Board of Directors

The REA By-laws state that “management of all affairs, property, and business of the Association shall be vested in a Board of Directors who shall consist of the elected officers and Board members.” The REA:APPRRE Board Handbook details the roles and responsibilities of our board, officers, and staff. Note that some members of the board also serve on the steering committee and the program conference committee.  The members of the current board are listed below. A variety of governance changes have been made in the last few years, you can read about them here and in back issues of eREACH. 

  • Patricia Bonilla
    Vice President
    Patricia Bonilla

    Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
    Vernon Hills, Illinois, United States

    Patricia [dot] bonilla [at] garrett [dot] edu

    REA Vice President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
  • Mark Chung Hearn
    Chair of the CFP Committee
    Mark Chung Hearn

    Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
    Church Divinity School of the Pacific
    Berkeley, CA, United States

    mhearn [at] cdsp [dot] edu

    REA Board
    Program Conference Committee
    Chair, Proposals Selection Committee
  • Christine Jean Hong
    Ex Officio
    Christine Jean Hong

    Associate Professor of Educational Ministries
    Columbia Theological Seminary
    Decatur, GA, United States

    jedi [at] religiouseducation [dot] net

    REA Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Officer
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    REA Advisory Council
    Program Conference Committee
  • Heesung Hwang
    Recording Secretary
    Heesung Hwang

    Assistant Professor of Christian Religious Education
    Saint Paul School of Theology
    Leawood, Kansas, United States

    heesung [dot] hwang [at] spst [dot] edu

    REA Recording Secretary
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    REA Advisory Council
  • Denise Janssen
    Treasurer
    Denise Janssen

    Associate Professor of Christian Education
    Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University
    Chester, VA, United States

    revdlj [at] att [dot] net

    REA Treasurer
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Eunjin Jeon
    Student Rep
    Eunjin Jeon

    Student
    University of Denver/Iliff School of Theology
    Princeton, New Jersey, United States

    eunjinshalom [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA Board, Student Representative
    REA Board
  • Eser Kim
    Ex Officio
    Eser Kim


    Knox College, University of Toronto
    Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, Republic of

    nc [at] religiouseducation [dot] net

    REA Networking Coordinator
    REA Board
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Paulus Eko Kristianto
    Chair of the Standing Committee on Faith Communities
    Paulus Eko Kristianto

    Doctoral Student
    Duta Wacana Christian University, Indonesia
    Jakarta Barat, DKI Jakarta, Indonesia

    paulusekokristianto12 [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA Board
    Chair, Standing Committee on Religious Education in Faith Communities
  • Lakisha R Lockhart
    Ex Officio
    Lakisha R Lockhart

    Assistant Professor of Practical Theology
    Union Presbyterian Seminary
    Moseley, VA, United States

    secretary [at] religiouseducation [dot] net

    REA Executive Secretary
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Joshua H Lunde-Whitler
    Chair of the Harper Wornom Committee
    Joshua H Lunde-Whitler

    Executive Director
    Rivier University
    Newton, MA, United States

    jlundewhitler [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA Board
    REA Advisory Council
    Harper / Wornom Committee
    Chair, Harper / Wornom Committee
  • Joyce Ann Mercer
    Ex Officio
    Joyce Ann Mercer

    Prof. of Practical Theol & Pastoral Care
    Yale Divinity School
    New Haven, CT, United States

    joyce [dot] mercer [at] yale [dot] edu

    REA Journal Editor
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Publications Committee
  • Hosffman Ospino
    Chair of the Publications Committee
    Hosffman Ospino

    Professor
    Boston College
    Waltham, MA, United States

    ospinoho [at] bc [dot] edu

    REA Board
    REA Advisory Council
    Chair, Publications Committee
  • Tony Vrame
    Chair of the Advancement Committee
    Tony Vrame

    Director, Dept. of Reglious Ed.
    Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
    Brookline, MA, United States

    tonyvrame [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA Board
    REA Advisory Council
    Chair, Advancement Committee
  • Anne Carter Walker
    President
    Anne Carter Walker

    Executive Director, Oklahoma Campus
    Phillips Theological Seminary
    Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

    annecwalker [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
    Chair, Nominating Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Tamar Wasoian
    Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Life
    Tamar Wasoian

    Independent Scholar
    South Boston, MA, United States

    tamar [dot] waso [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA Board
    Standing Committee on Religious Education in Public Life and the Global Community
    Chair, Standing Committee on Religious Education in Public Life and the Global Community
  • Karen-Marie Yust
    Chair of the Academic Disciplines
    Karen-Marie Yust

    Josiah P. and Anne Wilson Rowe Professor of Christian Education
    Union Presbyterian Seminary
    Richmond, VA, United States

    kmyust [at] upsem [dot] edu

    REA Board
    Standing Committee on Religious Education in Academic Disciplines & Institutions
    Chair, Standing Committee on Religious Education in Academic Disciplines & Institutions
 

Board Steering Committee

This committee meets to make decisions and implement initiatives between regular board meetings. The Board Steering Committee is comprised of the President, President-Elect, Past-President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Executive Secretary (ex officio), and the Networking Coordinator (ex officio).

