INTRODUCTION
Rick Ross is the founder and Executive Director of The Cult Education Institute (CEI), formerly known as the Ross Institute of New Jersey. CEI 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 CEI Internet archive as a meaningful resource. CEI is a member of both the American and New Jersey Library Associations. 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 Cult Education Institute, formerly known as the Ross Institute of New Jersey
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
2011 Certificate of recognition from U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation, Robert S. Mueller, III, Director
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
2010 Advised the State of Israel, Ministry of Welfare and Social Services concerning "An Examination of the Phenomenon of Cults in Israel", published 2011
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
"Cults Inside Out: How People Get In and Can Get Out," (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform October 16, 2014). Peace Books, Hong Kong (Chinese translation 2015), Anteo Edizioni, Rome (Italian translation 2015)
"Ex-Cult Members Can Be Derpogrammed", Chapter 4 Part 1 "Cults: Opposing Viewpoints", Greenhaven Press, Gale/Cengage Learning 2012
"Cults: Assessment", Presented at the International Symposium on Cultic Studies held at Assumption University, Thailand. Published by the Institute of Religious Studies Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, China 2011
"Cult Deprogramming: An Examination of the Intervention Process", Published by the Shenzhen International Symposium on Cultic Studies sponsored by the Institute of Religious Studies, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, China December 2010
"Is Falun Gong a Cult?" Published by the Centre for the Study of Destructive Cults Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, China December 2009
"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
Cults Inside Out: How People Get In and Can Get Out by Rick Alan Ross, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform 2014
Cults: Opposing Viewpoints Chapter 4: "How Can Cult Members Be Helped," by Rick Alan Ross, Greenhaven Press 2012
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
"Cults: Assessment", Presented at the International Symposium on Cultic Studies held at Assumption University, Thailand. Published by the Institute of Religious Studies Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, China 2011
Is Falun Gong a Cult? International Forum on Cultic Studies sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Shenzhen, China 2009
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
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Wisconsin
Rick Ross has been deposed, testified and/or submitted testimony by affidavit as an expert within --
