Dr. Michael L. Penn is Department Chair, Professor of Psychology, and a licensed Clinical Psychologist at Franklin & Marshall College in the United States. His research interests and publications include works in the pathogenesis of hope and hopelessness, morality and mental health, adolescent psychopathology, trauma related pathologies, and the relationship between culture and psychopathology. Professor Penn has lectured widely around the world and has been invited to serve as trainer for United Nations staff and as a consultant and speaker at United Nations-related conferences in several countries. He is the author of “Overcoming Violence against Women and Girls: The International Campaign to Eradicate a Worldwide Problem”, as well as numerous academic papers and chapters. In 2004 Penn was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Administration by Governor Edward Rendell. He also serves on the Board of the Tahirih Justice Center in Washington, D.C.