Dr. Joseph Benton Howell
Dr. Joe Howell, along with his wife Lark Howell, co-founded The Institute of Conscious Being in 2012 to forge the chain of consciousness. The Howells believe the more people who are conscious, the less conflict, destruction, and suffering there will be. Dr. Howell practiced Clinical Psychology from 1980 until 2024 in Anniston, Alabama. He began teaching topics in spiritual development in the late eighties and has presented conferences and seminars on dream work, the Enneagram, levels of spiritual development, techniques in spiritual direction, and the theology of Henri Nouwen, his mentor at Yale Divinity School. Dr. Howell is frequently invited to speak nationwide. His book, Becoming Conscious: The Enneagram's Forgotten Passageway, addresses consciousness achievement through the ancient Enneagram. With extensive experience in psychology and spiritual growth, Dr. Howell shares knowledge accumulated over years of study across various disciplines.
Dr. Howell's latest book, Know Your Soul: Journeying with the Enneagram, was released in November 2024. This book explores spirituality and the Enneagram, focusing on nine soul types and their specific qualities. The discovery of these soul qualities provided significant insights for Dr. Howell and helped him cope with grief following his son's illness and death in 2008. The book offers guidance for recognizing one's soul type and transforming the dominant ego into a servant of the soul.
In addition to Enneagram teachings, the book includes personal stories and discusses how the Enneagram of Soul supported Dr. Howell and his wife during the loss of their only other child, Lauren. The book aims to assist those seeking deeper meaning or coping with significant grief, as well as providing advanced Enneagram concepts for learners.
Lark Dill Howell
Lark Howell, a native of Anniston, Alabama, co-founded, coordinates, and teaches for the ICB. She attends Grace Episcopal Church and serves on its Preservation Committee. For 20 years, she led the Art and Soul Retreat at Kanuga Conferences. Her hobbies include needlepoint, photography, flower arranging, gardening, and traveling. Lark enjoys hosting gatherings at home.
Married to Joe for almost 50 years, they have cared for 6 cocker spaniels and raised two children, Ben and Lauren. She has volunteered for local organizations and managed Joe’s private practice office. Currently, she finds purpose in co-creating and managing The Institute for Conscious Being, focusing on the Enneagram for personal transformation and healing.
Barbara Sloan
Barbara Sloan is retired. A graduate of the University of Montevallo with a double major in Art and English, and a minor in Philosophy and Religion, she got her master’s degree in Literature with a thesis in medieval arts at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Barbara is a visual artist, playwright, and non-fiction writer whose book, Barefoot Among the Thorns tells the story of dance in Birmingham, and more recently she has published Theatre Is My Life! Thoughts on Play Quotes: A book of meditations for each day of the year. For over two decades, she served as professor of theatre and staff costume designer at Samford University. She has an extensive background in classroom teaching, and also having presented theatre and art lectures and workshops across the Southeast. Barbara is a graduate of Education for Ministry (EfM) at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Birmingham. Certified by The Institute for Conscious Being in the Spirituality of the Enneagram in 2013, this Ego Type Four now serves on the ICB faculty. For continuing education, she has attended workshops, conferences, and online classes led by Richard Rohr, Rob Bell, Ilia Delio, Brené Brown, Julia Gatta, Barbara Cawthorne Crafton, and Shawn Achor. She has two grown children, Elin Olson Glenn and Seth Olson, and eight grandchildren.
Nan Hornsby
Nan Hornsby attended her first ICB Conference at Kanuga in the fall of 2017. After completing the Scholars and Masters levels she joined the faculty to design Deepening Roots, a post- masters program for continued study and volunteer service within the ICB community. Nan majored in voice in college and performed locally in the Birmingham area before attending seminary. She received an M.Div. from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. An ordained United Methodist pastor, Nan's ministry focuses on music and worship, retreats on prayer and spirituality, and the amazing journey from ego to Essence through the wisdom of the Enneagram. She is married to Clay and they have two adult children. Nan and Clay and their dachshund, Ivy, live at Lake Martin near Eclectic, AL.
