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DUANE GROBMAN

Duane Grobman grew up in Orange County, California, surrounded by acres of orange groves. He is a near-native Californian (his first five weeks were in the Hawkeye State). Duane is founder and President of TEND, and serves as an Executive Coach, educational consultant, Spiritual Director, retreat and conference speaker, researcher, and writer. He has a passion for education, empowerment,  spiritual formation, and leadership development. Duane has served in a variety of leadership contexts, from public schools, higher education, the local church, and leading a global foundation. Duane earned a Bachelor’s degree from Westmont College (Economics & Business), a Master’s degree from St. John’s College (the Classics), and a Doctorate in Education from Harvard University (specializing in Teaching, Curriculum, and Learning Environments). While attending Harvard, Duane taught at the university extensively. He worked closely with and was deeply impacted by four professors while studying at Harvard, namely, Eleanor Duckworth, Robert Coles, Ted Sizer, and Robert Kegan (the latter three served as his dissertation committee). He treasures these four educators as formative and cherished mentors.  

Duane on growth:

I have long appreciated the quote of Michelangelo who, at age 87, stated, “I am still learning.” Though I am decades away from age 87, his words mirror my life experience. From as young as I can remember I have loved to learn and I have found that learning is a deep well of hope, joy, and change; a well I continually draw from. In high school and college I trained to be an architect and to this day I still greatly appreciate thoughtful design. But in college I found that my love of learning, including designing learning and personal growth experiences, surpassed my love of designing  buildings. I subsequently left the field of architecture and pursued a career in education. For me, growth is a process that leads to discovery and change but often requires us to traverse pain, loss, grief, and disillusionment. Growth can occur in any season of our life, including seasons of fallowness, darkness, and deep questioning. Growth leads us to a deeper understanding of who we were created to be.

Favorite Tree: Redwood

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