Positions

• Associate Professor of Psychology, Luther College
• Associate Director, Sierra Leone Forgiveness Project
• Visiting Scientist, Mayo Clinic, 2009-2010

Education and Training

• Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research, 1999-2001
• Ph.D. Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1998
• M.S. Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1996
• B.A. Psychology and Social Work, summa cum laude, Southwest Minnesota State University, 1993

Research

The main objective of Dr. Toussaint’s research is to broadly understand religious and spiritual factors, especially forgiveness, and how they are related to mental and physical health and well-being. He has published a number of peer-reviewed scientific journal articles and scientific book chapters, and authored dozens of conference presentations and invited talks in Australia, Austria, Great Britain, Greece, and the United States. Dr. Toussaint has been involved in forgiveness research in Australia, Chile, Germany, India, Korea, Lithuania, Spain, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Switzerland. Dr. Toussaint has worked with colleagues at Mayo Clinic and the University of Michigan Medical Center to understand the role of forgiveness in fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, spinal cord injury, and substance use. He continues to seek new avenues in which to better understand and incorporate forgiveness in medicine. Another central piece of his work has been ongoing since 2007 when he began a Peace Through Forgiveness initiative in collaboration with colleagues at Stanford University and the Dele-Peddle International school in Sierra Leone.

Dr. Toussaint directs the Laboratory for the Investigation of Mind, Body, and Spirit at Luther College, and has mentored over 50 students studying in this laboratory. Several of these students have been co-authors on peer-reviewed research papers and presentations. Recently the lab was awarded funding from the Associated Colleges of the Midwest for a project titled, A Collaborative Scholarship Model for Liberal Arts Colleges: Applications for the Psychology of Forgiveness. This work involves the collaboration of laboratories at Luther and Grinnell Colleges to investigate psycho-spiritual approaches to promoting forgiveness.

Dr. Toussaint’s research has been highlighted in a number of print, online, and radio media outlets such as: New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Des Moines Register, Greater Good, Miller-McCune, Ladies Home Journal, Scotland on Sunday, Men’s Health, Psychology Today, and the Associated Press.

For more information on Dr. Toussaint’s research click here

Teaching and Advising

I teach several courses as Luther College including: General Psychology, Health Psychology, Stress, Coping, and Well-Being, Psychology of Forgiveness, and Behavioral Statistics. In addition, I typically advise 6-7 students on senior thesis projects each year. Another 4-5 underclassmen students round out each year’s research team. Over the past few years my research team members have co-authored with me several different peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and almost 50 paper and poster presentations.

For more information on Dr. Toussaint’s teaching and advising click here.

Professional Service

I currently serve as a consulting editor for the Journal of General Psychology, assistant editor for the International Journal of Healing and Caring, do reviews for several journals and the American Psychological Association and Society for Behavioral Medicine annual conferences and provide design and statistical consultation to faculty colleagues and professionals outside of Luther.