Research Team

Ministerial Wellness and Care Collective

Multidisciplinary experts conducting rigorous research and applying findings with the intent to understand and promote wellbeing among faith leaders.

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Research Team

Brook E. Harmon*

PhD, RD, FAND
Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition and Healthcare Management, Appalachian State University.
*Founder of MWCC.

Bio

Adam Hege

PhD
Associate Dean, Beaver College of Health Sciences, Appalachian State University

Bio

Charolette H. Leach

DMin, MDiv
Community Health Coordinator, FaithHealth Division, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

John Nelson

PhD, RN
Founder of Healthcare Environment, Founder and President of the Caring Science International

Bio

Benjamin L. Webb

PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Applied Health, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Bio

Karen H. Webster

DMin, ACSM-EP
Co-Founder & Executive Director, Healthy Seminarians-Healthy Church

Bio

Travis A. Webster

ThD, LMFT
Co-Founder & Secretary, Healthy Seminarians-Healthy Church

Bio

Nathan T. West

PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Behavioral Health Research and Services, Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Alaska Anchorage

Bio
  • West NT, Webb BL, Webster K, Webster T, The CM. (2026). Examining the perceived need of chronic disease prevention programming among clergy-in-training. Society of Behavioral Medicine 2026 Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, poster presentation.
  • Donley, B., Harmon, B.E., Hege, A., Nelson, J., West, N.T., Webb, B., Webster, K., Webster, T., Case, T., Leach, C. (2025). Examining demographic differences among clergy based on Caring Factor-Survey-Caring for Self, Clergy (CFS-CSC) scores. Appalachian State University Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management’s Nutrition Summit, poster presentation.
  • Harmon, B., Hill, A., Leach, C., Nelson, J., Webster, K., Webster, T., West, N., Webb, B., & Case, T. (2024). 10 Ways to Fill Your Cup. Squarespace. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60ad5a0314ed1f6d9f36b513/t/66041da15b9ffb595af36417/1711545761092/10+Caritas+for+Clergy+Handout+3+22+24.pdf
  • Harmon, BE, Nelson, J, West NT, Webb, B, Webster K, Webster T, Case, T, Leach C. “Establishing the Reliability and Validity of the Caring Factor Survey-Caring for Self among Protestant Clergy.” Pastoral Psychology (2024). doi:10.1007/s11089-023-01121-8
  • West, N.T., Case, T., Huey, M., Webb, B.L., Nelson, J., Webster, K., Webster, T., Leach, C., Harmon, B.E. (2023). A Scoping Review of Self-care within the context of obesity-related outcomes among faith leaders. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, round table presentation.
  • Harmon, B.E., Nelson, J., Webb, B., Webster, K., Webster, T., West, N., Case, T., Leach, C. (2023) Psychometric Testing of a Caring for Self Survey for use with Clergy, Society of Behavioral Medicine, Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, poster presentation.
  • West NT, Harmon BE, Case T, Huey M, Webb BL, Nelson, J, Webster KH, Webster TA, Leach CH. “A Scoping Review of Self-Care within the Context of Obesity-Related Outcomes Among Faith Leaders.” American Journal of Health Promotion 2023;0(0). doi:10.1177/08901171231204669
  • Webster, Karen and Travis Webster. “Health as Shalom: A Theological Understanding of Wholeness.” Presbyterian Women’s Horizons Magazine, Summer 2023.
  • Harmon, B.E., Nelson, J., Webb, B., Webster, K., Webster, T., West, N., Case, T. (2022). Validating the Caring Factor Survey – Caring for Self with clergy, International Association for Human Caring Annual Conference, online poster presentation.
  • Common Table Collaborative Global Gathering (Los Angeles, CA) Jan. 2025
    • Design Lab on Women in Ministry – Brook Harmon and Karen Webster (A recording was not made for public distribution.)
    • Design Lab on Clergy Mental Health – Travis Webster and Nate West (A recording was not made for public distribution.)