Bios

William J. Doherty, Ph.D., LMFT, LP
Professor, Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota
Project Director, MN Couples on the Brink Project

Dr. Doherty has been a practicing marriage and family therapist for 34 years, a teacher, and a researcher. In addition to his work with couples on the brink of divorce, he focuses on community engagement projects aimed at mobilizing the efforts of youth and families to solve health and social problems.

Steven M. Harris, Ph.D., LMFT
Professor in the Ph.D. – Couple and Family Therapy Program, Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota
Associate Project Director, MN Couples on the Brink Project

Dr. Harris has been practicing as a marriage and family therapist for over 21 years. He has also been involved in evaluating the effectiveness of large-scale community-based relationship education in the state of Texas since 2001. Dr. Harris believes in the benefits of healthy marriage for couples, their children, and the community.

Bruce Peterson, J.D.
Judge in Hennepin County, Minnesota

Judge Peterson has served as a judge since 1999, including six years on the family court where he has provided leadership for innovation in the divorce process and in ways to serve the special needs of non-married parents seeking help from the court. Along with William Doherty, he developed the Minnesota Couples on the Brink Project.