Dr. Rachel Wildfeuer (she/her) is a Research Analyst at Center for Policy Research (CPR). At CPR, she works on research and evaluation projects related to child support, child welfare, domestic and sexual violence, and father engagement. This includes working on the Fatherhood Research Practice Network (FRPN) with Dr. Jessica Pearson, the Director of CPR and FRPN, to disseminate information that leads to effective fatherhood practice, evaluation research, and policy as well as promote father inclusion in state-level programs and policies dealing with children and families. Rachel’s work at CPR draws on her background conducting both quantitative and qualitative research. She has co-authored multiple, peer-reviewed journal articles, reports, and presented research at both academic conferences and in applied settings.

Rachel received her PhD and MA, both in Sociology, from Temple University and her BA, in

Political Science and Sociology, from the University of Richmond.

We are thrilled to announce that the incomparable Dr. Ronald B. Mincy will deliver the Opening Keynote Address at this year’s conference in our nation’s capital!

Dr. Mincy—renowned scholar, author, and recently retired Maurice V. Russell Professor of Social Policy and Social Work Practice at Columbia University—will share transformative insights from his groundbreaking new book, How Fathers Help Their Children Develop: Money and Love, co-authored with Dr. Natasha Cabrera.

With over 35 years of pioneering work in fatherhood and family life education, Dr. Mincy’s keynote will explore the powerful intersection of emotional engagement and financial support in shaping children’s development—especially in communities facing socioeconomic adversity.

Join us for this unforgettable moment as we kick off a week of innovation, inspiration, and impact in the field of father and family engagement.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the nation’s foremost thought leaders in social policy and responsible fatherhood.

We are thrilled to announce that Reverend Dr. Stewart Perrilliat, a nationally distinguished advocate and celebrated practitioner in fatherhood, healing, and community transformation, will serve as a keynote speaker at this year’s 28th Annual International Father and Family Practitioners Conference, themed “Empowering the Path Forward: Research, Policy, and Practice.”

Dr. Perrilliat will share powerful insights from his trailblazing new book, The ManBook: A Journey Into Manhood, Health, and Strength — a bold and timely exploration of what it means to be a man, a father, and a force for positive change in today’s world.

As the Founder and CEO of Man 2 Man – Urban Youth Advocate, and a long-time prison ministry leader at San Quentin State Prison, Dr. Perrilliat brings decades of lived experience, scholarship, and spiritual leadership to the forefront of conversations on fatherhood, healing, and community empowerment.

Join us in Washington, D.C., as we gather practitioners, researchers, and policymakers from around the globe to chart a bold new path forward for fathers and families.

Dr. Jeffery M. Johnson is President and CEO of the National Partnership for Community

Leadership (NPCL)whose mission is to strengthen the service capacity of public/private

agencies to empower low-income parents and youth through innovative training techniques, practical program management tools, and evidence-based practices.

As president of NPCL, Dr. Johnson has overseen the planning and implementation of two of the nation's most significant social welfare research projects involving low-income men and fathers.

Since 1997, under Dr. Johnson leadership, NPCL has convened an annual international fatherhood conference that attracts policymakers, family practitioners, and parents worldwide. He was also the visionary and national planning committee chair for the 100th anniversary of Father’s Day. Dr. Johnson also presided over the National Youth Development Practitioner’s Institute for the Department of Labor’s Youth Opportunities Unlimited Program. Additionally, Dr. Johnson currently serves as Dean of the Fatherhood and Co-Parenting Learning Academies for the Healthy Start Technical Assistance and Support Center.

A particular focus of Dr. Johnson's work has been on the plight of low-income men and families. He has written numerous curriculums, articles, and publications including two recent books, Your Journey To Co-Parenting and Cornerstones of Responsible Fatherhood. He played a principal role in the passage of the first national fatherhood legislation in Congress, The Father's Count Bill, in 1999. This legislation provided the framework for the first federal funding of fatherhood programs. Dr. Johnson has an extensive civic involvement record and serves on many volunteer boards wherein he has received numerous service awards, including several awards for lifetime achievement. Dr. Johnson

also serves as President of the Men’s Fellowship Ministry at the People’s Community Baptist Church in Silver Spring, MD.

Dr. Johnson is married and has four children and three grandchildren. He received his formal education at the University of Michigan. He received the Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Secondary School Administration and Urban Education.