Board of Directors

The REA By-Laws (2017) 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. We have also put together a detailed position description for each member of our board and a composite list of the specific tasks of various committee members. 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 are underway, you can read about them here and in back issues of eREACH. 

  • Hanan A. Alexander
    President
    Hanan A. Alexander

    Professor and Dean
    University of Haifa
    Haifa, Haifa, Israel

    hanana [at] edu [dot] haifa [dot] ac [dot] il

    REA President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
    Chair, Nominating Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Jos De Kock
    Jos De Kock

    Professor of Practical Theology | Rector
    Evangelische Theologische Faculteit Leuven
    Gorinchem, Nederland, Netherlands

    jos [dot] dekock [at] etf [dot] edu

    REA Board
    REA Advisory Council
    Chair, Standing Committee on Religious Education in Academic Disciplines & Institutions
  • Mary E. Hess
    Ex Officio
    Mary E. Hess

    Professor
    Luther Seminary
    Saint Paul, MN, United States

    mhess [at] religioused [dot] org

    REA Networking Coordinator
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Christine Jean Hong
    Christine Jean Hong

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

    hongc [at] ctsnet [dot] edu

    REA Board
    REA Advisory Council
    Chair, Standing Committee on Religious Education in Public Life and the Global Community
  • Lucinda Huffaker
    Ex Officio
    Lucinda Huffaker

    Educational Administrator
    Walnut Creek, CA, United States

    lucinda [dot] huffaker [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA Executive Secretary
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Jose R. Irizarry
    Jose R. Irizarry

    Professor
    Villanova University
    Villanova, PA, United States

    jose [dot] r [dot] irizarry [at] villanova [dot] edu

    REA Board
    REA Advisory Council
    AAR Program Committee
  • Denise Janssen
    Denise Janssen

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

    revdlj [at] att [dot] net

    REA Board
    Chair, Standing Committee on Religious Education in Faith Communities
  • Boyung Lee
    Program Chair
    Boyung Lee

    Professor and Academic Dean
    Iliff School of Theology
    Denver, CO, United States

    blee [at] iliff [dot] edu

    REA Program Chair, President-Elect
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program 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
    Publications Committee
  • Hosffman Ospino
    Hosffman Ospino

    Professor
    Boston College
    Waltham, MA, United States

    ospinoho [at] bc [dot] edu

    REA Board
    REA Advisory Council
    Program Conference Committee
    Chair, Proposals Selection Committee
  • Patrick B. Reyes
    Vice President
    Patrick B. Reyes

    Director of Strategic Partnerships for Doctoral Initiatives
    Forum for Theological Exploration
    Decatur, GA, United States

    preyes [at] fteleaders [dot] org

    REA Vice President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Gina A. S. Robinson
    Student Rep
    Gina A. S. Robinson

    PhD Student
    Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
    Evanston, IL, United States

    gina [dot] robinson [at] garrett [dot] edu

    REA Board, Student Representative
    REA Board
  • Elena Soto
    Recording Secretary
    Elena Soto

    Faculty
    Fordham University
    Bronx, NY, United States

    esoto [at] fordham [dot] edu

    REA Recording Secretary
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
  • Sarah Tauber
    Sarah Tauber

    Professor
    Jewish Theological Seminary
    Larchmont, NY, United States

    satauber [at] jtsa [dot] edu

    REA Board
    REA Advisory Council
    Harper / Wornom Committee
    Chair, Harper / Wornom Committee
  • Tony Vrame
    Treasurer
    Tony Vrame

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

    tonyvrame [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA Treasurer
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    REA Advisory Council
    Program Conference Committee
  • Kathy Winings
    Past President
    Kathy Winings

    Director Doctor of Ministry Program, Professor of Religious Education
    Unification Theological Seminary
    Red Hook, NY, United States

    k [dot] winings [at] uts [dot] edu

    REA Past President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
  • Almeda Wright
    Almeda Wright

    Professor
    Yale Divinity School
    New Haven, CT, United States

    almeda [dot] wright [at] yale [dot] edu

    REA Board
    REA Advisory Council
    Chair, Publications Committee
 

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).

