About Us
Bridging Science, Philosophy, and Spiritual Traditions Through Integrative Education at FAI
The First Analysis Institute of Integrative Studies (FAI) is an educational institution based in Chicago, IL, dedicated to exploring integrative models that bridge the gap between various disciplines of thought. Our mission is to offer classes, seminars, and research opportunities that promote a deeper understanding of the connections between science, philosophy, spiritual traditions, and personal development. At FAI, we take an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from both Platonic and Neo-Platonic reasoning while also adhering to the rigor of Aristotelian logic. This combination ensures that our models are intellectually sound and accessible to a broad audience. Our programs are designed to foster critical thinking and encourage individuals to engage with important global issues from diverse perspectives, including those rooted in the Abrahamic faiths—Judaism, Christianity and Islam. For over 30 years, FAI has organized seminars and classes focused on the integrative themes of "Triune Consciousness," which we believe can be found in various aspects of human evolution, including the Personality Enneagram, the Genetic Code, and other phenomena. Our work extends beyond the classroom, collaborating with prestigious universities such as the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois, Chicago, as well as local religious and cultural institutions. FAI’s curriculum is designed to be both academically rigorous and practically applicable, with offerings available both in-person and online through web-based courses. We are committed to advancing knowledge through research, sponsoring educational programs, and supporting global initiatives, such as our capacity-building efforts with Indigenous communities in the Amazon. Our work has been recognized by several organizations, including the Illinois Venture Capital Association (Richard J. Daley Award), the Arab-American Business & Professional Association of Illinois (Outstanding Humanitarian Award), and the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago (Interreligious Leadership Award), in recognition of our contributions to education, research, and interfaith dialogue. We invite you to join us in exploring these integrative models, deepen your understanding of the "3, 6 & 9 Triune" and its influence on human development, and contribute to the ongoing conversation about evolution, consciousness, and the future of humanity.
Mission
FAI advances the understanding of how consciousness and evolution are interwoven through the lens of the “3, 6 & 9 Triune.” Originating in the long development of the Triune Consciousness Course, our mission is to explore and illustrate how this triune pattern has been reflected throughout both physical and social evolution.
Since this endeavor requires a truly interdisciplinary approach, FAI provides a platform for integrative education and research not typically addressed by conventional academia. Through our courses, seminars, and publications, we apply these reflections of Triune Consciousness to contemporary inquiry, fostering dialogue and discovery that connect the intellectual, the experiential, and the spiritual dimensions of life.
Board of Directors
FAI’s board of directors guides our mission, providing strategic oversight for our educational and interfaith programs, and community partnerships.
Jerome Wagner
Jerome Wagner, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, therapist and consultant in private practice and an emeritus faculty member of the Department of Psychology and Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University, Chicago. For more than two decades, he co-led the FAI–Loyola Enneagram seminars, advancing Enneagram education in academic and community settings. A founder of the International Enneagram Association, he authored Nine Lenses on the World: The Enneagram Perspective, The Enneagram Spectrum of Personality Styles (50th Anniversary Edition), and the Wagner Enneagram Personality Style Scales (WEPSS.com).
Sarah Linsley
Sarah M. Linsley serves on the board of the First Analysis Institute of Integrative Studies and as a tax advisor to the Institute. She retired in 2024 after more than 40 years with Quarles & Brady LLP (and predecessor Wilson & McIlvaine), focusing on sophisticated estate and tax planning. She also advised a wide range of tax-exempt organizations—public charities, educational institutions, trade associations, and qualified retirement plans—and served on numerous boards. She continues to support select nonprofits and remains licensed to practice law in Illinois. She holds a J.D. from Northwestern University and an A.B., with honors, from Harvard College, where she captained the inaugural women’s track and cross-country teams. Throughout this work, she has been supported by her husband, Vincent Finneran, and their three daughters.
Claire Nicklin
Claire Nicklin is the Andean Regional Representative for the Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems of the McKnight Foundation. She has an M.P.S in International Agriculture and Rural Development from Cornell University and a B.A in Science in Society Program from Wesleyan University. She is based in Quito, Ecuador.
David Jaglowski
David Jaglowski has served on the FAI board since 2021. He is an active CPA and tenured corporate accountant with experience in the consumer and industrial products, financial services, and biotechnology industries. A Chicago native who has lived in France, the United Kingdom, and Senegal as a Peace Corps Volunteer, he is a lifelong learner with interests in spirituality, philosophy, and mathematics and is committed to interfaith dialogue, cross-cultural exchange, and innovative approaches to solving pervasive health issues.
