Penny R. Williamson

Nose-to-Nose Facilitator

Penny R. Williamson, ScD is an internationally recognized facilitator, educator and coach for leaders and organizations in health care. She is a founding facilitator and mentor for the national Center for Courage and Renewal and Associate Professor of Medicine, Part Time, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. From 1998-2016 Penny led Courage to Lead, a leadership development and personal renewal program for leaders in healthcare and other serving professions, based on the work of Parker Palmer and the Circle of Trust © approach.  She currently leads Courage retreats in the United States and other countries. Diverse themes include: life transitions, living wholeheartedly, leading with integrity and heart, and re-imagining boundaries. Over the past several years, Penny has incorporated into her work practices of “Social Presencing Theater”, exploring how alignment of mind and body add to individual discernment and collective wisdom. She is partnering with teachers of Nose to Nose Clowning, combining playful, transparent ways to explore joys, vulnerabilities and fears in combination with the reflective practices of Courage work.

Philosophy and approaches: Dr. Williamson brings to her work an ecological worldview; belief in and attention to the inner life; expertise in the disciplines of Appreciative Inquiry, World Café, Open Space and Skilled Dialogue; and incorporation in the work of powerful creative modalities including poetry, movement, clowning, music and art. Above all she brings a belief in the capacity of individuals, groups and organizations to contribute to creating a better world.