INTRODUCTION

Rick Ross is the founder and Executive Director of the Ross Institute (RI). RI is a nonprofit corporation and tax-exempt educational institution devoted to the study of destructive cults, controversial groups and movements. Researchers and the media around the world have often cited the RI Internet archive as a meaningful resource. Rick Ross is also an expert consultant, lecturer and intervention specialist regarding destructive cults, controversial groups and movements. He has worked with hundreds of families, mental health professionals, attorneys, clergy, law enforcement and each year responds to thousands of inquiries. Ross has been qualified and accepted as an expert witness across the United States in numerous court cases. His testimony has typically focused upon the behavior of destructive groups, their persuasion techniques and undue influence.

PAST/CURRENT POSITIONS

2003-Present Executive Director, The Ross Institute

1986-Present  Private Consultant, Lecturer and Intervention Specialist

1984-1986 Instructor for the Bureau of Jewish Education, Phoenix, Arizona regarding destructive cults, radical, controversial and potentially unsafe groups for high school and adult education.

1983-1986 Jewish Family & Children's Service Phoenix, Arizona as Coordinator for the Jewish Prisoner Program and agency resource person regarding destructive cults, potentially unsafe and controversial groups.

EDUCATION

1970 Graduated from Phoenix Union High School, Phoenix Arizona

1969 Attended Camden Military Academy, Camden, South Carolina

AWARDS

Community Service Citation from B'NAI B'RITH International, Washington D.C.

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

1983-86 Instructor for the Bureau of Jewish Education
Adult and Hebrew High classes course titled "Cults and Crusades-- Conversion through Coercion"

PUBLIC POLICY ACTIVITIES

1993 Advised both Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding the Waco-Davidians

1986 Chairman, Religious Advisory Committee for the Arizona Department of Corrections

1986 Chairman, International Commission for Jewish Prisoner Programs

1984 National Committee on Interreligious Affairs for the Union of American Hebrew Congregations

1983 Religious Advisory Committee for the Arizona Department of Corrections

1983 National Committee on Cults and Missionaries for the Union of American Hebrew Congregations

1982 The Community Relations sub-Committee on Cults and Missionaries

PUBLICATIONS

"In the Name of Love: Abusive Controlling Relationships," 2004

"Cults: An Educational Volume," 2001

Brochure

The Missionary Threat, published by the Institute for First Amendment Studies 1995

Guidelines for a Community and Congregational Response, Cults and Missionaries, published by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations 1984

What in God's Name is going on in Arizona? published by the Jewish Federation of Phoenix 1982

Articles

An analysis of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda 2001

The Emergence of New Hybrid/Composite Groups and Counseling Approaches: A Study of Friends Landing 1999

Has Madonna Joined a Cult? 1997

Bigotry Lurks in born-again Christian Doctrine, published by The Arizona Republic Newspaper 1982

Books

Prominently quoted within Hollywood Interrupted by Andrew Breitbart and Mark Ebner, John Wiley & Sons 2004

Interview within The Power of Cult Branding, by Matthew Ragas and Bolivar Bueno, Prima Publishing 2002

Cited case intervention work within The Walking Wounded: A Look at Faith Theology, by Jeremy Reynalds, Huntington House Publishers 1996

Cited within Snapping: America's Sudden Personality Change, by Flo Conway and Jim Siegelman, Second Edition by Stillpoint Press 1995

Forward to See No Evil: Blind Devotion and Bloodshed in David Koresh's Holy War, by Tim Madigan, published by Summit Group 1993

See No Evil, Chapter Rick Ross Takes One Back, by Tim Madigan 1993

Cited within Cults and Consequences: The Definitive Handbook, published by the Community Relations Committee: Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles 1988

Letters to Editor

What Happened at Waco, published by The Washington Post 1995

Waco: A Response to an Article by Dean Kelley, published by First Things Magazine

Numerous letters published regarding destructive cults, controversial groups and movements in publications such as the following:

The Nation, The Humanist Magazine, Penthouse Magazine, The Arizona Republic Newspaper, The Phoenix New Times, The Phoenix Gazette, The Scottsdale Progress and The Boston Phoenix

PRESENTATIONS AT CONFERENCES

Survivors of Harmful Treatment Programs 2003 Conference

Criminal Cults and their Violent Acts at the 38th Annual Dickinson College Public Affairs Symposium Crimes and Punishment, Dickinson College, PA, February 18-21, 2001

Cults: Conversion through Coercion, Maricopa County Medical Center, Phoenix 1994

Cults and Missionaries, the Biennial Conference of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations 1985

Conversion through Coercion, panel presentation sponsored by the Department of Communication at Arizona State University 1984

Mind Control: The Fundamentalist Syndrome, An Ecumenical and Professional Community Conference sponsored by the Phoenix Jewish Federation and Jewish Family and Children's Service 1983

EXPERT WITNESS

Rick Ross has been qualified and accepted as an expert witness in United States Federal Court and also within the courts of --

• Alabama
• Arizona
• California
• Georgia
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Wisconsin

Rick Ross has been deposed, testified and/or submitted testimony by affidavit as an expert within --

• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• South Carolina
• Texas

MEDIA CONSULTING WORK

NATIONAL TELEVISION

LOCAL TELEVISION

PRINT MEDIA

INTERNET

Slate Magazine
Time Magazine on line
Synge.com
Rediff on the Net
Hurontaria--Czech Canadian monthly
Law.com
Eurweb.com
ABC News on line
Gothamist

RADIO