2026 NARME Plenary Speakers

Clarence Carter

  • Clarence H. Carter was appointed to serve as a member of Governor Bill Lee’s Cabinet as the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) in January 2021. Mr. Carter oversees the state's second-largest agency, with an operating budget of more than $3 billion and nearly 4,000 employees across 95 counties. TDHS provides more than 17 programs and services, including nutrition programs, employment assistance, vocational training, and protective services, aiming to strengthen Tennessee by strengthening Tennesseans.

    A chair of multiple state task forces and a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, and a published author, Mr. Carter is recognized for his leadership and innovation in public administration. With over 30 years of experience, including roles under four Governors, two Presidents, and a Mayor, Mr. Carter has significantly contributed to public service, focusing on improving the safety net for socially and economically vulnerable citizens.

    Plenary Title: The 4th Purpose: Reimagining TANF to Strengthen Families

    TANF was created with four statutory purposes, yet the fourth purpose, encouraging the formation and maintenance of two-parent families, has often been the least discussed and least operationalized. In this plenary, Commissioner Clarence H. Carter will explore how states can thoughtfully engage this purpose moving forward, connecting policy, practice, and community partnerships to better support family stability and long-term wellbeing.

  • Shaunti Feldhahn, Ph.D, holds a doctoral degree in Counseling and Psychological Studies from Regent University. She earned a master’s degree from Harvard University and was an analyst on Wall Street before unexpectedly becoming a social researcher, best-selling author, and speaker.

    Today, she applies her analytical skills to investigating eye-opening, life-changing truths about relationships, both at home and in the workplace. Her groundbreaking research-based books, such as For Women Only and For Men Only, have sold more than 3 million copies in 25 languages. Her books and studies are popular in homes, counseling centers, and corporations worldwide.

    Shaunti (often with her husband, Jeff) speaks at events each year around the world, sharing her findings with a wide range of audiences such as churches, corporate conventions, women’s conferences, universities, arena events, marriage seminars, youth camps and cruises (yes, those are particularly painful…). Her research and commentary are regularly featured in media as diverse as The Today Show, Focus on the Family, The New York Times and Family Life. Shaunti, Jeff, and their two adult children live in Atlanta and enjoy every minute of living life at warp speed.

    Her Plenary address is titled: Creating a New Culture of Care to Help Solve the Mental Health Crisis.

    Our current crisis in mental, emotional, and relational health is, at its core, a supply-and-demand problem. Demand for support has far outpaced the availability of licensed professionals, and many simply cannot afford services, leaving tens of millions without accessible care. While clinical counseling is essential, it was never meant to carry the full weight of everyday human struggle. This plenary introduces a practical, scalable model for mobilizing the “missing middle” of care—equipping everyday people within churches, community organizations, and local networks to provide meaningful, relational support. By strengthening this layer, communities can expand access to care, reduce isolation, and dramatically increase the amount of care offered. This talk shares insights from national research and real-world implementation—offering a vision for how communities can become places where no one has to navigate hardship alone.

  • Chan M. Hellman, PhD is a Professor in the Anne & Henry Zarrow School of Social Work at the University of Oklahoma and serves as Director of the Hope Research Center. His work focuses on the science of hope as a measurable, teachable psychological strength that helps individuals, organizations, and communities overcome trauma and adversity.

    Dr. Hellman has published more than 80 peer-reviewed studies and has spent over two decades translating hope theory into practice across human services, education, public systems, and nonprofit organizations. His research informs the development of the Hope-Centered & Trauma-Informed ® model and training programs now used nationwide to strengthen workforce well-being, organizational effectiveness, and system-level change. In recognition of this work, the University of Oklahoma Hope Research Center received the 2024 “Building Knowledge Through Research” Award from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime.

    He is the co-author of the award-winning book Hope Rising: How the Science of Hope Can Change Your Life and co-founder of Hope Rising Oklahoma, a statewide initiative launched with First Lady Sarah Stitt to help build a hope-centered culture across communities and

    institutions. Dr. Hellman was one of five invited workshop leaders for Jane Goodall’s Activating Hope Summit and has delivered invited presentations at national venues, including a main-stage session at the American Psychological Association convention.

