Biography

Thom Wolf is president and professor of global studies of University Institute, New Delhi, India. UI convenes, connects, and collaborates educational experiences around the crucial question of the 21st century: what is the best way to live life on this planet?

He holds a B.A., sociology, Baylor University; M.A., cross-cultural studies, Fuller School of Intercultural Studies; D.Lit. (Hon.), humanities, Grand Canyon University; and Ph.D., global leadership, Andrews University; he also lectures as adjunct professor of sociology, Charleston Southern University.

He is a member of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (American Psychological Association, Division II); life member of the Indian Sociological Society; and a contributing editor of Forward Press, India’s first fully English|Hindi news magazine.

A social entrepreneur and leadership educator, Dr Thom has designed Master of Arts degree programs for four USA universities. His USA campus lectures|speaking engagements include Indiana University, University of California Berkeley, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Stanford University, and Harvard University.

In Europe, his lectures in the Middle East and Gulf States, and Asia, include Beijing Language and Culture University, Kunming University, American University of Dubai, Kabul University, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Finance & Budget Academy Moscow of the Russian Federation.

With a sustained interest in the ethical dimensions of comparative worldviews, his ideas have been published by Far Eastern Economic Review, Journal of Applied Christian Leadership, Journal of Contemporary Social Work of Lucknow University, Ministry of Culture of the Government of India, and Nava Nalanda Mahavihara University.

His articles and books include Phule: Apne Hi Shabdon Mein|Phule in His Own Words (2010) in Hindi; “The Mahayana Moment: Tipping Point Buddhism” (2009) for the Government of India’s 2,500-year death-anniversary commemoration of Buddha, English|Tibetan (2010); India Progress-Prone: The Baliraja Proposal of Mahatma Phule (2008), translated into Hindi and Marathi; and Savitribai: India’s Conversation on Education, with Suzana Andrade (2008).

Current Research or Professional Activities

Honors and Activities           

Chair, International Practices of Buddhism Session: 2500 Year Anniversary of the Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana, Bodh Gaya, India. Ministry of Culture, Government of India, 2007

D.Lit. Humanities, Grand Canyon University

Designed the course concentrations for M.A. degree of four universities

• M.A. Urban Education, Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ
• M.A. Intercultural studies, Urban Concentration, Biola University, Los Angeles, CA
• M.A. Intercultural Studies, Kim School of Intercultural Studies, San Francisco, CA
• M.A. Intercultural Studies, Union University, Jackson, TN

 

Professional Involvements and Associations

Life Member, Indian Sociological Society

Contributing Editor, Forward Press, India’s first fully Hindi|English news magazine

Member, Society for the Teaching of Psychology, APA Division 2

Affiliate Member, Southeastern Psychological Association, American Psychological Association 

 

Research: Books and Chapters (partial list)

 * Phule: Apne Hi Shabdon Mein (Phule In His Own Words, Hindi, 2011)

 * Social Change and Development: A Research Template (2010)

 * ‘The Mahayana Moment: Tipping Point Buddhism’ in B. Mungekar (ed.), Buddhism and the 21st Century (2009; Tibetan, 2011)

 * India Progress Prone: The Baliraja Proposal of Mahatma Phule (2008; Hindi, 2008; Marathi, 2009)

 * Savitribai: India’s Conversation on Education, with Suzana Andrade (2008)

 * ‘Three Challenges of 21st Century Buddhism’ in B. Mungekar & A. Rathore (eds.) Buddhism and the Contemporary World (2007)

 * Phule in His Own Words, with Sunil Sardar (2007)

Phule: Apne Hi Shabdon Mein|Phule in His Own Words (2011) is in Hindi; India Progress-Prone: The Baliraja Proposal of Mahatma Phule (2008), is translated into Hindi and Marathi; “The Mahayana Moment: Tipping Point Buddhism” (2009), is in Tibetan (2010); and Social Change and Development: A Research Template (2010) in Dari, Urdu, Hindi, and Russian.  

 

Professional Activities: Public lectures and engagements (partial list)

2010

    Kabul University, Kateb Institute of Higher Education, Kabul

Invited Lecture: ‘Social Change and Development: A Research Template’ (Fall)

 * Quaid-i-Azam University, Iqra University, Islamabad 

Invited Lecture: ‘Social Change and Development: A Research Template’ (Fall)

 * Finance & Budget Academy of the Finance Ministry of the Russian Federation, Moscow

Invited Lecture: ‘Progress-Prone and Progress-Resistant Societies: Mariano Grondoña’s Paradox and A Cultural Typology of Humane Development’ (Summer) 

 *India International Centre, New Delhi. From Gulamgiri to Asmita: Jyotiba Phule and Social
                Reform Movement – A Discussion

Paper read: ‘Phule’s Voice and Venue in Contemporary India’. 

Other panel members: V S Sirpurkur, Judge of the Supreme Court of India; Dr Gail Omvedt, Ambedkar Chair, Indira Gandhi National Open University; Dr Y S Alone, School of Arts & Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University (Spring) 

 * Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi

Invited Lecture: ‘Mahatma Jotirao Phule on Maharashtrian and Indian History: Insights for 21st Century Issues’. Maharashtra @ 50: Ideas of India National Conference (Spring)

2009

 * University Institute, New Delhi 

Educational Seminar: ‘The Mahayana Moment: Tipping Point Buddhism Seminar’ (Fall) 

 * University of Kashmir (School of Business), Srinagar

Invited Lecture: ‘India Progress Prone: A Case Study’ (Spring)

 * Arizona State University and Canyon Institute of Advanced Studies Lecture, Phoenix

Invited Lecture: ‘India Progress-Prone: Phule’s Baliraja Proposal’ (Spring)

2008

 * Azusa Pacific University, Azusa

Invited Lecture: ‘Leaders, Ideas, and Social Change: A Case Study from India’ Current Issues in Leadership Guest Lectureship (Fall)

 * American University of Dubai, Dubai

Invited Lecture: ‘Progress-Prone and Progress-Resistant Cultures: A Template for Research’ (Spring)

2007

 * 2550th Mahaparinirvana Anniversary of the Buddha, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Bodhgaya

Chair, ‘International Practices of Buddhism’ Session (Spring)

2006

 * University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (School of Business), Belton

Distinguished Speaker Series 2006 with Dr Ken Blanchard and 41st USA President, the Honorable George H W Bush.

Invited Lecture: ‘GlobalShift: The New History Vectors’ (Fall)

 * Lucknow University (Sociology Department), Lucknow

Invited Lecture: ‘Progress-Prone and Progress-Resistant Cultures: Worldview Issues’ (Fall)

 * Baylor University (Sociology Department), Waco

Lecture: ‘Hindu/Buddhist and Hebrew/Christian Meditation: A Gender Studies Comparison’ (Spring)

2005      

 * First International Conference on Buddhism in the 21st Century,
                Mumbai              

Invited Lecture: ‘Three Challenges of Buddhism in the 21st  Century’

1998      

 * Swallen Lecture, Andrews University, Berrien Springs

                Invited Lecture Series: ‘Essential Outsiders and Transformative Movements’

1995      

 * Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing

                Invited Lecture: ‘Future Trends that Will Effect USA and China Relations’