Drexel Rayford
Drexel Rayford has been senior pastor of four churches in Kentucky and Virginia, a chaplain in the University of Louisville Department of Psychiatry, and did a brief stint as the coordinator of international partnerships for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. He holds a Ph.D. in the Psychology of Religion and a Pastoral Counseling certificate from the University of Louisville, Department of Psychiatry. An erstwhile indie singer/songwriter/story-teller with a number of recordings under his belt, Drexel recently retired from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medicine where he was the chaplain with the Integrative Medicine Clinic. Drexel has written numerous articles in the field of pastoral theology and most recently published a book entitled Species With a Call: How We Find Purpose for Our Lives Through the Power of What We Love . Drexel and Melanie Rogers have recorded an album, “Nine Prayers of the Soul” based on Dr. Howell’s nine prayers from Becoming Conscious: The Enneagram’s Forgotten Passageway that can be found at Vagrants Chapel. He loves road cycling, hiking, all kinds of photography, and writing songs and stories. Drexel is married to Vicki and together they have three adult children.
Erika Jobes
Erika Jobes was first introduced to the Enneagram through her professional work in the business world in 2012. She read several books and was comfortable with her introductory knowledge until she found Dr. Howell's book, Becoming Conscious: The Enneagram's Secret Passageway. She resonated deeply with the spiritual nature of Dr. Howell's book and decided to attend an ICB conference. She immediately joined the ICB training in 2015 and was asked to join the faculty when she graduated from the training. Erika received her BSN from the University of Alabama and then her MSN as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She spent 10 years working in and around emergency cardiology. Looking for a new challenge, she earned her MBA and joined the business world in 2001 where she worked for 18 years. After a successful career in the business world, she returned to nursing in 2019 and now works as a Nurse Practitioner in Cardiology. Erika loves gardening, hiking and being outdoors. She also loves spending time with her wife Jessica, their sons Charlie and Joseph, and her two older sons, Jack and Jon.
ICB Adjunct Faculty members have completed the Certification training in the Spirituality of the Enneagram or are esteemed experts in their field who share their knowledge with our students and participants at conferences and training sessions.
Lori Miller-Price
Lori Miller-Price has been studying with the Institute for Conscious Being for four years and just recently became part of the adjunct faculty. Lori has been an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ for 32 years serving in several churches. She is currently the senior pastor of St. Andrew United Church of Christ in Louisville, Kentucky. Lori is married to Tom, who is also an adjunct faculty member with ICB. Lori and Tom have 4 grown children. Lori enjoys time with family, trying new bourbons, creating artistic worship spaces, cooking, hiking, and the spirituality of the Enneagram!
Tom Miller-Price
Tom Miller-Price has been part of ICB for four years. After completing Scholars and Masters, he and Nancy Hornsby created Deepening Roots as an ongoing program for ICB graduates. While Tom was first ordained as a Baptist minister, he was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 2005. He has served as the priest in-charge at The Episcopal Church of Our Merciful Saviour since that time. He has been a chaplain, pastoral counselor, and Spiritual Director over many years. When not at his church on Sundays, he does Spiritual Direction via Zoom during the week. Tom is married to Lori, who is also an adjunct faculty member. He likes to travel, and enjoys contemplative hiking. Deepening his spiritual life through the Enneagram and contemplation is most important to him, along with family time.
Terri Bailey
Terri Bailey After a career in the US Attorney's Office in South Carolina, Terri is now a Victim's Rights Attorney, ensuring that the rights of victims are recognized and protected in the federal and state courts. She received her undergraduate degree from Agnes Scott College and her J.D. from the University of South Carolina. Terri and her husband Stan have been married over 30 years and have four grown children. They completed their first ICB Enneagram Certification training in 2014 and continued their studies completing the Master's program in 2019. Terri is active in the Episcopal Church as the diocesan coordinator for the Education for Ministry (EfM) program and mentor at her home church, St. Martin's-in-the- Fields. She has been studying the Enneagram for over twenty years and has developed and presented seminars on the Enneagram for area vestries, Sunday school, and various retreats at Kanuga. In addition to bringing the Enneagram back to her church, Terri has served on the vestry twice, taught Sunday school, led book studies, and Centering Prayer groups. "The Enneagram has transformed every aspect of my life," she says. "As I strive to see the soul child in every person I meet, I have developed a greater understanding of the folks around me and a greater capacity to empathize with others."