    His work has been featured by major national media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, TIME, CNN, and the APA Monitor. In 2025, Dr. Hellman was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to research, teaching, and public impact.

    Plenary Title: The Strategic Power of Hope: A Science Based Framework for Strengthening Individuals, Communities, & Systems

    This Keynote introduces the science of hope as a measurable and teachable protective factor grounded in goals, pathways, and willpower. Designed for those serving children and families experiencing trauma and adversity, this presentation translates more than two decades of research into practical strategies that strengthen outcomes, enhance collaboration, and build collective hope within complex systems. Participants will leave with a shared language of hope and clear, actionable strategies to intentionally foster resilience and engagement.

  • Alex J. Adams, PharmD, MPH, serves as Assistant Secretary for Family Support, leading the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He was nominated to lead the agency by President Donald J. Trump and was confirmed on October 7, 2025, by a vote of the U.S. Senate. 

    Assistant Secretary Adams brings years of health, human services, education, and regulatory expertise to advance President Trump and Secretary Kennedy’s broader vision to Make American Healthy Again. Prior to leading ACF, Dr. Adams spent more than ten years in Idaho State Government, most notably as Governor Brad Little’s budget and regulatory director and state Department of Health & Welfare director. In these capacities, he oversaw the state’s first upgrade to a AAA credit rating with both Fitch Ratings and Moody’s. Dr. Adams led the Governor’s zero-based regulation initiative, which resulted in Idaho becoming the least regulated state in the nation. He also made significant efforts to improve Idaho’s child welfare system, enacting kin-specific licensing standards, announcing paid family leave for foster parents, extending foster care to age 23, and overseeing record recruitment and retention of foster homes.

    Dr. Adams earned his bachelor’s degree and Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Toledo in Ohio and his Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. Dr. Adams and his wife, Jennifer, are raising their daughter, Emerson. 

  • Allen Barton is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Human Development & Family Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research program focuses on identifying novel and effective ways to promote resiliency and well-being in couples and families. For the last 15 years, he has also been actively involved in disseminating and evaluating couple-based prevention programming, including serving as the Founder and Director of the Strong Couples Project. His work has been highlighted in a variety of media outlets, including the Today Show, Newsweek, The Atlantic, and the Chicago Sun-Times.

    Allen completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees in Engineering at the University of Illinois. He received his PhD in Human Development & Family Science at the University of Georgia and completed postdoctoral research at UGA’s Center for Family Research.  Allen is married to his college sweetheart and dad to five spunky children.

    Plenary Title: 5 Verbs for Couples: Emerging findings and enduring principles for how to have a great marriage

    Few things in life are more rewarding than a strong marriage…and few things in life are as equally challenging. In this talk, Professor Allen Barton synthesizes established and emerging research findings on marriage and couple relationships into five key verbs for couples. These five verbs offer practical, research-based actions that couples and practitioners can use on a daily basis to strengthen marital relationships.

  • Dr. Gary Chapman is an experienced and well-respected family counselor, and a well-known author, having written more than 50 books. He hosts a nationally syndicated radio program, A Love Language Minute, and a Saturday morning program, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, that air on more than 400 stations. 

    The 5 Love Languages, one of Chapman’s most popular titles, topped various bestseller charts for years. It has been published in more than 50 languages, sold more than 20 million copies and is currently on the New York Times best-seller list. And recently celebrated the 30 year anniversary of the 5 Love Language book. Dr. Chapman has been directly involved in real-life family counseling for more than 40 years. Dr. Chapman recently retired after 50 years of serving as senior associate pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 

    Dr. Chapman is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in anthropology from Wheaton College and Wake Forest University, respectively. He has received M.R.E. and Ph.D. degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and has taken postgraduate work at the University of North Carolina and Duke University.

    Dr. Chapman and his wife, Karolyn, have been married for more than 60 years and reside in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Chapmans have two grown children, Shelley and Derek.

    Plenary Title: Understanding and Expressing Love

    One of our deepest emotional needs is the need to feel loved by the significant people in our lives. When we feel loved, relationships flourish. When the 'love tank' is empty relationships struggle. However, what makes one person feel loved does not make another person feel loved. The question is not: "Do you love your children or spouse". The question is: "Do they feel loved?" Understanding the 5 love languages will enhance all of your relationships.

