Univ-Con

Robert Englund is no longer attending UNIV-CON due to filming obligations.

Michael Shermer is a science writer, historian of science, founder of The Skeptics Society, and editor of its magazine "Skeptic," which is largely devoted to investigating and debunking pseudoscientific and supernatural claims.

Michael Shermer received his Bachelor's Degree in 1976 in Psychology/Biology, his Master's Degree in Experimental Psychology two years later, and his Ph. D in 1991 (with a dissertation entitled "Heretic-Scientist: Alfred Russel Wallace and the Evolution of Man: A Study on the Nature of Historical Change").

Josh Gates will no longer be attending the 2008 conference.

Brian Harnois of "Ghost Hunters International" on SCI-FI returns to UNIV-CON. Harnois who hasn't been to UNIV-CON since 2004, will be re-appearing to discuss his adventures on the new SCI-FI paranormal series "Ghost Hunters International". A member of the original Ghost Hunters team, Harnois joined the GHI crew with 14 years of experience investigating the paranormal.

is involvement in the field was jump-started after a personal experience with the supernatural at the age of 11, and it has remained a passion of his ever since. This veteran ghost-hunter has gained expertise throughout his home state of Rhode Island, first as founder of The Rhode Island Paranormal Society and then as a member of TAPS.

A true paranormal enthusiast, Brian has traveled throughout the United States to give lectures and attend conventions on the subject, and he is currently writing a book about his paranormal exploits. Lecture and workshop discussions are currently in the works with UNIV-CON and Harnois. More information will be announced at a later date.

Chad Calek was literally born into the world of the unexplained. But while UFO’s have always intrigued Calek, after moving to a country home in Persia, Iowa (pop. 273 people), at the age of 12, Calek had his first personal experience with what he believed to be a ghost. After researching the history of his new home, as well as the surrounding areas, Calek learned that the two previous families that lived in his house, had both sold the house due to what they described as “uncontrollable paranormal activity”.

Calek has directed over 60 projects with a trademark style that has been described as “fresh, innovative and powerfully raw”. Calek has also continued his trek for answers by investigating nearly every major haunted location in the United Sates. Finally, Calek had become serious about producing his own paranormal investigative show.

After directing, writing, editing and co-hosting a popular web only all encompassing paranormal show in 2007, titled “Terror Normal, The Ghosts of the Waverly Hills Sanatorium” (which received rave reviews from the paranormal community), Calek decided to do his own thing, by focusing all of his energy into producing “a new age, hardcore, in your face, modern day paranormal investigating series that sets the bar higher than it’s ever been set in regard to capturing undeniable evidence that ghosts exist.”

While details are currently not being divulged, it safe to say that the paranormal community is very excited to hear about any new project that Calek is involved with.

But no worries Calek says, “By the time Univ-Con goes off, everyone will know what I’ve been up too, and I can promise that it’s going to be something we’ve all been waiting for. Something big. And I humbly say that as someone who is honored to even be a part of it."

Ryan Buell is one of the youngest professional paranormal investigators in the field today. Buell is the founder of the Penn State Paranormal Research Society and its subsidiaries, including UNIV-CON. He received a Bachelor's from Penn State and is currently working on another before pursuing graduate work.

An investigator since 15, Buell has investigated hundreds of paranormal claims across the country. Buell continues to work with Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Episcopalean Churches around the area on cases of demonic activity. On occasion, he assists law enforcement with unsolved cases by bringing in a team of psychics and other consultants.

Now 25-years-old, Buell is starring in the Hit A&E series, "Paranormal State," to which he also serves as a producer. The show chronicles him and his group's efforts to understand and solve claims of paranormal phenomena plaguing people from around the country. He is currently writing his first book.

You can learn more about him by visiting www.pennstateprs.com.

Joyce Furfaro received her PhD from The Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, in Integrative BioSciences with a focus on Neuroscience. Dr. Furfaro is a skeptic of all things paranormal, while maintaining a personal interest in belief in general, and being a fan of classic folklore. She has interacted with the members of the Penn State Paranormal Research Society as a skeptic, joining them on one of their cases.
Dr. Furfaro enjoys teaching, especially Research Methods related courses. She brings her knowledge of the scientific research method to the conference for those who hope to use scientific methods to conduct paranormal research, and to explain why much of the research commonly done does not meet the research standards of the scientific community.

