Nelly van Doorn-Harder was born and raised in the Netherlands. She has taught Islam and world religions at Valparaiso University since 1999. Before that she was called as a missionary to Egypt to direct a refugee agency and also to Indonesia to teach Islamic Studies at an interdenominational seminary. She is involved in human rights issues and peacemaking, especially as part of the Norwegian Oslo Coalition for Freedom of Religion. Her views of inter-religious dialogue are very much influenced by some leaders of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church and by Indonesian Muslim activists for the rights of children, women, and religious minorities.

(Bio from summer 2005)