Our Team

Robert Perry has been teaching A Course in Miracles since 1986, sharing its message across North America and internationally. He founded the Circle of Atonement in 1993 and is widely regarded as a respected Course teacher and scholar. Robert is the author of numerous books and booklets, including the popular An Introduction to A Course in Miracles and Path of Light: Stepping into Peace with A Course in Miracles. He also served as the lead editor of the Complete and Annotated Edition (CE) of A Course in Miracles, which restores the original words from Helen Schucman’s handwritten notes.

Emily Perry is the executive director of the Circle of Atonement, where she leads all aspects of advancing the organization’s mission. She is also a teacher of A Course in Miracles and cohost of the Circle’s popular podcast, Exploring A Course in Miracles. Her deep dedication to the Course stems from the profound transformation she has experienced by applying its teachings. Before joining the Circle, Emily led training programs on spiritual intelligence and mindful leadership for numerous Fortune 500 companies. She is the author of three books, including Miracles at Work: Turning Inner Guidance into Outer Influence, which features a foreword by her friend Marianne Williamson.

Sarah Knight joined Course Companions in 2018, first as a member, then a volunteer, before becoming part of the Circle team in 2020. As administrative director, she now wears many hats—overseeing key projects such as the ACIM CE App and the COA Community, supporting the team, and helping to develop future study group leaders. She also leads Sacred Silence Gatherings and is an occasional teacher. Sarah has led an ACIM study group since 2021 and hosts a regular healing circle. She is based in the UK.

Avonie Brown-Reaves joined Course Companions soon after being introduced to A Course in Miracles in 2018. As the Circle community manager, Avonie is responsible for Circle News and communicating with the community about our available programs and resources. Avonie also leads our Volunteer Coordination team, where she facilitates the assistance of our wonderful volunteers in support of the Circle’s projects. If you’d like to talk about something we could be doing to enhance your journey with the Course and the Circle, please reach out.

Jacqueline Ramsey serves as logistics manager for the Circle, bringing both heart and organization to her role. A dedicated student of A Course in Miracles since 2001, she began studying with the Circle and Course Companions in 2017. Over time, her journey has deepened—she is now a study group leader and the leader of the Circle’s Healing Ministry. 

Cindy Jones Lantier is the customer care manager for the Circle, where she interacts daily with our students who have come to rely on her friendly and truly helpful support. She has been reading the Course for years but became a serious student in 2017 when she joined the Circle.

Mary Anne Buchowski is a long-time Circle teacher who has been associated with the Circle from its beginnings. She spent several years working for the Circle in Sedona, fulfilling administrative, programming, and teaching duties, while being trained as a teacher and mentored by Robert. In 2004, she returned home to Ottawa, Canada and founded, with her husband James Gregory, Course Oasis, the Circle’s first satellite organization. She works and teaches from her home base in Ottawa.

James Gregory been associated with the Circle since 2000. He spent several years working for the Circle in Sedona, fulfilling administrative duties. In 2004, he returned home to Ottawa, Canada where he helped found Course Oasis. James is married to Mary Anne Buchowski and is her Executive Teaching Assistant (ETA) as well as her pupil. He is a very good ETA, but not a very good pupil.

Peter Batory-Bernardin first contacted the Circle in 2021, curious to find out if we wanted an app built around ACIM. Little did he know that his idea came at the perfect time! This led to the creation of the ACIM CE app we all know and love. Peter has been happily working on the app ever since, and he also helps out with other tech issues whenever needed. You’ll likely see his friendly face at Circle events, and it’s no secret that Pete is a huge A Course in Miracles fan. He leads a study group in his local community in Bath, UK. You can find the ACIM CE app at acimce.app or in your favorite app store.

Shadia Sachedina helps to lead and coordinate the Circle Prayer Ministry. She has been a student of the Course since 2016 and joined Course Companions in 2021 – immediately finding spiritual companionship and many friends within the Circle Community. As the Prayer Ministry leader, Shadia helps to facilitate and develop the Prayer Ministry volunteer base, actively working to ensure that any and all prayer requests are tended to. If you would like to learn more about the Prayer Ministry please reach out to info@circleofa.org.

Sue Pearson has been a professional journalist for more than forty years reporting and anchoring the news for network affiliates in Northern California and producing nationally distributed documentaries for PBS. She wrote magazine articles for national publications such as Guideposts, contributed to anthologies on a variety of topics, and penned a novel based on the true story of America’s all-female militia during the Civil War. Along the way she picked up three Emmy awards for her work.

She has been a devoted Course student for nearly a decade. It has been her heartfelt desire to put her writing skills to work promoting experiences that underscore the truth presented in A Course in Miracles.

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