Education

Doctor of Education, 1991
Discipline: Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

Master of Arts, 1981
Discipline: English
Wichita State University, Wichita, KS

Bachelor of Arts, 1975
Discipline: English
Trinity College, Deerfield, IL

Professional Employment

1990 to Present

July 1, 2004 to present
Director of Congregational Relations and Stewardship Services, General Conference of the
Brethren in Christ Church (half- time position)

January 1, 1999 to present
Consultant for fundraising and board education

August 1996- December 1998
Director of the Foundation, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA

July 1994 - August 1996
Vice President for Advancement, Houghton College, Houghton, NY

July 1991 - June 30, 1994
National Director, Lilly Endowment-funded Project for Fund Raising Effectiveness
Christian College Coalition, Washington, D.C.

Published Works

Books and Chapters

“Developing Faithful and Generous Donors: The Ideals and the Challenges,” a chapter in Taking Fundraising Seriously: The Spirit of Faith and Philanthropy, co-authored with Thomas Jeavons, New Directions in Philanthropic Fundraising, Number 35, Spring 2002

“Beyond the Bottom Line: The Trustees’ Role in Advancement,” a chapter in Advancing the Small College, CASE/CIC Publication, Spring 2001

“Growing Givers’ Hearts: Treating Fundraising as Ministry,” co-authored with Thomas Jeavons, Jossey-Bass Publishers, February 2000


Articles: 1993 to Present

“In the Beginning: The Board’s Role in Welcoming the New President”
“Timely and Thoughtful Does It: The Board’s Role in Evaluating the President”
“Guardians of the Process: The Board’s Role in Presidential Search”
“Managing the Sweet Sorrow of Parting: The Board’s Role in Presidential Transition”
A four-part series on the life cycle of a successful seminary presidency in In Trust: The Magazine for Leaders in Theological Education, New Year 2004, Spring 2004, Summer 2004 and New Year 2005

“Capitalizing On Our Differences: The Challenges and Rewards of Pursuing Shared Governance,” In Trust: The Magazine for Leaders in Theological Education, Autumn 2004

“Think of Us in This Way – As Servants of Christ and Stewards of God’s Mysteries,” In Trust: The Magazine for Leaders in Theological Education, New Year 2004

“Holding Itself Accountable: The Board’s Responsibility for Self-Assessment,” Theological Education, Volume 39, Number 2, 2004

“Older Donor Strategy: A Manageable Approach to Planned Giving,” Seminary Development News, Fall 2003

“Beyond Giving and Getting: The Board’s Role in Fundraising as Ministry,” ECFA Focus on Accountability Newsletter, Second Quarter, 2003

“Beyond the Myths: Motivating for a High-performing Advancement Board,” Seminary Development News, Spring 2002

“Alumni Support: It’s Not Just the Money,” In Trust: The Magazine for Leaders in Theological Education, New Year, 2001

“Aiming for the Heart: An Alternative Approach to Asking,” Giving, Volume 3, Ecumenical Stewardship Center, Winter 2000

“Filling the Room at the Top: What It Takes to Conduct a Successful Presidential Search,” In Trust: The Magazine for Leaders in Theological Education, New Year 2000

“The Importance of Encouraging One Another to All Kinds of Good Works in All Kinds of Places,” Shalom, Fall 1999

“To Our Own Selves Be True: The Importance of Taking Time to Assess the Board’s Performance,” In Trust: The Magazine for Leaders in Theological Education, Fall 1999

“Ten Candles for In Trust: A Decade of Fact-Finding and Partnership,” In Trust: The Magazine for Leaders in Theological Education, Spring 1999

“Asking as Teaching: Seminary Fundraising Programs Should Minister to Donors,” In Trust: The Magazine for Leaders in Theological Education, Spring 1999

"Appropriately Great Expectations: Matching Your Fund-Raising Targets to Reality," In Trust: The Magazine for Leaders in Theological Education, Autumn 1994

"What's This About Women's Ways of Asking?" Fund Raising Management, Nov 1993

Papers, Presentations, and Workshops: 1990 to Present

“Institutional Assessment: Data Gathering for Evaluation and Change – Strategic Indicators of Institutional Heal and Effectiveness,” a two-part workshop presented at the ATS Presidential Leadership Intensive Week, December 2004

“Your Governing Board and Church Relations: Making the Connections Work,” a workshop presented at the ATS 2004 Biennial, June 27 and 28, 2004

“The President’s Role in Maximizing the Board,” a workshop presented at the ATS New Presidents Seminary, January 17, 2004 and January 15, 2005

“Doing What Good Boards Do,” a workshop for the boards of Ten Thousand Villages stores, April 12, 2003

