Barbara Thorngren is the former Chair of the Education Department and Program Coordinator for the Peace & Social Justice Program at Nashua Community College. The PSJN program included a course Peace Education Leadership and Sustainability, an international study abroad program to the University for Peace, Costa Rica. The NCC program also includes service learning projects with people experiencing homelessness, and participatory workshops at the NH State Prison for men where Barbara is the Volunteer Program Coordinator for the Alternatives to Violence Project workshops
As a former nurse, volunteer EMT/firefighter and current Reiki practitioner, Barbara brings an element of health awareness and healing to her work as an educator. Barbara graduated from Antioch New England Graduate School in 1993 with her M.Ed and has worked at the elementary, middle, high school and college levels developing and delivering a wide variety of courses. She has volunteered as the facilities coordinator for the Alternatives to Violence Project program at the NH State Prison for Men since 2001. Barbara’s work reflects shared responsibility and shared leadership, and is grounded in sustainability, community service, and conflict transformation.
Barbara lives with her in Temple, NH. They have large vegetable gardens and enjoy raising chickens and bees. She is currently networking with others interested in establishing a community sustainability collaborative.