Donald W. Mitchell (Ph.D.) is Professor Emeritus at Purdue University, and Visiting Professor of interreligious dialogue at Sophia University Institute, Florence, Italy. He is a founder of the Society for Buddhist Christian Studies and was Director of the International Buddhist-Christian Theological Encounter. His work as advisor in Buddhist-Christian dialogue includes The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (1986-); the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (1994-); and, Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (1993-2000). He was also a member and then the Director of the International Buddhist-Christian Theological Encounter (1984-2003).