midwest Book Award. His poems have also been published in anthologies: Quiet Diamonds, Amethyst and Agate, The Heart of All That Is, The Cancer Poetry Project 2, Migrations, Beloved on the Earth, Trail Guide to the Northland Experience in Prints and Poetry, and County Lines, and in journals and magazines: America, Northern Sounds, The Freshwater Review, Lake Superior Magazine, New Millenium Writings, Out of Words, Plainsongs, Prove, Shavings, Twyckenham Notes, and Willow Review. He was named Poet Laureate of Duluth, Minnesota for 2018-2020. He was awarded the Foley Prize in poetry from America magazine and a career development grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council.