Rebecca Brubaker, President and CEO

 Rebecca Brubaker is an adoptive mom and a certified Family Peer Specialist who has firsthand experience with the challenges of supporting her family through the processing of trauma as well as depression, anxiety, and learning difficulties. Her family has been fortunate to receive support from compassionate Christian mental health professionals who recognize the importance of integrating faith into the healing process. This experience has deepened her appreciation for the gifts of their Catholic faith and its positive impact it has on mental health.

Professionally, she brings over 20 years of experience as a Healthcare Administrator and Operations Leader, working with various medical and mental health organizations. Her expertise lies in planning, directing, and evaluating organizational activities to enhance clinical team performance and deliver high-quality patient services. With a focus on clinical workflow analysis, revenue cycle management, regulatory compliance, and professional ethics, she is committed to driving economical and efficient operations while prioritizing patient care. Rebecca is an active member of Mary, Mother of the Church in Burnsville, MN where she has been a catechist and currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Parish Pastoral Council and member of the Liturgy Commision.

Karen Doll, PsyD, LP brings a wealth of experience to her role as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Consultant, and Bestselling author of "Building Psychological Fitness: How High Performers Achieve with Ease." With 25 years of experience partnering with industry-leading organizations and coaching professionals, Karen is deeply committed to mental health awareness and advocacy in the workplace. Her work at the intersection of personal well-being and professional development underscores her dedication to fostering holistic growth among individuals and organizations alike. As part of the Harvard University Flourishing Network (HU Institute for Quantitative Social Science), Karen integrates academic science and research into her consulting practice, helping organizations create environments conducive to employee flourishing.

Karen's expertise extends to clinical psychology, where she leverages her insights to guide individuals and organizations towards optimal mental well-being and performance. Her bestselling book reflects her commitment to empowering high performers to achieve with ease, offering practical strategies grounded in psychological principles. As a member of Our Lady of Grace in Edina, MN, Karen finds strength and inspiration in her faith community of Our Lady of Grace in Edina, MN, further informing her approach to mental health advocacy and professional development.

 Dr. Jim Rice brings exceptional financial and operational depth to his role as Treasurer of the Elijah Institute Board. With a doctorate in Organizational Leadership and decades of executive experience spanning CDW, Sirius Computer Solutions, and his current consulting practice, Jim has led complex financial analysis, mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, and organizational transformation at the enterprise level.

His expertise in IT economics, business resilience, risk management, and cross-functional team leadership equips him to steward the Institute's financial health with both rigor and strategic foresight. As a longtime faculty member and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Phoenix, Jim also brings a scholar-practitioner lens to governance — grounding financial decisions in data, accountability, and long-term mission alignment.

Jim's pastoral formation — including a Master's in Pastoral Ministry from the St. Paul Seminary and School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas and a two-year certificate in Catechetics from the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute — reflects a personal commitment to Catholic mission that makes his service to the Elijah Institute not merely professional, but purposeful. In keeping with that calling, Jim is currently completing his Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with plans to transition into pastoral counseling in retirement — bringing the full arc of his formation and life experience into direct service to those in need.

Jim and his wife are the parents of three adult children and are members of Mary, Mother of the Church in Burnsville, Minnesota.

John Short is the Principal and Owner of Mission Partners LLC, helping nonprofits drive mission growth and impact through strategic planning, revenue acceleration, donor engagement, and leadership development. With a rewarding career spanning over three decades at IBM, John has extensive expertise in sales, business development, and consulting spearheading multi-million-dollar projects driving revenue growth. John is driven to facilitate connections between individuals requiring assistance and those with the resources to help achieve their goals and solve their problems, enabling them to realize a sense of peace. John is also District Deputy for the Knights of Columbus and is on the Regional Advisory Council for Tickets for Kids. He has led community-based service organizations, including Knights of Columbus and Lions Club, and chaired numerous events for fundraising. John holds an Executive Certificate in Transformational Leadership for Nonprofits from the University of Notre Dame and is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Community in Waconia, MN 

 Len Sperry, MD, PhD, is Emeritus Professor at Florida Atlantic University and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. A prolific scholar, Dr. Sperry has authored over 1,200 publications, including more than 60 professional books. He was also a founding editor of the journal Spirituality in Clinical Practice.