  • Dori Grinenko Baker
    Dori Grinenko Baker

    Independent Scholar
    Lynchburg, VA, United States

    bakerdori [at] mac [dot] com

    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Patricia Bonilla
    Vice President
    Patricia Bonilla

    Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
    Vernon Hills, Illinois, United States

    Patricia [dot] bonilla [at] garrett [dot] edu

    REA Vice President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
  • Christine Jean Hong
    Ex Officio
    Christine Jean Hong

    Associate Professor of Educational Ministries
    Columbia Theological Seminary
    Decatur, GA, United States

    jedi [at] religiouseducation [dot] net

    REA Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Officer
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    REA Advisory Council
    Program Conference Committee
  • Heesung Hwang
    Recording Secretary
    Heesung Hwang

    Assistant Professor of Christian Religious Education
    Saint Paul School of Theology
    Leawood, Kansas, United States

    heesung [dot] hwang [at] spst [dot] edu

    REA Recording Secretary
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    REA Advisory Council
  • Denise Janssen
    Treasurer
    Denise Janssen

    Associate Professor of Christian Education
    Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University
    Chester, VA, United States

    revdlj [at] att [dot] net

    REA Treasurer
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Eser Kim
    Ex Officio
    Eser Kim


    Knox College, University of Toronto
    Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, Republic of

    nc [at] religiouseducation [dot] net

    REA Networking Coordinator
    REA Board
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Lakisha R Lockhart
    Ex Officio
    Lakisha R Lockhart

    Assistant Professor of Practical Theology
    Union Presbyterian Seminary
    Moseley, VA, United States

    secretary [at] religiouseducation [dot] net

    REA Executive Secretary
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Joyce Ann Mercer
    Ex Officio
    Joyce Ann Mercer

    Prof. of Practical Theol & Pastoral Care
    Yale Divinity School
    New Haven, CT, United States

    joyce [dot] mercer [at] yale [dot] edu

    REA Journal Editor
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Publications Committee
  • Wanda Stahl
    Wanda Stahl

    Clinical Assistant Professor of Contextual Theology & Practice
    Boston University School of Theology
    Maine, ME, United States

    wstahl [at] bu [dot] edu

    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Anne Carter Walker
    President
    Anne Carter Walker

    Executive Director, Oklahoma Campus
    Phillips Theological Seminary
    Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

    annecwalker [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
    Chair, Nominating Committee
    Program Conference Committee
 

Advancement Committee

  • Cynthia Cameron
    Cynthia Cameron

    Assistant Professor
    University of St. Michael's College
    Toronto, ON, Canada

    cynthia [dot] cameron [at] utoronto [dot] ca

    Advancement Committee
  • Mary Elizabeth Moore
    Mary Elizabeth Moore

    Dean Emerita and Professor Emerita
    Boston University
    Claremont, CA, United States

    memoore [at] bu [dot] edu

    Advancement Committee
  • Javier A Viera
    Javier A Viera

    President and Professor of Education and Leadership
    Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
    Evanston, Il, United States

    javier [dot] viera [at] garrett [dot] edu

    Advancement Committee
  • Tony Vrame
    Chair
    Tony Vrame

    Director, Dept. of Reglious Ed.
    Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
    Brookline, MA, United States

    tonyvrame [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA Board
    REA Advisory Council
    Chair, Advancement Committee
 

Harper / Wornom Committee

This committee, established by REA bylaws, exists to solicit applications and make recommendations for the recipient of the William Rainey Harper Award. It also solicits applications for and makes recommendations for the awarding of the Wornom Innovation Grant.

  • Asyraf Isyraqi Bin Jamil
    Asyraf Isyraqi Bin Jamil

    Senior Lecturer
    Universiti Malaya
    Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    isyraqi [at] um [dot] edu [dot] my

    Harper / Wornom Committee
  • Thomas S LeGrand
    Thomas S LeGrand

    Director, IMPACT Center; Assistant Professor
    Limestone University
    Gaffney, SC, United States

    tslegrand [at] limestone [dot] edu

    Harper / Wornom Committee
  • Joshua H Lunde-Whitler
    Chair
    Joshua H Lunde-Whitler

    Executive Director
    Rivier University
    Newton, MA, United States

    jlundewhitler [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA Board
    REA Advisory Council
    Harper / Wornom Committee
    Chair, Harper / Wornom Committee
  • Elizabeth Helen Nolan
    Elizabeth Helen Nolan

    Minister
    Uniting Church in Australia
    Glenview, Queensland, Australia

    enolan1 [at] outlook [dot] com

    Harper / Wornom Committee
  • Montague Williams
    Montague Williams

    Associate Professor of Church, Culture, and Society
    Point Loma Nazarene University (professor) / Boston University (PhD cand.)
    San Diego, CA, United States

    montaguewilliams [at] pointloma [dot] edu

    Harper / Wornom Committee
 

Nominating Committee

This committee recommends a slate of candidates to fill board offices. The Nominating Committee is comprised of retiring Board and Committee members, and one member at large elected by the membership. The committee is chaired by the President.

