DR. ANDREW NICHOLS – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dr. Andrew Nichols is the founder of the AIP. He is an internationally recognized Parapsychologist and investigator of ghosts, hauntings and other parapsychological phenomena. Dr. Nichols has been a psychology professor for many years.

DR. BARRY TAFF – ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Dr. Barry Taff serves as an AIP director. He earned his doctorate in psychophysiology with a minor in biomedical engineering from UCLA. He holds six medical patents. From 1969 through 1978 he worked out of the former parapsychology laboratory at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute as a research associate where he studied telepathy, precognition, and remote viewing as well as poltergeists, doppelgangers and UFOs. Dr. Taff’s research has been published in numerous journals, periodicals, magazines and books over the last 25 years. He has been the principal investigator on more than 3,500 cases of poltergeists and hauntings, one of which became the bestselling book and motion picture, ‘The Entity.’

DR. AL PROFFIT – RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

Dr. Al Proffit is a professor at Appalachian State University. He has a doctorate in Educational Leadership with a minor in counseling. Prior to moving to western North Carolina he was a Superintendent of Schools in two states, a school principal, assistant principal, teacher and counselor. He was also a Professor of Education at Radford University in Virginia where he served as the Chair of the Department of Educational Studies.

MELISSA VIOLETTE – SECRETARY

Melissa Violette is the Secretariat and treasurer. Mellissa is a music therapist by profession.

REV. STEVEN MANESS, Ph.D., D.D. - THEOLOGICAL CONSULTANT

Dr. Steve Maness is Professor in the Department of Psychology and Pastoral Counseling at St. James University and Holy Trinity Seminary. He is currently Director of the Institute for Spiritual Forensics, an educational and research ministry dealing with spiritual anomalies.