Stan Bailey
Stan Bailey lives in Columbia, South Carolina, with his wife and fellow 2014 ICB Certified Enneagram Instructor, Terri. To further their understanding of the spirituality of the Enneagram, both also completed the ICB Master's program together in 2019. He is active in the Episcopal Church, an Education for Ministry (EfM) graduate, and participates in Cursillo, Youth Events, and other service oriented activities. Stan received his BA in Journalism from the University of South Carolina and has enjoyed a lifetime of careers in advertising and sales. He loves writing, playing, and performing music, to which he feels a spiritual connection that brings great joy to him and his audience. As an Ego Type Seven, it should be no surprise that his interests are not limited to music. He loves the spiritual freedom of riding his motorcycle, beating around the woods in his pickup truck, and traveling the world! He does admit that , in the USA, Disney World is one of his favorites! The Enneagram continues to be an important part of his life and spiritual journey. Stan says, "Getting in touch with my soul child has helped me see my essence more clearly. The Enneagram has given direction to my spiritual journey.”
Nanette Mudiam
Nanette Mudiam attended her first Enneagram conference with the Institute for Conscious Being at St. Mary’s in Sewanee, Tennessee in March of 2018. The insights she gained there compelled her to continue her studies with ICB through their Scholars and Masters programs. Still motivated by the wisdom she gained, Nanette continued on with their Deepening Roots. In 2022, she joined ICB as adjunct faculty and co-hosts The Real Enneagram Podcast. Throughout her journey she discovered the transformative power of the Enneagram and the spiritual truth of ICB’s central teaching on the soul child. Nanette has a background in healthcare with a BS in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and an MSN in Community Health Nursing from Jacksonville State University. She serves as the Executive Director of St. Michael’s Medical Clinic in Anniston, Alabama, providing primary care to vulnerable populations in her community. Nanette is married to Sai and they have two adult children who along with their spouses, have given them four beautiful grandchildren. Nanette and Sai have traveled internationally for over 25 years. They offer a unique spiritual and cultural perspective.
Sai Mudiam
Sai was born and reared in India, and has been a resident of Anniston, Alabama for 34 years. He received his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Osmania University in Hyderabad, India, and a Master’s in Tool Design and Tool Manufacturing from an lndo Danish Institute in New Delhi, India. He came to Auburn University as a student in 1986, where he received a master's degree in Industrial Engineering with a thesis on manufacturing systems. He currently works as the Chief Technology Officer at Alabama Specialty products Inc. in Munford, Alabama. To strengthen his administrative skills, he recently pursued another Master's degree in Business Administration from Jacksonville State University. He is a passionate life learner. Sai grew up a Hindu and embraced the Christian faith in 1991, and was an ordained minister in a charismatic church for 20 years. He attended his first ICB conference in 2018, and went on to complete both the scholar's and master's programs, now enjoying time with the Deepening Roots and ICB administration duties. He is passionate about the Enneagram as a transformational tool for individuals to reach their full potential in their spiritual walk, and believes the Enneagram can improve relationships in the home and workplace.
Art Wimberly
Art first encountered the Enneagram “accidentally” while on a silent retreat in 2009. As a person grateful to be in long-term recovery, he began noticing many intriguing touch-points between 12 Step consciousness work and the wisdom of the Enneagram and began incorporating a synergy of the two pathways into his personal recovery and in his efforts to help others. Along the way, Art has studied under and been certified by a number of the world’s leading Enneagram teachers, including completing the Institute for Conscious Being’s Scholars and Masters programs and continuing with his beloved ICB learning community in its Deepening Roots cohort. In addition, Art is a trained lay counselor, as well as a Certified Recovery Coach and Recovery Coach Trainer, and volunteers with The Addiction Prevention Coalition — a Birmingham-based non-profit that is dedicated to collaboration to increase the availability of education, connection, and resources for prevention and recovery. In his spare time Art, enjoys his five children and nine grandchildren, and is obsessed with playing Pickleball and walking/hiking with his wife Carie and their two golden-doodles, Jasper and Phoebe.