F. Oliver Nicklin
Oliver Nicklin founded the First Analysis Institute of Integrative Studies (FAI) in 1989. He is also chairman at First Analysis, an advisor and investor in growth-focused B2B tech companies. In recognition of his leadership and work at both First Analysis and FAI, he has received numerous awards, including the Interreligious Leadership Award (2016, Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago), the Humanitarian Award (2019, Arab-American Business & Professional Association of Illinois), and the Richard J. Daley Award (2019, Illinois Venture Capital Association). He has also served on many corporate and civic boards including the Field Foundation, the Regenstein Foundation, the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Finance Council, and the University of Chicago Divinity School Advisory Council. He earned an MBA from Harvard University and a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Texas.
News
What Two Decades of Abrahamic Dialogue Reveal
August 17, 2026
Three Traditions, One Inheritance draws on two decades of FAI's interfaith seminars, sixty-five presentations from senior rabbis, priests, imams, and scholars, to test the conviction that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam form a single complementary structure. The analysis traces a consistent pattern across nearly every major question the three traditions have engaged together, from war to the climate crisis to the afterlife: three distinct paths arriving at a shared human inheritance.
Reflections from the May 6 Tri-Faith Dialogue on the Afterlife
May 21, 2026
The May 6 Tri-Faith Dialogue, held at the Islamic Cultural Center of Greater Chicago in Northbrook, brought together Rabbi Michael Balinsky, Dr. Richard Rosengarten and Imam Hazim Fazlic to explore Jewish, Christian and Islamic perspectives on the afterlife. The discussion considered Olam Habah and sacred study, resurrection and eternal life, and Islamic teachings on judgment, mercy and eternity. The reflections connect the evening to FAI’s broader interfaith work, reading the three Abrahamic traditions as a triune of complementary perspectives on questions no single tradition can fully answer alone.
Identifying Egyptology in the Book of Revelation Through Seven-Fold Symbolism
April 13, 2026
This reflection builds on themes explored in Uncovering the Apocalyptic Enneagram in the Book of Revelation, which presents the Book of Revelation as a metaphorical blueprint of God’s plan for humanity to cope with Satan through a journey of seven transitional stages organized into six interconnected series culminating in the triune. Based on observations from Oliver Nicklin’s recent trip to Egypt, it considers whether seven-fold symbolism in ancient Egypt may point to similar patterns of transition, protection and spiritual passage.
Preserving Cofán Cultural Knowledge: Project Update
March 16, 2026
Efforts to preserve and transmit Cofán cultural knowledge are continuing to gain momentum. Through initiatives including the Cofán Encyclopedia, the Lifeboat Garden ethnobotanical learning center, and a new youth leadership summer camp, the Cofán Education Project is building a model for intergenerational cultural transmission. The First Analysis Institute of Integrative Studies (FAI) is proud to support this work and the community leaders driving it forward.
Why Is India Hundreds of Times More Responsive to this Website’s Outreach Than Other Countries?
January 29, 2026
This entire discussion is intended to explore a single question raised by our outreach data and AI analyses: whether the website’s discussion of “Triune Consciousness” underlying evolution—since it begins and ends by drawing on ancient Indian cultural contributions—helps explain the strong receptivity and engagement we see from India.
Resources
Explore our current programs, related websites, and publications that advance understanding of the triune theme and promote interfaith collaboration and dialogue
International Enneagram Association
The IEA envisions a world where the Enneagram is widely understood and constructively applied. It connects a diverse international community, hosts a biannual global conference, and supports regional and local events organized by National Affiliates worldwide and U.S. Chapters.
The Enneagram Monthly
The Enneagram Monthly is an eclectic journal dedicated to fostering insightful discourse about the Enneagram, its current applications, and future potential. Established in 1995, the Enneagram Monthly stands as a globally recognized and influential hub for Enneagram advancements.
The Enneagram Spectrum
Enneagram Spectrum, led by FAI board member Jerome Wagner, is a hub for learning and applying the Enneagram, a nine-point personality map for understanding ourselves and responding to the world. The site offers articles, an overview of Wagner’s books, the WEPSS assessment, and instructor-led training/certification programs.