Biography
Norris J. Chumley, Ph.D. is an EMMY award-winning executive producer, author, director and professor. His work has been seen and heard by tens of millions of people worldwide with his films such as Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer (theatrical, VOD, digital, DVD) and companion book (HarperOne; UK, Romania and Greek editions) and network TV series, Getting the Love You Want, hosted by Oprah Winfrey (PBS, DVD 7-hour home workshop), and on radio, Rethinking Religion (National Public Radio with Columbia University's Institute for Religion, Culture and Public Life). He has served on the faculty of New York University's Kanbar Institute of Film and Television, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, the University of Missouri summer abroad programs, and Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. One of the original contributing editors for Beliefnet, his daily spiritual weight loss and health e-newsletter and blog grew to over 1.3 million subscribers. His Joy of Weight Loss special with Susan Sarandon (DVD, digital and companion book) Big Body Yoga (Tribeca Film Institute/Reframe) and A Union of Spirit with Bill Moyers are considered pioneering interactive media properties. Chumley's The Gospel According to Jesus (HBO/Cinemax, Wellspring) is a bestseller in its third release. He created, wrote and produced hundreds of commercials for Toyota, Hershey Foods, General Foods, Random House, Ballantine Books, WNET/13, Golub Toys, USA Network, et al. He was Associate World Production Liaison for the ABC Television Network for the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games responsible for all Olympic game feeds for over 100 broadcast companies. While at NYU Undergraduate Film and TV, his Little Mike portrait was aired nationally on PBS, then A&E and The Movie Channel, winning Grand Prize at the American Film Institute/SONY Visions Awards in 1986. Also, while an NYU student, Chumley was Dick Cavett's assistant on the PBS Dick Cavett Show, a production assistant on the Great Performances Series, and went on to be on the original founding team of the Arts & Entertainment Network (A&E) in 1981. Before moving to New York City, Chumley began his career in media by starting a pirate radio station at the age of 9, then was hired by the local TV station at age 12. He worked every day through middle and high school, being promoted to producer/director of two daily live shows, and the weekly Bobby Knight Basketball Show. Philanthropically, Dr. Chumley has served as Chairman of New York City's Manhattan Neighborhood Networks, Trustee of Friends Seminary (a Quaker primary and high school in its 323 year), the Bloomington, Indiana Area Arts Council, and as Advisory Board member, the Buskirk-Chumley Theater in Bloomington, Indiana. Chumley is a longtime member of the Producer's Guild of America (PGA), Writer's Guild of America - East (WGAE), American Academy of Religion, Author's Guild, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, International Radio and Television Society, National Arts Club, listed in Who's Who in Entertainment (1989-present), Who's Who in Finance and Industry (1989-present), Who's Who of Emerging Leaders (1990-present). He is a devoted husband to author, Catherine Stine Chumley, of over 35 years and has two sons. He is a Greek Orthodox Christian.
