Chaplain Jay Kurtz received his B.A. at DePaul University, M.A. at Northeastern Illinois University, and D.Min. from Master’s International Graduate School of Divinity. Chaplain Jay is a longtime visiting faculty member at DePaul University and Wilbur Wright College. He has extensive experience teaching mediated communication techniques to a diverse audience. In July 2002, the Assistant Majority Leader of the Illinois Senate recommended Chaplain Jay for The Presidential Medal of Freedom. He is a recipient of the "Arthur Weinberg Memorial Prize” which DePaul University awards annually for social justice research. Chaplain Jay is a Vietnam Veteran, Certified & Registered Military Liaison Chaplain, Certified Pastoral Counselor, Certified Crisis First Responder Chaplain, and currently an Illinois State Police Chaplain for District Chicago, District 15, and the Protective Services Unit.