“Beyond the Budget: Messages, Methods and Motivators for Faith-filled Giving,” “Called to Ask: The Ministry of Raising Funds within the Church,” and “Speaking of Stewardship: The Language of Faith and Money,” plenary presentations at the Network Meeting of PC USA stewardship staff, March 12-14, 2003

“An Alternative Vision: Treating Fundraising as Ministry,” workshop presented to at the Campus Crusade Development Institute, January 24, 2003

“Being a Board Worth Joining: The Importance of Intentional Succession Planning” and “Preparing Thrift Shops for the Next Generation,” plenary presentations at U.S. MCC Thrift Shop National Workshop, October 3-5, 2002

“Fundraising as Ministry: The Challenges and the Rewards,” plenary presentation at Inventing the Wheel 2002, sponsored by the Officer of Stewardship of the Episcopal Church

“Fundraising as Christian Vocation,” keynote presentation at the 2002 North American Conference on Christian Philanthropy, April 4, 2002

“Fundraising as Ministry,” Indiana Camp Ministries Spring Conference, March 26, 2002

“Developing Faithful and Generous Donors: The Ideals and the Challenges,” 14th Annual Symposium, The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, October 25-26, 2001

“Leadership Development and the Future of the Church,” seminar facilitation for the 2001 National Consultation on Leadership of the United Church of Christ, February 2001

“Applications of the ‘Treating Fundraising as Ministry’ Study to Congregational Settings,” keynote presentations at the 2001 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Leadership Conference, February 2001

“The Board’s Role in Growing Givers’ Hearts,” a workshop presented at Conference for Boards and Administrators of Mennonite Schools, October 2000.

“The Emerging Role of Women as Major Donors,” a workshop presented at Evangelical Development Ministries Annual Assembly, October 2000.

“Treating Fundraising as Ministry: A Challenge to Theological Schools,” luncheon address and workshop at the annual meeting of Development and Institutional Advancement Professionals - Association of Theological Schools, February 2000

“Early Findings from a Study of Fundraising as Ministry,” a workshop presentation at a gathering of project directors within Lilly Endowment’s Funding of American Religion Initiative, October 1997.

“Mapping a Career in Development,” a workshop presented at the Conference for Women in Christian College Fundraising, June 1997.

“Understanding the Process of Institutional Budgeting,” a workshop presented at a conference for women administrators and faculty, Center for Christian Women in Leadership, Eastern College, June 1996.

"The Emerging Role of Women in Fund Raising," a workshop presented at the National Meeting of the Christian Stewardship Association, September 1994.

"Learning from Our Research: Applying Lessons Learned about Major Donor Characteristics and Motivations," a workshop presented at the Critical Concerns Conference for Chief Development Officers of CCC Institutions, February 1994.

"What Presidents Need to Know about Major Donor Characteristics and Motivations," presented at a CCC-sponsored meeting in conjunction with the 1993 Assembly of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, December 1993.

Examples of Recent Consulting Projects

Campaign Counsel – Camp Hebron (PA); Eastern Mennonite University (VA); Menno Haven Camp and Retreat Center (IL)

Campaign Feasibility Study – Brethren and Mennonite Heritage Center, Harrisonburg, VA

Development Program Audits – Access Services (PA); Eastern Mennonite University (VA); Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (PA)

Grant Assistance and Project Evaluation – Mennonite Central Committee, five-year review of the activities and effectiveness of the Resource Generation Network; Lancaster Theological Seminary, external evaluator for Lilly Endowment Alliance for Renewal of Ministry grant project; Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary (CA), assistance with Lilly Endowment Youth Theology proposal; Messiah College, external evaluator for Lilly Endowment Vocations grant; St. Bonaventure University (NY), assistance with Lilly Endowment Vocation proposal.

Presidential Searches – Houston Graduate School of Theology (2003), Lancaster Theological Seminary (2002), Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary (2003), Evangelical School of Theology (2003)

Trustee Board Retreats – Evangelical Theological Seminary (PA), Lancaster Theological Seminary (PA), Lexington Theological Seminary (KY), New Hope Ministry (PA), Nyack College and Alliance Theological Seminary (NY), Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (PA), Ten Thousand Villages Stores, Midwest Region, Trinity Lutheran Theological Seminary (OH)

Volunteer Professional Activities

Member, Board of Directors, MAP International, March 1999 to present

Member, Board of Directors, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, March 2000 to present

Member, National Advisory Board, Boyer Center for Advanced Scholarship, Messiah College, October 1997 to present

Member, Board of Directors, Christian Stewardship Association, January 2000 to January 2003

Member, Board of Directors, In Trust: The Magazine for Leaders in Theological Education, 1991 to January 2003

Board of Advisors, The Center for Christian Women in Leadership at Eastern College, 1993 - 1999

Publisher, Christian Scholars Review, September 1994 - April 1997

Member of Selection Committee and Founding Director, Harvey Fellowship Program, 1991 -1997