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- South Carolina
- Texas
LIST OF LECTURES
Arizona State University
Auburn University
Baylor University
Carnegie Mellon University
Catawba Valley Executives Club, Hickory, NC
Central Oregon Community College/Cascadia College, Oregon State University
Clark University, Worcester, MA
Concord College
Dickenson College
Duquesne University
Elizabethtown College
Georgia State University, Atlanta
GuangXi International University, China
Heilongjiang University, China
Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix
Jewish Federation of Boston
Knox College
Laredo Community College, Laredo, Texas
Lebanon Valley College, Pennsylvania
Lynchburg College
Maricopa County Medical Center
Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio
McCallie School of Chattanooga
Mississippi State Legislative Committee
Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
The Oklahoma City Men's Dinner Club
Pennsylvania State University, Dunmore PA
Philadelphia College of Textiles of Sciences, Philadelphia, PA
Phoenix Bureau of Jewish Education
Phoenix College
Rutgers University
Shandong University, China
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Utah University
State University of New York at Cortland
Temple Beth Shalom, Las Vegas
Town Hall of Morris, NJ
University of Chicago
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
University of Portland
University of Southern Mississippi
University of Washington at Pullman
Wuhan University, China
WV West Virginia State College
Women's Club of Wheeling, West Virginia
Zhengzhou University, China
MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT CONSULTING WORK
Consultant for Ubisoft for the video game "Far Cry 5" released in 2018
1998 Miramax Disney technical consultant to Harvey Keitel for the film "Holy Smoke" directed by Jane Campion.
CBS News 1999
FOX News 1999
CBC Canada 1995
Nippon Japan 1995
NATIONAL TELEVISION
True Crime Live HLN
Very Scary People HLN
The Dr. Oz Show
ABC 20/20 2017
"The Lead with Jake Tapper" CNN
The Ricki Lake Show 2013
NBC Disappeared
The Joy Behar Show, HLN 2010, 2011
"Dr. Phil Show" 2008, 2009, 2013, 2019, 2020, 2022
Nancy Grace CNN 2008, 2013, 2014
Bridges Television Network
VH1 News Special Hollywood Religion 2005
A Current Affair 2005
Fox News: "The O'Reilly Factor" 2005
Good Morning America 1993, 1997, 2005, 2008
Showtime: Penn & Teller 2004, 2005
"Smoking Gun," Court TV, 2004
"Unscrewed," Tech TV, 2004
Court TV Catherine Crier 2003, 2005
Court TV News 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
ABC Nightline 1993, 1996, 1997
ABC Prime Time 1995
ABC Evening News 1993, 1997
The Today Show 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2006, 2009,2018
CBS 48 Hours 1989, 1992, 1993, 1999
Day and Date 1995
CBS News This Morning 1993
MTV News 1995
Oprah Winfrey 1989, 1994
Extra 1997, 1999
Fox Television 1993, 2003
Geraldo CNBC 1996, 2000, 2001
American Journal
Phil Donahue 1989, 1992, 1993
E Entertainment Network THS Investigates
The Learning Channel
Fox News 2006, 2007, 2008
The Fox Files 1999
Hard Copy 1999
Personal Stories CNBC 1991
Jerry Springer 1993, 1994
Good Morning America 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2008
Dateline NBC 1997,2018
NBC Evening News 1993
CNN 1993, 1999, 2005
Court TV-Cochran & Company 1997
MSNBC News 1997, 2003
CBS Street Stories 1993
Day One 1993
Sally Jesse Raphael 1989, 1991
Inside Edition 1991, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012,2018
Attitudes on Lifetime 1992
Geraldo Rivera 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996,1997
MSNBC Special Report 2000, 2008
MSNBC Scarborough Country 2005, 2006
MSNBC Catherine Crier 2006
Fox News, "Heartland" with John Kasich
Geraldo At Large, Fox News 2007
CNN Anderson Cooper
Learning Channel "Heaven's Gate"
"Deadly Devotion" Investigation Discovery 2014
"Deadly Cults" Codes and Conspiracies American Heroes Channel 2015
News Nation
Law & Crime Network
INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION
TVP Telewizja Polska, Polish Television
"Sunday Night", Australia Seven Network
CCTV International Network, China
Phoenix Television, Hong Kong 2009, 2015
M 6, French National Television
PRO 7 Television, Germany
BBC Great Britain, 2004
BBC2 Great Britain, 2005
Daily Planet, The Discovery Channel, Canada
TV 2 National News of Denmark, 2001
CNN 1993, 1999, 2006
Nippon TV Japan 1995
Canadian Broadcast Corp. 1993, 1995
Asahi TV Japan 1995
CNN Special Report 2000
BBC Panorama, 2005, 2007
CNN International News 2008
LOCAL TELEVISION
KOCO ABC News Oklahoma City
Fox News 5, Washington D.C.
KSHB-TV Kansas City, Misssouri
WTTJ Fox News Washington D.C.
Channel One, New York City
ABC affiliate Fargo
ABC affiliate Grand Forks
ABC affiliate Philadelphia
Comcast CN8 Regional News
Fox "Good Day LA," Los Angeles
KATU TV Portland, Oregon
KDFW Dallas
KFSN Fresno
KLAL Los Angeles
KNXV Phoenix
KOAT Albuquerque, NM
KOMO Seattle
KOOL Phoenix
KPHO Phoenix
KPNX Phoenix
WB 11 News, New York
WSAW News Wausau, Wisconsin
KSTP-TV Minneapolis
KTSP Phoenix
KTUV News, San Francisco
KVOA Tucson
KVTV Laredo
KWTX Waco
KYTV Springfield, MO
News 10 Sacramento, CA
PBS Phoenix
PBS Tucson
WCBS New York City
WNBC Detroit
WRTV 6 Indianapolis
WTRF Wheeling,WV
WSLS-TV Roanoke, VA
KCRG Cedar Rapids, Iowa
WBNS TV Columbus, Ohio
FILM "Holy Smoke" a film directed by Jane Campion 1999, Miramax/Disney, technical consultant to actor Harvey Keitel
Prisoner of the Prophet, Discovery + 2022
Branded & Brainwashed: Inside NXIVM, Fox Tubi 2023
The Rise and Fall of LuLaRoe, Discovery plus 2021
R. Kelly: A Faking It Special Discovery plus, 2022
Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult, 2020
House of Horrors Family: The Friends Speak, REELZ 2020
"The Vow" HBO documentary series 2020
"Inside the Criminal Mind" episode 3 "Cult Leaders" Netflix 2018
"Truth and Lies: Jonestown Paradise Lost" ABC News 2018
"Inside the Manson Cult: The Lost Tapes" Fox 2018
ABC Documentary Special "Truth and Lies: The Family Manson" 2017
"Holy Hell" Directed by Will Allen 2016
Deprogrammed, a film by Mia Donovan, Eye Steel Film 2015
Witness to Waco, MSNBC Documentaries 2009
Polygamy: Religion or Mind Control?,MSNBC 2008
THS Investigates: Cults, Religion and Mind Control,2008
Mind Control, A&E Netowrk 2007
Heavens Gate: The Definitive Story Lincloln Square Productions, The Learning Channel 2007
Yogi Inc., John Philp 2007
Join Us, Interloper Films & Lustianby Ondi Timoner 2007
Transformation: The Life and Legacy of Werner Erhard, Symon Productions 2006
Crimes In The Name Of God, BNN/Court TV 1999
Waco: The Rules Of Engagement, 1997
Cults in America, NHK Japan 1995
In The Name Of God, Post Newsweek 1983
National
Town & Country Magazine
Vanity Fair Magazine
W Magazine
Knight Ridder Newspapers
Blender Music Magazine
FHM Magazine, US edition
Forbes Magazine
USA Today
Details Magazine
Time Magazine
Newsweek Magazine
Associated Press
Cosmopolitan Magazine
GQ Magazine
George Magazine
Glamour Magazine
The American Lawyer
The Gauntlet
The Star
Scripps Howard News Service
Soap Opera Digest
People Magazine
Pentecostal Evangel Magazine
Elle Magazine
Media General News Service
Self Magazine
Columbia News Service
International
Radio France Internationale (RFI)
China Today Magazine
Ta Kung Pao, Hong Kong
Wen Wei Po Daily News, Hong Kong
Jamaica Gleaner
Macleans Magazine, Canada
Woman's Day Magazine, Australia
Daily Post North Wales, UK
Mail, UK
China Daily News
Liberation, France
DS Magazine, France
Courrier International, France
HAARETZ Magazine, Israel
GQ Magazine, Germany
W Magazine
PRZEKROJ Weekly, Warsaw Poland
The London Times
FHM, Australia
FHM, Great Britain
Scotsman, Great Britain
The Observer, London
Globe and Mail
The Daily Telegraph, London
The Hamilton Spectator, Canada
DAVAR Israel
Globes, Israel
Processo Magazine, Mexico
Jewish Press International
The Guardian, London
Toronto Sun
Telegraf Weekly Belgrade, Yugoslavia
South China Morning Post, Hong Kong
Sunday Times, Johannesburg South Africa
Facts Magazine, Switzerland
Courier Mail, Australia
Reuters
FHM Magazine, British edition
Hurontaria - Canadian Czech-out Monthly
Revu Magazine, the Netherlands
Bizarre Magazine, UK
Pravda, Russia
Bizarre Magazine, Great Britain
The Ottawa Citizen
Local Press
The New York Observer
The Appeal-Democrat, California
The Journal News, Westchester, New York
The Shawano Leader, Wisconsin
Cincinnati Enquirer
Louisville Courier-Journal
Cleveland Jewish News
San Antonio Express
The Journal News, Westchester, New York
Connecticut Post
Westchester Journal
Kansas City Star
Miami Herald
The San Francisco Examiner
The San Francisco Chronicle
Creative Loafing, Atlanta
Columbus Dispatch
Salt Lake City Tribune
The Palm Beach Post
The Star-Ledger, Jersey City
The New York Daily News
The Village Voice
Pioneer Press St. Paul, MN
The Las Vegas Sun
New York Magazine
The Pioneer Press, Aetna California
The Star Journal, Ventura, California
CityLink Magazine, Palm Beach
New York Times
New York Post
Newsday New York
Boston Globe
Washington Post
Eastside Weekly, Seattle
Chicago Tribune
LA Weekly
Houston Chronicle
Dallas Daily News
Seattle Times
Austin American Statesman
Milwaukee Sentinel
The Phoenix New Times
Scottsdale Progress
Anchorage Daily News
The Chattanooga Times
The State News, Lansing Michigan
Metroland Albany, New York
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Modesto Bee
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The Mesa Tribune
Texas Monthly
Seattle Post Intelligencer
Tempe Daily News
The Missoulian
The Arizona Republic
Phoenix Jewish News
Arizona Daily Sun
The Daily World, Aberdeen
Grand Forks Herald
Richmond Times Dispatch
Scottsdale Progress Tribune
The San Diego Union Tribune
Los Angeles Times
Washington Times
Fort Worth Star Telegram
Boston Herald
Waco Tribune-Herald
Boston Phoenix
Milwaukee Magazine
The Journal Times
Phoenix Gazette
Portland MA News
Ravilli Republic Montana
The Daily Pennsylvanian
Tampa Tribune
The Stranger Seattle
The Republican- PA
The Chicago Maroon
Echo Magazine, Phoenix
Philadelphia
The Oregonian
Chicago Sun Times
Willamette Week Portland
Herald American Post
The Arizona Daily Star
Orlando Sentinel
Danbury News Times
Legal Times, Washington DC
New Jersey Law Journal
Portland Press Herald
Foster's Sunday Citizen, NH
Worcester Telegram
Miami New Times
Houston Press
Los Angeles Independent
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
San Francisco Weekly
Houston Press
INTERNET
On Belief podcast titled "What is a cult?" 2019
Australian News Seven Network podcast "The Lady Vanishes" 2019
CBC podcast series "Escaping NXIVM" 2018
Book of Man
Coconuts, Thailand 2018
TooFab.com
Ozy
Inverse.com
Lions of Liberty podcast
LipTV "Media Mayhem"
Daily Beast
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
Alternet
Fusion
National
Naomi Judd "Think Twice", Sirius Satellite Radio
KURV McAllen, Texas
"Overnight America," Jon Grayson
Montel Williams Air America
Rational Radio, Jack Jett Show
ABC National Radio, NY
Air America, "Majority Report" -- The Janeane Garofolo Show
ABC Radio Satellite Sisters
Voice of America
ABC Mitch Albom Show
The Michael Reagan Show, Premiere Radio Network
American Freedom Network
CBS National Radio, N.Y.