Irina Geiman was born in Eastern Europe and moved to the US in her mid teens. After obtaining BS in Chemistry and MS in Forensic Science, Ms. Geiman started working as a forensic chemist. Besides a keen interest in science, Irina has long been fascinated by the paranormal, ran an investigative group in college, and served as a consultant for PRS on several cases. Ms. Geiman received her first Reiki session at 14, and since then wondered about the nature of energy healing. Two years ago she had the opportunity to attend classes and receive attunements at the Reiki Arts Continuum in New York City. Irina now continues exploration of healing touch and the science behind it. 

Chris is the owner of Haunted Times Magazine (http://www.hauntedtimes.com) as well as a paranormal investigator. For many years he was the lead singer and lead guitarist for the Nightmare Metal band "Cold Moon." He travels the country on a weekly basis teaching an event called Ghost Hunter University to the public in haunted hotels and bed & breakfasts and lecturing at colleges as well.

Chris Moon is most notable for his use with the device “Frank’s Box” or what Moon calls “the telephone to the dead”. Chris and the box were featured on an episode of “Paranormal State”. Learn more about the box and Chris Moon at this years UNIV-CON.

Patrick Burns will no longer be in attending the 2008 conference.

Tiffany, at an early age, showed an interest in the Metaphysical realms. At 14, she began reading Tarot cards for friends and family. Continuing through junior high, high school & college she read, honing her talents and developing others.

Further into adulthood, a series of events brought her back to her New Age Spirituality and deeper studies of holistic healing, herbs, oils, stones, energy work, past life work, Angels, Reiki, etc. Having personally worked and trained with well known psychics and healers, she knows what an integral part of life and soul development readings can be.

Now, at age 34, Tiffany continues her studies and assists other people in theirs. Through classes, readings and healings she works to enlighten her clients to spirit’s/God’s/Goddess’s nature and beauty.

Loyd Auerbach, M.S., has been an Adjunct Professor in Integral Studies (formerly Interdisciplinary Consciousness Studies) at JFK University since 1983. The university, formerly in Orinda, CA, moved to Pleasant Hill, CA in 2004. He is also a member of the faculty of Rosebridge Graduate School for Integrative Psychology 1996-1998 (that school is now closed). He holds a BA in Cultural Anthropology from Northwestern University (1978), and an MS in Parapsychology from JFK University (1981).

He serves on the Advisory Board for the Rhine Research Center in Durham, NC.

In February 2005, Auerbach – along with HCH Institute in Lafayette, CA – launched a new basic Certificate Program in Parapsychological Studies. The program, registered with the State of California, is the beginning of what will hopefully be a new extensive educational program in Parapsychology.

This is Loyd’s second appearance at Univ-Con.

For more information on Loyd Auerbach, visit http://www.mindreader.com

Konstantinos is a recognized expert on occult, new age, and paranormal topics. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and technical writing from New York Polytechnic Institute. He is a published author of articles and short fiction which have been featured in numerous publications including Popular Electronics, The Spook, and FATE Magazine. Konstantinos is a popular lecturer on the paranormal at colleges and bookstores in the New York City area and he has appeared on CNBC's After Hours and The Ricki Lake Show. A Dark Neopagan, Konstantinos has been researching the occult and practicing magick for over fifteen years. Born and raised in Long Island, New York, Konstantinos now devotes his time to writing, singing Gothic rock music, and exploring nocturnal life in New York City and around the country.

Chip Coffey is an internationally acclaimed psychic, medium, paranormal investigator, lecturer and writer. He is the great-grandson of famed Native American medicine woman Minnie Sue Morrow Foster. Chip was born in Upstate New York, spent much of his childhood in South Carolina, and now resides in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. He is also a licensed counselor.

Chip was a special guests star of the hit A&E Network series, Paranormal State. The series revolves around members of Penn State University's Paranormal Research Society, a group of young investigators.