  • Gary Dixon is president of The Foundation for a Better Life which promotes positive values through the Pass It On public service campaign seen around the world. Each message reminds viewers that our values are worth more when we pass them on.

    Plenary Title: Will Your Values Make A Difference?

    An opportunity to explore how your values impact every important decision you make.

    These uplifting public service TV spots are seen millions of times each year on all the major networks and on billboards and airport signs from New York to the to the Los Angeles freeways. Their outdoor effort was recognized as “…the most successful Public Service Campaign in the history of outdoor advertising.”

    Formerly, Gary served as vice president of Bonneville Communications where he directed the creative development of many successful campaigns, including Major League Baseball, Homefront, Children’s Miracle Network and the American Cancer Society.

    He has also been a speaker at regional and national advertising conferences for the American Advertising Federation and a keynote speaker for various events. Other assignments took him to Jakarta, Indonesia where he served as a communications consultant on a government project and, early in his career, to Japan where he directed a documentary on the first Trans-Pacific flight.

    Gary has a master’s degree in communications from Brigham Young University and a bachelor’s in broadcasting from Texas Tech University where he serves on the National Alumni Board. He and his wife Susan have seven outspoken, independent, talented, wonderful children.

  • ‍Brad Wilcox is the Melville Foundation Jefferson Scholars Foundation Distinguished University Professor of Sociology and Director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, Future of Freedom Fellow at the Institute for Family Studies, and a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. The author of Get Married: Why Americans Should Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families and Save Civilization (Harper Collins, 2024), Wilcox studies marriage, fatherhood, and the impact of strong and stable families on men, women, and children.

    ‍ Professor Wilcox is the author and coauthor of six books and has written for scientific journals such as The American Sociological Review and The Journal of Marriage and Family, as well as popular outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and National Review.

    With Nicholas H. Wolfinger, Wilcox is the co-author of Soul Mates: Religion, Sex, Love, and Marriage Among African Americans and Latinos (Oxford, 2016), which shines a spotlight on the lives of strong and happy minority couples. He is also the coauthor of Gender and Parenthood: Biological and Social Scientific Perspectives (Columbia, 2013) with Kathleen Kovner Kline. His research has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, National Review Online, NPR, NBC’s The Today Show, and many other media outlets. Wilcox consults regularly with companies such as Nestle, Procter & Gamble, and Kimberly-Clark on fertility and marriage trends in the United States.

    ‍ As an undergraduate, Wilcox was a Jefferson Scholar at the University of Virginia (’92) and later earned his Ph.D. from Princeton University. Prior to coming to the University of Virginia, he held research fellowships at Princeton University, Yale University, and the Brookings Institution.

    His Plenary address is titled: The Future is Family: Marriage Matters More than Ever.

    Although marriage has lost ground as the anchor of adulthood, its value may actually be increasing—as the decline of religion, community, and other forms of social solidarity leaves partnership as one of the last remaining bulwarks against loneliness, despair, and economic insecurity.

    In this lecture, University of Virginia Distinguished University Professor Brad Wilcox marshals new evidence to answer a pressing question: does marriage matter more than ever for protecting men and women from deaths of despair, securing homeownership, and pursuing happiness?

  • Scott Heare currently serves as the San Antonio Initiative’s Chief Visionary Officer for the Global Human Flourishing Study, a joint research initiative led by Harvard University and Gallup. As his work expands beyond the church into corporate, academic, and governmental settings, Scott offers a rare combination of spiritual insight and evidence-based practice. His focus lies in promoting practices—like forgiveness, reflection, and relational repair—that contribute to public well-being.

    Plenary Title: Flourishing Together: How the Global Flourishing Study Could Provide an Architecture for
    Marriage, Family, and the Good Life

    Many approaches to marriage and relationship education begin with what’s broken. But what if we started somewhere deeper, with what makes life truly worth living?
    Drawing on the Global Flourishing Study, Scott Heare, Senior Director of the Impact Lab at Baylor University’s Institute for Global Human Flourishing, reimagines marriage and family life through the lens of flourishing, not just functioning. What emerges is not another program, but a deeper architecture for the good life, one that invites couples, families, and communities into something richer, more resilient, and more whole.
    If your work is about helping relationships last, this conversation is about helping them matter.

