Dr. Diana Whitney
Curriculum Vitae
Corporation for Positive Change
621 Damascus Church Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
+919 -942-6831 home
+ 919-942-6832 office
+ 919-942-6833 fax
Current Affiliations
Founder and President, Corporation for Positive Change (CPC)
CPC is the premier consulting firm using Appreciative Inquiry (AI) for organization transformation and innovation in business, government, education, healthcare and non-profit organizations around the world.
CPC offers a series of workshops in conjunction with Taos Institute on topics ranging from Appreciative Inquiry, to AI and Spirituality, the AI Summit, AI and Strategic Planning and Appreciative Leadership
Founder and Director Emerita, Taos Institute
Taos Institute is a virtual learning community. It is a social constructionist think tank dedicated to research, teaching and publications designed to enhance the quality of relational life world-wide. It serves the postmodern needs of educators, psychotherapists and organizational development professionals as well as global executives and leaders of change.
Founder, Appreciative Inquiry Consulting (AIC)
AIC is an international alliance of Appreciative Inquiry consultants committed to creating a positive revolution in change.
Distinguished Consulting Faculty, Saybrook University
Fellow, World Business Academy
Expert Faculty, National Research Corporation Picker Patient Centered Care Institute
Consulting Practice
Diana is an internationally recognized consultant, speaker and thought leader on subjects related to: Appreciative Inquiry and Large Scale Transformation; Positive Change; Spirituality at Work; Spiritual Cultivation of Leadership; Social Construction Theory and Practice and Appreciative Leadership.
Her consulting practice focuses on the use of Appreciative Inquiry for: organization culture transformation; merger, alliance building and partnerships; labor management relations; superior customer service; and global organization development.
Diana’s client list includes: British Airways, Hunter Douglas, CapGemini Ernst& Young; Accenture; GTE; Johnson & Johnson; Intel; SmithKline Beecham; Sandia National Laboratories; NY Power Authority; PECO; Veterans Affairs, Clark County Nevada and Vermont State Government. She has consulted and taught throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia.
Recent Publications
Positive Family Dynamics, with Dawn Dole, Jen Silbert, and Ada Jo Mann, Taos Institute Publications, 2008.
The Power of Appreciative Inquiry, with Amanda Trosten-Bloom, Berrett-Koehler, 2003
Appreciative Inquiry Handbook, with David Cooperrider and Jackie Stavros, Lakeshore Communications, 2003. Second Edition, Crown Communication, 2007.
The Appreciative Inquiry Summit, with Jim Ludema, Bernard Mohr and Tom Griffin, Berrett-Koehler, Available July 2003
Encyclopedia of Positive Questions, Volume 1: Bringing Out the Best of Your Organization, with Amanda Trosten-Bloom, David Cooperrider and Brian Kaplin, Crown Communications, 2002
Appreciative Teambuilding, with Amanda Trosten-Bloom, Ron Fry and Jay Cherney, I-Universe, 2006.
The Appreciative Organization, with Ken Gergen, Mary Gergen, Harlene Anderson, Sheila McNamee and David Cooperrider, Taos Institute Publications, 2001. Second Edition, 2007.
Appreciative Inquiry: A Positive Revolution in Change, with David Cooperrider, Berrett-Koehler, 1999; Second Edition 2005.
Positive Approaches to Peace Building, edited with Cynthia Sampson, Mohammed Abu-Nimer, Claudia Leibler, Pact Publishing, 2003.
Appreciative Inquiry and Organization Transformation: Reports from the Field, edited with Ron Fry, Frank Berrett and Jane Seiling, Quorum Books, 2002
Appreciative Inquiry: Foundations in Positive Organization Development, edited with David Cooperrider, Peter Sorenson and Therese Yaeger, Stipes Publishing, LLC, 2005
Appreciative Inquiry: An Emerging Direction for Organization Development, edited with David Cooperrider, Peter Sorenson and Therese Yaeger, Stipes Publishing, LLC, 2001
Appreciative Inquiry: Rethinking Human and Organization Toward a Positive Theory of Change, edited with David Cooperrider, Peter Sorenson and Therese Yaeger, Stipes Publishing, LLC, 2000
Numerous book chapters, articles and forwards.
An Article of Note: Spirituality as a Global Organizing Principle, World Business Academy, Perspectives, 1995, Vol.9. No. 4.
Education
Ph.D., Organization Communication, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 1980
Dissertation: The Dissemination of Educational Innovations: A Case Study of the NIE Linking Process
M.A., Classical Rhetorical Theory, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 1972
B.A., Speech Communication, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 1970
Professional Development Workshops include NTL’s Basic Human Interaction Lab and Consulting Skills.
Teaching
Distinguished Consulting Faculty (2003 – 2008)
Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center
Ph.D. Committees (1999 to present):
Fielding University
Benedictine University
California Institute of Integral Studies
University of New Mexico
Union Institute
Visiting Lecturer (1982 – 2008):
Omega Institute: Appreciative Inquiry
KCC Summer Institute, UK: AI and Social Change
Cromma Business Academy, Croatia: Appreciative Inquiry for Executive MBA.
St. Thomas University, MN: Ethics and Spirituality for EdD.
Case Western Reserve University, OH: Appreciative Inquiry for Executive MBA.
Ashridge Institute, England: AI and Large Scale Change for MA.
Pepperdine University, CA: AI and Global Issues in Change for MA.
Cornell University, NY: Strategic Human Resources Planning for Executive MA.
Antioch University, PA: Organization Development Theory and Practice, Organization Design, and Consulting Skills for MA.
Graduate Teaching Assistant (1976-1980):
Temple University, Department of Speech Communication
Faculty (1974 – 1976):
Montgomery County Community College, Department of Communication Arts
West Chester University, Department of Speech Communication
Awards and Professional Leadership
2005 – The Vallarta Institute, 2 x 2 Award for Cooperation Making a Positive Difference
2004 – Larry Porter Award for Writing Contribution to the Field of OD
Diana’s work at GTE was awarded the American Society for Training and Development, Best Organization Change Award, 1997
Past President, Philadelphia Human Resource Planning Society
Founder, Philadelphia ODN Internship Program
Pro Bono Consultation
During the past 15 years, Diana has been active in the design, creation and support of the United Religions Initiative, a global interfaith organization dedicated to peace and cooperation among people of differing religions, faiths and spiritual traditions.
Non-Professional Interests and Activities
Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner
Painting – Oil, Acrylic and Assemblage
Creative Writing
Scuba Diving
Spiritual Practice
Strong interfaith orientation
Lakota Sioux tradition
Personal Information
Born November 25, 1948 – Diana Louise Cocciolone
Divorced
Two children: Brian Kaplin and Shara Kaplin
