James C. Dobson, Ph.D.

James C. Dobson, Ph.D., is founder and president of Focus on the Family, a non-profit organization that produces his internationally syndicated radio programs, heard on more than 29,000 radio facilities in North America, and in seven languages in approximately 1300 facilities in over 70 other countries.

For 14 years, he was an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, and served for 17 years on the Attending Staff of Children's Hospital of Los Angeles in the Division of Child Development and Medical Genetics. He has an earned Ph.D. from the University of Southern California (1967) in the field of child development, and many Honorary Doctorates in Humane Letters and Literature.

Dr. Dobson was chosen as Layman of the Year by the National Association of Evangelicals (1982) and was honored as "The Children's Friend" (1987) by the CHILDHELP USA, an organization devoted to the prevention of child abuse. He received the Alumni Merit Award, from the University of Southern California General Alumni Association (1989); the "Philip Award" from the United Methodist Church (1994); the Humanitarian Award by the California State Physchological Association (1988); the "1996 Man of the Year Award" by the American Association of Pro Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists; and the 1977 International Human Life Award from Human Life Internationa. He is a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and is a licensed psychologist in California.

Dr. Dobson's first book for parents and teachers, Dare To Discipline, has now sold over three million copies and was selected as one of 50 books to be rebound and placed in the White House Library. His subsequent best-selling books include: Hide or Seek, What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women, Love Must Be Tough, Parenting Isn't For Cowards, Children At Risk, When God Doesn't Make Sense, Life On The Edge and Home With a Heart. His first film series, "Focus on the Family," has now been seen by over 70 million people. His second film series, "Turn Your Heart Toward Home," was released in January, 1986. A third 7-part series, entitled "Life on the Edge," is designed to help late teens bridge the gap between adolescense and young adulthood was released in early 1994.

He served on the task force which summarized the White House Conferences on the Family and received a special commendation from President Jimmy Carter in 1980. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the National Advisory Commission to the officer of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 1982-1984. He served as co-chairman of the Citizens Advisory Panel for Tax Reform, in consultaiton with President Reagan, and served as a member and late chairman of the United States Army's Family Initiative, 1986-88.

He was appointed to Attorney General Edwin Meese's Commission on Pornography, 1985-86, as well as the Attorney General's Advisory Board on Missing and Exploited Children, and to Secretary Otis Bowen's Panel on Teen Pregnancy Preveiton within the Department of Health and Human Services. In October, 1987, he received the Marian Pfister Anshultz Award in recognition of his contribution to the American family. In 1994, Dr. Dobson was appointed by Senator Robert Dole to the Commission on Child and Family Welfare.

Dr. Dobson is married, the father of two grown children, and resides in Colorado.