Our Staff

Wanda D. Bigham
Division of Higher Education

Phone: 615/340-7399
E-mail

Interim Associate General Secretary of the Division of Higher Education. Bigham has responsibility for the offices within the Division of Higher Education, including Schools, Colleges and Universities; Black College Fund and Ethnic Concerns; and Campus Ministry and Annual Conference Relations. In addition, she is the Executive Secretary of the University Senate that evaluates all educational institutions approved for listing as United Methodist-related institutions. She is also Executive Secretary of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of the United Methodist Church (NASCUMC) and the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities (IAMSCU).

Jerry Boone
Division of Higher Education

Phone: 615/340-7381
E-mail

Acting Administrator for Schools, Colleges, and Universities. Boone coordinates programs for schools, colleges, and universities related to The United Methodist Church. He is responsible for institutes and seminars, research and planning, international education initiatives, and professional development of college and university administrators. Boone is also responsible for higher education public policy and serves as the liaison between the division and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), the U.S. Department of Education, and denominational executives in higher education.

William "Tom" Carter
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7411
E-mail

Director of Endorsement and Pastoral Care. Carter coordinates and manages the endorsing process and pastoral support for endorsed chaplains and pastoral counselors. He is the staff person who relates with the endorsing organizations for the Armed Forces, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and various civilian settings. Carter supervises the Endorsing Team.

Randolph Cross
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7365
E-mail

Assistant General Secretary for Clergy Supervision and Accountability. Cross has various responsibilities, including development of resources and training for supervision of clergy within the structures of the UMC, leadership for the establishment of networks of supervision, consultative services for church leaders regarding pastoral supervision and clergy/family life support systems, and development of resources for assessment of clergy effectiveness, evaluation, and support systems which will include attention to the provisional process with commissioned clergy.

Angella Current-Felder
Office of Loans and Scholarships

Phone: 615/340-7342
E-mail

Executive Director. Current-Felder is responsible for overall administration of the agency's scholarship and loan programs and collections processes which include scholarship and loan programs for some local churches, annual conferences, and other church agencies. She also serves as staff liaison to the Africa University Development Committee.

Jerome King Del Pino
Office of the General Secretary

Phone: 615/340-7356
E-mail

General Secretary. Responsible for selection of program/management staff, supervision of all staff, policy implementation, planning, and overall financial oversight and administration for GBHEM. Represents the board in national and international arenas related to higher education and ministry, including serving as director/trustee of several policymaking boards. Interprets the mission of the board to the public sector through speaking and writing and carries out the work of the GBHEM as mandated by General Conference.

Saul J. Espino
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7366
E-mail

Director of Retreats and Specialized Ministries Support. Espino arranges retreats for members of the UM Endorsed community. Administers the Clinical Pastoral Education scholarship programs for the division and relates to the chaplains and pastoral counselors certifying bodies. Designs programs for persons serving in specialized ministries. Support the Board Educational partnership with Latin America. His Boardwide responsibilities include the implementation of the National Plan for Hispanic Latino Ministries Program and the Journey Toward Ordained Ministry Mentoring Program and Scholarship.

Bruce Fenner
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7411
E-mail

Director of Extension Ministry and Pastoral Care. Fenner serves as the contact person for extension ministry policy and information. He works with professional pastoral care organizations and endorsing networks to ensure standards for professional certification are understood and fit within the United Methodist understanding of ministry. He provides pastoral care for the endorsed community including counseling, individual spiritual retreats, and participation in retreat and convocation program design teams. He supervises the Journey of Shalom program for returning chaplains and their spouses.

Michelle Fugate
Division of Ordained Ministry & Division of Higher Education

Phone: 615/340-7528
E-mail

Director of Research and Data Management. Fugate provides regular information to GBHEM staff and elected directors regarding issues in higher education and ministry. She develops and maintains research data and prepares regular reports, as well as reviewing relevant research and published data related to higher education and ministry. Fugate will develop grant proposals and develop and facilitate the work of a boardwide research advisory committee to assist with the design of and setting priorities for research projects.

Terri J. Hiers
Office of Interpretation

Phone: 615/340-7382
E-mail

Executive Director. Hiers directs GBHEM's communications and public relations programs and manages the editorial and production operations of the office. She works with all divisions, offices, and sections to ensure GBHEM's programs and policies are communicated with consistency and in a professional manner. She oversees all print, video production, and GBHEM's Web site and is the editor of Orientation magazine, Colleague, and Africa University Today.

Cynthia Bond Hopson
Division of Higher Education

Phone: 615/340-7378
E-mail

Assistant General Secretary, Black College Fund and Ethnic Concerns. Hopson is responsible for promotion and interpretation of The United Methodist Church’s historically Black colleges and universities, the Black College Fund, and related community and church issues. She also manages and distributes the Black College Fund to participating schools, coordinates institutional on-site reviews for the University Senate and the Commission on Black Colleges, oversees the Black College Fund initiatives such as the Lina H. McCord Summer Intern Program, and presents and writes proposals for the Ethnic Concerns Committee.