KABC National Network, L.A
National Public Radio
Pacifica National News
Sirius Satellite Radio
WMAL Washington D.C.
Rolonda Watts Show
Bill Press Show, Sirius Satellite Radio
International
Talk Radio UK
702 Talk Radio, South Africa
570 News, CKGL Ontario, Canada
Radio 2UE Sydney, Australia
Spin Radio Dublin
Deutche Welle Germany
CJOB Winnipeg Canada
NATC Network Sydney, Australia
BBC National Radio, Great Britain
Deutsche Welle, Germany
CHQR Course Network, Canada
Radio Capital, Italy
National Radio RAI--Rome, Italy
Calgary, Canada QR77 WICK Network
567 Cape Town Talk, South Africa
CFRB Toronto
Australian Broadcast Corp.
CKO National Network Canada
CKW, Vancouver, Canada
Radio 650 NTR Saskatchewan, Canada
Radio Onda Cero--Spain
SAFM/National English Broadcaster, South Africa
BBC/Online, England
Toronto 640 News
CJAD Montreal
702 Talk Radio Johannesburg, South Africa
Local
WUTQ-FM Utica, New York
WOOD Radio Grand Rapids, Michigan
Fox News Radio 600 KCOL, Colorado
540-WFLA-Orlando
WABC New Jersey
KTRH Houston
WCTC New Jersey
WTKF North Carolina
WJNC North Carolina
WPLY Philadelphia, PA
WXPR Rhinelander, WI
WERL Eagle River, WI
KTSA, San Antonio
WELJ FM, Mobile, Alabama
WMET Washington DC
WBZ Boston
WOWO AM Fort Wayne, Indiana
KCMO AM, Kansas City
WLNK Charlotte, North Carolina
CBS Radio, San Diego
WGHT, New Jersey
WMET, Washington, DC
KOGO, San Diego
710 Talk Radio, Kansas City
KRLA, Los Angeles
KXOY, Spokane
WFMP, Minneapolis
WTMJ, Milwaukee
KCNN, Grand Forks, North Dakota
WDAY, Fargo, North Dakota
KFI, Los Angeles
WOWO Fort Wayne, Indiana
WCCO, Minneapolis
KSFO San Francisco
KTRS St. Louis
KSTP Minneapolis
WFLA Tampa
Canadian News Talk, Saskatchewan
KHOW, Denver
CBS Radio, St. Louis
KHVH Honolulu, Hawaii
KFYI Phoenix
KHEP Phoenix
KLBJ Austin
KLIF Dallas
KNIX Los Angeles
KNST Tucson
KOA Denver
KOY Phoenix
KPRL San Luis Obispo County, CA
KPSN Phoenix
KRLD Texas
KTAR Phoenix
KTOK Grand Forks
KTOK Oklahoma City
KVEN Ventura
WAMJ South Bend
WCGL AM Jacksonville, Florida
WDWS Champaign
WFAD Middleburry
WHIO Dayton
WICC Bridgeport
WMC Memphis
WOAI San Antonio
WOND Radio Atlantic City
WSB Atlanta
WTKN Tampa
WUSA Dallas
WXYT Detroit
WFLA Orlando
WVRV St. Louis, Missouri