Scott Smith - Director of IT
A few years ago, Scott found himself at a crossroads in life and began a process of spiritual seeking. Early in that journey, he discovered the Spirituality of the Enneagram when he read Becoming Conscious. The book helped him, and he attended an ICB Conference to learn more. He went on to join the ICB Training Program and now holds Scholars and Masters certifications from the ICB. In 2022, Scott joined the ICB staff to direct IT. He manages audio-visual equipment at ICB Conferences and Intensive Trainings, and co-hosts and produces The Real Enneagram podcast. Scott also provides various other assistance to the Institute, such as recording teachings and other select parts of training sessions to distribute to students for make-up and review purposes. Scott enjoys reading, traveling, mindful strength training, spirited conversation, and hanging out at his favorite local bookstore. He is also certified as an Embodiment Facilitator in TEPP (The Embodied Present Process) and facilitates workshops that offer an embodied approach to mindfulness. Scott lives in Anniston, Alabama.
Maggie W. Banger
Maggie Banger, LPC-S, is a Supervising Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Alabama, a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist® through the Grief Recovery Institute, an Advanced Certified Relapse Prevention Specialist® through the CENAPS Corporation, a Certified Death Doula, and is a member of Deepening Roots, the Alumni Organization of Institute for Conscious Being, after completion of the Scholars and Masters programs. Maggie owns Restore Counseling Services, a private counseling practice, in which she aids clients with grief, addiction recovery, spiritual issues, and multiple other mental health and life skills issues. Maggie uses the spiritual tool of the enneagram routinely with the clients in her practice due to the power of insight it brings and the empathic understanding of self and others that is life-changing. ICB has been integral in Maggie’s spiritual maturation and growth over the last several years and it is something she readily shares with others due to the personal and professional, life-giving change she has found within the studies of the Enneagram.
Melanie Rodgers
Melanie Rodgers, a professional violist, violinist, fiddler, and music therapist, is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and the University of Alabama. Melanie's music career has included performing in orchestras all over the country including the Pittsburgh Ballet and Opera Orchestra as well as accompanying a wide variety of artists from Luciano Pavarotti to Stevie Wonder; from Dave Brubeck to The Moody Blues. Melanie has been a life long learner and seeker of ways to live our best, most joy-filled life. This healing journey led her to the study of the Enneagram in 2012 when she first met Joe and Lark Howell. After graduating from the scholars and masters programs, she became a member of the ICB faculty.
Presently, Melanie is merging her passion for spiritual growth and personal transformation together with her love of creativity, music therapy, and the wisdom of the Enneagram into a life coaching practice where she helps others on their journey toward wholeness. Melanie and Drexel Rayford have recorded an album, “Nine Prayers of the Soul” based on Dr. Howell’s nine prayers from Becoming Conscious: The Enneagram’s Forgotten Passageway that can be found at Vagrants Chapel.
Melanie lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her husband John. Melanie enjoys part time teaching and music therapy work, free-lancing and performing with her band, String Theory, working with ICB feeds and fulfills her soul like nothing else.
Carrie Bearden
Carrie Bearden learned about the Enneagram in 2016 but wanted a deeper journey into this system. She began directed Spiritual Guidance with Becoming Conscious: The Enneagram’s Forgotten Passageway, and joined the Scholars program in 2023, and is currently studying in the Master’s program. She joined the ICB staff in 2024 to assist with editing, scheduling Intensives, and coordinating communications. Carrie graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor’s degree in Learning and Behavior Disorders and then went on to obtain a Master’s and PhD from the University of Louisville in Education Administration with a concentration on Special Education Law. She worked for 25 years at the regional and state level on behalf of children and youth with special needs, providing professional development for educators, writing procedures, and providing technical assistance to public school districts.
Carrie lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband Jim, and is an active member of Buechel Park Baptist Church.