Dr. Sperry's work frequently focuses on the integration of spirituality into mental health care, including the latest edition of his landmark book, Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy: Infusing Spirituality into Clinical Practice (3rd Edition). He is widely recognized for his groundbreaking research on moral injury, particularly Sacred Moral Injury, which addresses trauma involving violations of sacred trust, such as clergy sexual abuse. His innovative contributions have reshaped trauma therapy by emphasizing the moral and spiritual dimensions of healing.

Dr. Sperry has been consistently listed in "Who’s Who in America," "America’s Top Physicians," and "Best Doctors in America" since 1996. His dedication to advancing mental health, particularly within the Catholic community, and his ongoing contributions to 12 editorial boards underscore his influential role in integrating spirituality with evidence-based mental health care., Dr. Sperry's impact extends beyond academia. His influence is evident in the accolades from esteemed organizations, highlighting his profound commitment to advancing mental health within the Catholic community.

His leadership spans a bro.ad range of organizational domains — including human resources, finance, facilities, technology, fleet management, project management, communications, and training — with particular expertise in entrepreneurial development, mergers and acquisitions, and organizational culture integration. 

Throughout his career, Richard has guided teams and organizations toward their strategic goals while cultivating workplaces where people genuinely thrive.

His leadership spans a broad range of organizational domains — including human resources, finance, facilities, technology, fleet management, project management, communications, and training — with particular expertise in entrepreneurial development, mergers and acquisitions, and organizational culture integration. 

Throughout his career, Richard has guided teams and organizations toward their strategic goals while cultivating workplaces where people genuinely thrive.

Richard is a member of Saint Thomas More Parish in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Madeline Simonson, LPCC, LADC is a gifted licensed professional clinical counselor and licensed alcohol and drug counselor. She earned her master’s degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and completed her clinical training under faith-based supervision. Madeline is in her final year as a doctoral student working towards a Doctor of Education in Counselor Education and Supervision. She is in the process of completing her doctoral research on trauma-informed counselor supervision. 

Madeline is a practicing clinician at a faith-based private practice. She specializes in treating adults with depression, anxiety, addiction, attachment wounds, and a history of trauma. She has a passion for integrating Christian faith and values into therapeutic practice. As a faithful Catholic, Madeline hopes to help create a bridge between the Catholic community and the mental health field.  Madeline is a member of the Church of St. Joseph in West St. Paul, MN

 Father James Perkl was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in 1984, and this year marks forty years of devoted priestly ministry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from St. Olaf College, a Master of Divinity from the Saint Paul Seminary of the University of St. Thomas, and a Doctor of Ministry, also from the University of St. Thomas.

Fr. Perkl has served the people of God across several parishes in the Twin Cities metro area, including Saint John Neumann in Eagan and Saint Dominic in Northfield as associate pastor, followed by pastorates at Saint John the Baptist in Jordan and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings. Since 2014, he has served as pastor of Mary, Mother of the Church in Burnsville.

His ministry extends well beyond the parish. Fr. Perkl has served as Spiritual Director at both Saint John Vianney Seminary and the Saint Paul Seminary, and currently serves as spiritual director to the Risen Savior Mission Sisters. He is privileged to serve as Chaplain to the Elijah Institute, accompanying its mission of integrating Catholic faith and the healing professions. He sits on the boards of Unity Catholic High School, Risen Savior Missionaries Philippines/Zimbabwe, and The Catechetical Institute at the Saint Paul Seminary. He also serves as a chaplain on the Burnsville Police, Fire and Emergency Chaplain Team, and was a founding member and spiritual director of the T.L.C. Pregnancy Resource Center in Hastings.

Fr. Perkl has accompanied pilgrims as a spiritual director to Catholic sites throughout the world, bringing his gifts for accompaniment and prayer to the universal Church. Outside of ministry, he is an avid skier, golfer, and cyclist — and a gifted iconographer.