Traumatic Stress Institute of Klingberg Family Centers Announces a Leadership Transition

After 20 years as Director of the Traumatic Stress Institute (TSI), Dr. Steve Brown will be retiring in June. We are pleased to announce that John Engel, TSI’s Associate Director, will assume the position of Director effective June 29, 2026.

Since 2006 when Klingberg Family Centers acquired the original Traumatic Stress Institute, Steve has been a catalyst for TSI’s growth from a small, locally-focused department with three part-time staff to an internationally recognized leader in the trauma-informed care (TIC) field with nine
full-time staff.

Among his achievements, Steve:

• Helped transform TSI into a leading organization in the trauma-informed care movement that now supports over 80 client agencies across the US and Canada.
• Designed, adapted, and revised (many times!) the Risking Connection (RC) foundational trauma training, which celebrated its 25^th anniversary in 2025.
• Conceived of the RC Trauma Framework that is at the heart of RC training and the RC model.
• Co-developed the Risking Connection Change Model (RCCM), a two-year intervention to support organizations’ systemic implementation of TIC.
• Co-created the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC) Scale, the most widely cited and used validated measure of TIC globally.
• Oversaw a department that has elevated the value of equity, integrating discussion of racial and intergenerational trauma throughout its training and consultation services.
• Built and led a team that deliberately strove to live out trauma-informed principles in their relationships with each other.

Steve’s career has been driven by the goal of getting trauma-informed innovations to stick long term in systems so that they become embedded in organizational DNA.

As we honor Steve’s contributions, we are thrilled to welcome John Engel as TSI’s next Director. John first brought his background in nonprofit leadership and organizational change to TSI nine years ago, and has served as the Associate Director for the past three years. Beyond his work at TSI, John is pursuing an EdD in change leadership. His research focuses on how leaders in human services experience psychological safety within racially diverse teams. 

John brings both an intimate knowledge of TSI and exceptional leadership and organizational development skills to the Director role. 

As a leader, he excels at fostering the professional growth of others and creating collaborative processes to move work forward. At TSI, John's commitment to trauma-informed care leadership is already evident. John has:

• Advanced growth through sales and onboarding of Online ARTIC and Risking Connection Change Model clients
• Developed program partnerships including ongoing delivering of the Risking Connection Change Model to behavioral health service lines in a state-wide healthcare system
• Managed new product development, including the Online ARTIC
• Co-led revision of the Risking Connection curriculum to include a racial trauma lens
• Championed strategic planning that catalyzed TSI's growth
• Designed and facilitated RC Monthly Mindfulness to promote well-being in the Risking Connection community
• Served as a Risking Connection Faculty Trainer

Building on its strong foundation, John is poised to lead TSI toward an equally bright future in a complex and ever-changing world. As always, the TSI vision, mission, and values will continue to guide our way.

Please join us in celebrating Steve’s legacy and welcoming John Engel as he transitions into his new role.

With RICH™ appreciation,

Patricia Wilcox
Vice-President for Strategic Planning
Klingberg Family Centers, Inc.