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DeeDee Torrell, Ph.D.
“Be an instrument of grace in times of uncertainty”

As AIHT happily begins the year-long celebration of our 15th anniversary, the faculty and staff are especially excited about reconnecting with so many successful alumni who have “grown up with us”—and this is certainly the case with DeeDee Torrell of New Jersey.

Over the years DeeDee, who nowadays is also known as Swami Chitraananda, has become well accustomed to media attention. “In another life” she was a corporate executive whose career straddled the stressful pre- and post-divestiture transitions of AT&T. It was during this time that she found AIHT and wrote a book, with the soulful intention of healing America’s ailing corporate culture. Her book was entitled Heart-Business: Building a Kinder, Gentler Workplace—and DeeDee’s incredible life story graced the cover of AIHT’s very first publication of Vibrations!

At that time her employer so fully embraced the book’s New World thinking that DeeDee soon found herself on the lecture circuit, first within her corporation and then in the national media.

During the rest of her 19-year tenure at AT&T, DeeDee Torrell felt deeply gratified to see and feel an evolving organizational mindset: Corporate America was actually remembering how to embrace mutual respect and kindness as highly effective rebalancing antidotes to the overly competitive killer instinct. DeeDee earned a new nickname at work, as “Ministry Lady of AT&T.”

But DeeDee was also changing her own mind as well as her employer’s!

“AT&T was sponsoring my doctoral education at a traditional liberal arts university, and I had almost completed seminary studies. But from what I saw in the teaching environment, I realized my true calling was more personal than that, more attuned to one-on-one coaching.”

In her own corporate vernacular, DeeDee longed to reach out and touch someone, rather than preaching to the masses. And, admirably, her bosses demonstrated their own ability to “practice what DeeDee preached.” AT&T allowed her to start a new doctoral program, at a new school, and to follow her heart’s calling—with AIHT.

Perhaps good fortune shines so brightly because DeeDee is a sensitive and highly sensitized soul who knows herself well. Her doctoral dissertation, Where There is Death There is Life, describes three near-death experiences during the first 20 years of her life. Challenged by serious health conditions, she developed faithful patience at a young age. Eventually realizing that she also battled dyslexia, DeeDee’s advanced academic success is another demonstration of her strong self-belief—rooted in the knowledge that “God does not give any of us more than we can handle!”

Another of her truisms is to trust Divine timing: “Follow your dream and even if it disappears for awhile, just know that it’s resting, watching and waiting. Always believe!”

As a student of the world, DeeDee is fascinated by the cultural callings of Kriya yoga, Celtic and Scottish studies. And so Swami Chitraananda engages with life by maintaining a private practice in holistic ministries and also teaching, here and abroad. Guest lecturing in Scotland since 2003, DeeDee is a versatile and well-versed instructor of metaphysics, prophecy and spirituality.

While in the U.K. she became interested in the University of Edinburgh’s Scottish Studies program, which is available on campus and online—and the university scholars are intrigued with DeeDee, as well! She has been invited back to meet with faculty members, to discuss research involving one of her spiritually-oriented courses: The Legend of King Arthur and the True Meaning of the Holy Grail.

For more information: www.compassionateheart.com