About NVC Consulting > Chris Cowan, Partner


Chris Cowan's work concentrates on the alignment of people, technologies, leadership and management systems through applications of SPIRAL DYNAMICS^® programs and Gravesian-oriented developmental models.

Chris received his master's degree in speech communications from the University of North Texas in 1972. He subsequently joined the faculty and taught in the fields of communication, group dynamics and media in business. At the same time, he was involved in the university's off-campus professional development programs in business, social services, law enforcement and environmental quality. Clients included accounting firms, social services agencies, law enforcement agencies, city administrators, school districts and federal government entities.

Cowan was teaching communication when his focus shifted entirely to the extension and application of Dr. Clare W. Graves' emergent cyclical Levels of existence theory and models. Over 10 years, Chris had the privilege of spending many hours with Dr. Graves in presentations, workshops and with him in his home before he died in 1986.

In 1981, he left the faculty of NTSU (now UNT) to devote full energy to the application of Dr. Clare W. Graves's "emergent, cyclical, levels of existence point of view." He co-founded the National Values Center Inc., and then co-founded NVC Consulting with his partner, Natasha Todorovic. He is co-author of the 1996 book, Spiral Dynamics: Mastering Values, Leadership and Change, and co-editor of Graves: Levels of Human Existence and The Never Ending Quest: Clare W. Graves Explores Human Nature. 

Cowan's emphasis is on making the material in SPIRAL DYNAMICS^® programs practical, applicable and deliverable to a wide range of groups that are seeking results at the bottom line, the top line and the complicated and often overlooked human factors in between.