  • Dr. Andrea Gurney is a licensed clinical psychologist, professor and author.  She is a champion for relationships.‍ ‍

    She has been the faculty of Westmont College since 2005 and also maintains a clinical practice in downtown Santa Barbara where she specializes in couples and family therapy. In addition to working with individuals, couples, and families, her speaking and writing focuses on relational health and wellness. Her first book, Reimagining Your Love Story: Biblical and Psychological Practices for Healthy Relationships was the basis for her online course, Marriage ootcamp. Additionally, Dr. Gurney is an active member of Santa Barbara Psychological Association and Santa Barbara Response Network. She is trained in Psychological First Aid (PFA) and has led trauma processing groups in response to local tragedies over the past twenty years.

    ‍Dr. Gurney earned a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Northeastern University in Boston, MA, an M.S. in Psychological Services at the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in Psychology at Wheaton College. She completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Couples and Family Counseling and a Pre-Doctoral Internship in Individual Therapy at Harvard Medical School. She spent eight years working at Harvard affiliated Boston Children’s Hospital, where she trained under experts in the field of developmental and clinical psychology. 

    ‍Andrea lives in Santa Barbara with her husband and their two daughters, and in her spare time loves to travel, play outdoors, and spend time with family and friends.

    Her plenary address with Alan Hawkins and Scott Stanley is titled: Swipes, Situationships, and Searching for Something Real: What's Really Going on with Dating Today?

    Dating has never offered more options - yet many people have never felt more confused, disconnected, or discouraged. Today's singles are navigating a world of dating apps, situationships, ghosting, mixed signals, AI and endless choices, all while trying to find genuine connection. This dating landscape is literally reshaping how people pursue love and commitment. This session will explore the latest research on modern dating trends, uncover what's driving the rise of ambiguous relationships, and examine why so many people are struggling to move beyond confusion and toward healthy, thriving relationships.

  • Scott M. Stanley, PhD, is a research professor at the University of Denver and a clinical psychologist with decades of experience working with couples and individuals regarding relationship issues. As a researcher, Stanley has published extensively on subjects including commitment, cohabitation, relationship development, and the prevention of relationship distress. Scott Stanley and Howard Markman started the PREP Companies in 1991, with the goal of disseminating research-informed and evidence-based skills and strategies for people to build and maintain strong relationships.

    His plenary address with Alan Hawkins and Andrea Gurney is titled: Swipes, Situationships, and Searching for Something Real: What's Really Going on with Dating Today?

    Dating has never offered more options - yet many people have never felt more confused, disconnected, or discouraged. Today's singles are navigating a world of dating apps, situationships, ghosting, mixed signals, AI and endless choices, all while trying to find genuine connection. This dating landscape is literally reshaping how people pursue love and commitment. This session will explore the latest research on modern dating trends, uncover what's driving the rise of ambiguous relationships, and examine why so many people are struggling to move beyond confusion and toward healthy, thriving relationships.

  • Bill Doherty is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota. As a therapist, he focuses on couples on the brink of divorce and on political stress in relationships. He has authored 15 books for professionals and the public. Following the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, he co-founded Braver Angels, a citizen initiative bringing conservatives and liberals together to counteract political polarization and restore the fraying social fabric in American society. Bill is the chief designer of the Braver Angels workshops and has conducted sessions all over the country, including for corporations, state legislatures, and the Problem Solvers Caucus in Congress. Braver Angels now has volunteers working in all 50 states. Among his awards is the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Family Therapy Academy.

    Plenary Title: Couples and Families Divided by Politics

    Polarization has increasingly crept into our homes and extended families. Learn about the sources of polarization and how couples and families can buffer themselves from its effects--and become stronger by identifying what they have in common beneath their differences.

  • Swipes, Situationships, and Searching for Something Real: What's Really Going on with Dating Today?

    Dating has never offered more options - yet many people have never felt more confused, disconnected, or discouraged. Today's singles are navigating a world of dating apps, situationships, ghosting, mixed signals, AI and endless choices, all while trying to find genuine connection. This dating landscape is literally reshaping how people pursue love and commitment. This session will explore the latest research on modern dating trends, uncover what's driving the rise of ambiguous relationships, and examine why so many people are struggling to move beyond confusion and toward healthy, thriving relationships.