  • Carl Procario-Foley
    Carl Procario-Foley

    Executive Director
    Center at Mariandale
    New Rochelle, NY, United States

    cbprocariofoley [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA Advisory Council
    Nominating Committee
  • Michael Shire
    Michael Shire

    Professor
    Hebrew College
    Needham, MA, United States

    mshire [at] hebrewcollege [dot] edu

    REA Advisory Council
    Nominating Committee
  • Anne Carter Walker
    Chair
    Anne Carter Walker

    Executive Director, Oklahoma Campus
    Phillips Theological Seminary
    Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

    annecwalker [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
    Chair, Nominating Committee
    Program Conference Committee
 

Program Conference Committee

This committee exists to support the program chair in planning the annual conference. The Program Conference Committee is comprised of the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Call for Proposals Chair, Executive Secretary, and the Networking Coordinator.

  • Dori Grinenko Baker
    Dori Grinenko Baker

    Independent Scholar
    Lynchburg, VA, United States

    bakerdori [at] mac [dot] com

    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Mark Chung Hearn
    Mark Chung Hearn

    Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
    Church Divinity School of the Pacific
    Berkeley, CA, United States

    mhearn [at] cdsp [dot] edu

    REA Board
    Program Conference Committee
    Chair, Proposals Selection Committee
  • Christine Jean Hong
    Christine Jean Hong

    Associate Professor of Educational Ministries
    Columbia Theological Seminary
    Decatur, GA, United States

    jedi [at] religiouseducation [dot] net

    REA Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Officer
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    REA Advisory Council
    Program Conference Committee
  • Denise Janssen
    Denise Janssen

    Associate Professor of Christian Education
    Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University
    Chester, VA, United States

    revdlj [at] att [dot] net

    REA Treasurer
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Eser Kim
    Eser Kim


    Knox College, University of Toronto
    Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, Republic of

    nc [at] religiouseducation [dot] net

    REA Networking Coordinator
    REA Board
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Lakisha R Lockhart
    Lakisha R Lockhart

    Assistant Professor of Practical Theology
    Union Presbyterian Seminary
    Moseley, VA, United States

    secretary [at] religiouseducation [dot] net

    REA Executive Secretary
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Wanda Stahl
    Wanda Stahl

    Clinical Assistant Professor of Contextual Theology & Practice
    Boston University School of Theology
    Maine, ME, United States

    wstahl [at] bu [dot] edu

    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Anne Carter Walker
    Anne Carter Walker

    Executive Director, Oklahoma Campus
    Phillips Theological Seminary
    Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

    annecwalker [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
    Chair, Nominating Committee
    Program Conference Committee
 

Proposals Selection Committee

This committee reviews proposals and chooses Research Interest Group papers, Collaborative Sessions, and Posters for the annual meeting.

  • Mark Chung Hearn
    Chair
    Mark Chung Hearn

    Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
    Church Divinity School of the Pacific
    Berkeley, CA, United States

    mhearn [at] cdsp [dot] edu

    REA Board
    Program Conference Committee
    Chair, Proposals Selection Committee
  • Heather Nicole Ingersoll
    Heather Nicole Ingersoll

    Executive Director
    Godly Play Foundation
    Wilsonville, OR, United States

    heather [at] godlyplayfoundation [dot] org

    Proposals Selection Committee
  • Patrick B. Reyes
    Patrick B. Reyes

    Senior Director of Learning Design
    Auburn Theological Seminary
    Santa Fe, NM, United States

    drpatrickreyes [at] gmail [dot] com

    AAR Program Committee
    Proposals Selection Committee
 

Publications Committee

This committee exists to support the board in overseeing the journal Religious Education and the Horizons publications series.

  • Joyce Ann Mercer
    Joyce Ann Mercer

    Prof. of Practical Theol & Pastoral Care
    Yale Divinity School
    New Haven, CT, United States

    joyce [dot] mercer [at] yale [dot] edu

    REA Journal Editor
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Publications Committee
  • Hosffman Ospino
    Chair
    Hosffman Ospino

    Professor
    Boston College
    Waltham, MA, United States

    ospinoho [at] bc [dot] edu

    REA Board
    REA Advisory Council
    Chair, Publications Committee
  • Mai-Anh Le Tran
    Mai-Anh Le Tran

    Professor
    Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
    Evanston, IL, United States

    maianh [dot] tran [at] garrett [dot] edu

    REA Advisory Council
    Publications Committee
 

Standing Committees

In addition to the committees of the board, above, the REA also has three standing committee which are organized to help the REA sustain its focus on the three major contexts for religious education. They are an essential part of how REA, as a decentralized, volunteer-driven associations accomplishes its mission. Please go to the page of Standing Committees for more information.