Keith has had an interest in the paranormal since he was a teenager when he had phenomena occur in his own home. In the seventies, he was a member of the paranormal research group Parapsychology Investigation & Research Organization, out of RI College. With his strong faith, he (assisted by his wife, Sandra) has been able to assist many clients undergoing spiritual problems and negative phenomena. Keith has been featured on the SciFi channel’s Ghost Hunters, as a consulting demonologist, and both he and Sandra are former members of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS). They have been featured as demonology consultants in two first season episodes of PRS’ own Paranormal State as well as assisting with documentaries dealing with the paranormal including the recently released 14 Degrees. The pair are co-founders of New England Anomalies Research and also host a local TV talk show dealing with paranormal topics called Ghosts R N.E.A.R. which airs locally in Rhode Island and can also be seen online. Keith is in the midst of writing a book chronicling his investigative experiences. You can learn more about them by visiting www.nearparanormal.com.

Dave's foray into world of the supernatural and paranormal began at an early age when he was visited by the spirit of his dead grandmother, who would make a reappearance 17 years later at the birth of his first son when she assisted in the birth of the child. He has been witness to full bodied apparitions, spectral disembodied voices and just recently UFO sightings and viewing what appeared to be a creature of unknown origin flying through the skies at a famous UFO sighting area.

These experiences led to the start of the paranormal radio show based in Minnesota two years ago and now broadcast world wide via their website www.DarknessRadio.com. Aside from the show they produce each week, Dave and his co-host/producer Tim host very popular paranormal weekend retreats with anywhere between 150-250 of their listeners to well known popular haunted locations. Along with them paranormal celebrities like Ghost Hunters Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, psychic/sensitive Chris Fleming of Dead Famous, paranormal investigator Patrick Burns from Haunting Evidence on Court TV, demonologist John Zaffis and more top speakers in every walk of the paranormal field. Dave has made friends with about every influential name in the world of paranormal research and is never more than a phone call away from the next big investigation or one of the top minds in the field.

Best known as the author of the Psychic Vampire Codex (Weiser, 2004), Michelle is a dynamic speaker as well as a gifted writer. Creative and driven, she does not limit herself to magick and psychic phenomenon alone but engages in a variety of creative outlets from fiction to music to the visual arts.

A skilled energy worker, Michelle is the founder of House Kheperu, a magickal society with a unique style of energy work detailed in The Psychic Vampire Codex. Michelle teaches classes around the country on dreamwalking, energy exchange, spirit communication, and many other fascinating topics. Her latest release, Psychic Dreamwalking: Explorations at the Edge of Self delves into the fascinating territory where dreams, the subconscious, and out of body experiences intersect.

This will be Michelles 3rd Univ-Con appearance.

For more information on Michelle Belanger, visit www.michellebelanger.com

One of the most famous names in the paranormal comes to UNIV-CON! Lorraine Warren is the top demonologist in the world. For over 45 years, Lorraine Warren has painstakingly investigated the realm of the supernatural throughout North America, Brazil, Japan, United Kingdom, Europe and Australia. Lorraine's intensive research on over 5000 cases of reported phenomena throughout the world has convinced her beyond a shadow of a doubt of the existence of ghosts, demons, witches, satanists, vampires and werewolves. She has delved into such areas as voodoo, exorcisms and possessions, satanism, curses, reincarnation, human combustion, psychic photography, seances, telepathy and many other "occult" sciences.

National television credits include 20/20, Phil Donahue, Entertainment Tonight, The Joan Rivers Show, Today Show, Prime Time, and Good Morning America. In the spring of 1991, one of The Warrens most celebrated cases, the Smurl haunting, and the best-selling book that followed became the basis for the Fox movie of the week called "The Haunted." Nine books on their work have been written, including "Satan's Harvest" and "The Ghost Hunters." Their tenth book, “Ghost Tracks” has recently been released. Lorraine Warren appeared in several episodes of the A&E Network series, "Paranormal State," which stars the Penn State Paranormal Research Society.

Mrs. Warren is currently in talks for her own television series and also a film project with a major film director. This is her third UNIV-CON appearance. You can learn more about her by visiting www.warrens.net

MORE SPEAKERS TO BE ADDED THROUGHOUT THE UPCOMING MONTHS!