Executive Director, Temple of Understanding

Alison Van Dyk holds M.A. degrees in clinical psychology and transpersonal counciling psychology. She has been a child psychotherapist in private practice for the past 30 years. In 1989 she founded the Early Childhood Project for preschool at risk children in the South Bronx, New York. She is chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Temple of Understanding (TOU), one of the world’s first international interfaith organizations and the only one founded by a woman, Juliet Hollister in 1960. Alison has been involved with the organization since 1965, and took over as executive director in 2002. She  has focussed the organization on promoting interfaith  activism at the United Nations, climate crisis and woman’s issues in particular. She has organized numerous Hollister Award  celebrations and UN related programs, especially UN Women’s CSW events and the TOU Youth Internship program. She frequently participates UN conferences around the world, North American Interfaith Network, and Parliament of the World’s Religions.