Meg Lassiat
Division of Higher Education, Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7405
E-mail

Director of Student Ministries, Vocation, and Enlistment. Lassiat works with United Methodist college students and young adults developing resources and programs to foster their spiritual formation, vocational discernment, leadership development, and enlistment for ministry. In a dual appointment with both the Division of Higher Education and the Division of Ordained Ministry, she oversees the United Methodist Student Movement and Young Adult Seminarians Network and directs the Student Forum and EXPLORATION events. Lassiat also serves as the GBHEM liaison with the Fund for Theological Education’s Pastoral Leadership Search Effort (PLSE) program.

John Lesesne
Office of Administration

Phone: 615/340-7359
E-mail

Treasurer/CFO. Prepares and administers GBHEM's budget, is responsible for human resources, employee benefits, and information technology functions. Serves as staff liaison to the Personnel Policies Committee and the Investment Committee, and votes all GBHEM investment portfolio stock proxies. Reviews and administers all GBHEM contracts, buildings, property, and insurance matters. Serves as GBHEM financial staff liaison to GBHEM's external auditors, the Africa University Board of Directors, and GCFA for periodic financial and agency evaluation reports.

Ingrid McIntyre
Division of Higher Education

Phone: 615/340-7573
E-mail

Director of Connectional Relations. Works with constituencies in the annual conferences to increase the number of United Methodist youth who enroll at United Methodist-related institutions or participate in Wesley Foundation activities.

Mary Ann Moman
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7357
E-mail

Associate General Secretary. Moman is responsible for the overall administration of the work and programs of the Division of Ordained Ministry, the Ministerial Education Fund, the Association of United Methodist Theological Schools, and the Commission on Theological Education. She serves as the liaison with United Methodist seminaries and provides support for the University Senate.

HiRho Park
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340- 7391
E-mail

Director of Continuing Formation for Ministry. Park oversees the continuing education and spiritual formation for clergy and provides support for United Methodist clergywomen, as well as racial and ethnic clergy in areas of theological education, enlistment, and research. With Angella Current-Felder, Office of Loans and Scholarships, she coordinates the Women of Color Scholarship and Mentoring program. She relates to Boards of Ordained Ministry, clergywomen, racial and ethnic clergy, annual conferences, and seminaries. She coordinates the Georgia Harkness Scholarship program.

Hendrik R. Pieterse
Office of Interpretation

Phone: 615/340-7334
E-mail

Director of Scholarly Research and Book Editor. Pieterse oversees initiatives, research, and assignments that seek to interpret and articulate theologically the board’s vision of nurturing a new generation of Christian leaders. He has primary responsibilities for planning and resourcing GBHEM’s Staff Study Days. Under the supervision of the Executive Director of the Office of Interpretation, he acquires and edits books and other resources, print and electronic, that communicate and enhance the board’s publishing initiatives as contained in its Strategic Plan.

Sharon G. Rubey
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7372
E-mail

Director of Candidacy and Conference Relations. Rubey is responsible for the candidacy program for ordination and licensing by managing the processes for enlistment, assessment procedures, and candidacy mentoring. She provides resources, training, and interpretation for district committees, boards, and other conference officers. She also relates to constituent concerns and questions for deacons and diaconal ministers. She serves as leader of the Enlistment/Candidacy Team for the division.

Bishop Woodie W. White
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7411
E-mail

Endorsing agent for The United Methodist Church. He serves as the primary link between the church and institutions that employ or establish standards for chaplains and pastoral counselors.

Anita D. Wood
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7335
E-mail

Director of Professional Ministry Development. Wood works with seminaries to provide courses and training programs for deacons and is responsible for the administration of financial aid programs for these studies. She assists conference Boards of Ordained Ministry in the areas of clergy mentoring, probationary processes, continuing education and formation and is responsible for providing gatherings for probationary deacons in their preparation for ordination. She leads the division in exploring the emerging needs in the church for new forms of deacon and diaconal ministries and conducts research studies on the work of deacons and diaconal ministers.

Ken Yamada
Office of the General Secretary

Phone: 615/340-7398
E-mail

Special Assistant to the General Secretary for Global Education and New Initiatives. He assists the general secretary in planning and developing the global education initiatives under the GBHEM Strategic Plan for leadership development for the church and the world. He also works with the associate general secretaries of the Division of Higher Education and the Division of Ordained Ministry in global initiatives including theological education. He will further strengthen the connectional systems among United Methodist-related schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools for increased effectiveness and efficient resource sharing.

Bridgette Young
Division of Higher Education

Phone: 615/340-7404
E-mail

Assistant General Secretary for Campus Ministry and College Chaplaincy, Division of Higher Education. Young works with campus ministers and college chaplains providing support, resources, networking, and continuing education. She trains annual conference Boards of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, and serves as a consultant to annual conferences, local churches and campus ministry groups. Young is liaison to the United Methodist Campus Ministry Association, the National Association of College and University Chaplains, and the Ecumenical Campus Ministry Team. She also advocates across the wider church for support of ministry in higher education.