  • Hanan A. Alexander
    President
    Hanan A. Alexander

    Professor and Dean
    University of Haifa
    Haifa, Haifa, Israel

    hanana [at] edu [dot] haifa [dot] ac [dot] il

    REA President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
    Chair, Nominating Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Mary E. Hess
    Ex Officio
    Mary E. Hess

    Professor
    Luther Seminary
    Saint Paul, MN, United States

    mhess [at] religioused [dot] org

    REA Networking Coordinator
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Lucinda Huffaker
    Ex Officio
    Lucinda Huffaker

    Educational Administrator
    Walnut Creek, CA, United States

    lucinda [dot] huffaker [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA Executive Secretary
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Boyung Lee
    Program Chair
    Boyung Lee

    Professor and Academic Dean
    Iliff School of Theology
    Denver, CO, United States

    blee [at] iliff [dot] edu

    REA Program Chair, President-Elect
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Patrick B. Reyes
    Vice President
    Patrick B. Reyes

    Director of Strategic Partnerships for Doctoral Initiatives
    Forum for Theological Exploration
    Decatur, GA, United States

    preyes [at] fteleaders [dot] org

    REA Vice President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Elena Soto
    Recording Secretary
    Elena Soto

    Faculty
    Fordham University
    Bronx, NY, United States

    esoto [at] fordham [dot] edu

    REA Recording Secretary
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
  • Tony Vrame
    Treasurer
    Tony Vrame

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

    tonyvrame [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA Treasurer
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    REA Advisory Council
    Program Conference Committee
  • Kathy Winings
    Past President
    Kathy Winings

    Director Doctor of Ministry Program, Professor of Religious Education
    Unification Theological Seminary
    Red Hook, NY, United States

    k [dot] winings [at] uts [dot] edu

    REA Past President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
 

AAR Program Committee

This committee plans the REA session at the American Academy of Religion annual meeting each year. The REA is an official Related Scholarly Organization of the AAR. The AAR Program Committee is comprised of the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, and the Past-President.

  • Hanan A. Alexander
    Hanan A. Alexander

    Professor and Dean
    University of Haifa
    Haifa, Haifa, Israel

    hanana [at] edu [dot] haifa [dot] ac [dot] il

    REA President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
    Chair, Nominating Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Jose R. Irizarry
    Jose R. Irizarry

    Professor
    Villanova University
    Villanova, PA, United States

    jose [dot] r [dot] irizarry [at] villanova [dot] edu

    REA Board
    REA Advisory Council
    AAR Program Committee
  • Boyung Lee
    Boyung Lee

    Professor and Academic Dean
    Iliff School of Theology
    Denver, CO, United States

    blee [at] iliff [dot] edu

    REA Program Chair, President-Elect
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Patrick B. Reyes
    Patrick B. Reyes

    Director of Strategic Partnerships for Doctoral Initiatives
    Forum for Theological Exploration
    Decatur, GA, United States

    preyes [at] fteleaders [dot] org

    REA Vice President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Kathy Winings
    Kathy Winings

    Director Doctor of Ministry Program, Professor of Religious Education
    Unification Theological Seminary
    Red Hook, NY, United States

    k [dot] winings [at] uts [dot] edu

    REA Past President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program 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.

  • Joshua H Lunde-Whitler
    Joshua H Lunde-Whitler

    Executive Director
    Walker Center
    Newton, MA, United States

    jlundewhitler [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA Advisory Council
    Harper / Wornom Committee
  • Lucinda Allen Mosher
    Lucinda Allen Mosher

    Hartford Seminary
    Middleburg, FL, United States

    lucinda [at] lucindamosher [dot] com

    REA Advisory Council
    Harper / Wornom Committee
  • Sarah Tauber
    Chair
    Sarah Tauber

    Professor
    Jewish Theological Seminary
    Larchmont, NY, United States

    satauber [at] jtsa [dot] edu

    REA Board
    REA Advisory Council
    Harper / Wornom Committee
    Chair, Harper / Wornom Committee
  • Anne Carter Walker
    Anne Carter Walker

    Executive Director, Oklahoma Campus
    Saint Paul School of Theology
    Broken Arrow, OK, United States

    annecwalker [at] gmail [dot] com

    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.

  • Hanan A. Alexander
    Chair
    Hanan A. Alexander

    Professor and Dean
    University of Haifa
    Haifa, Haifa, Israel

    hanana [at] edu [dot] haifa [dot] ac [dot] il

    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.

  • Hanan A. Alexander
    Hanan A. Alexander

    Professor and Dean
    University of Haifa
    Haifa, Haifa, Israel

    hanana [at] edu [dot] haifa [dot] ac [dot] il

    REA President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
    Chair, Nominating Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Mary E. Hess
    Mary E. Hess

    Professor
    Luther Seminary
    Saint Paul, MN, United States

    mhess [at] religioused [dot] org

    REA Networking Coordinator
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Lucinda Huffaker
    Lucinda Huffaker

    Educational Administrator
    Walnut Creek, CA, United States

    lucinda [dot] huffaker [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA Executive Secretary
    REA Board, Ex Officio
    REA Board Steering Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Boyung Lee
    Boyung Lee

    Professor and Academic Dean
    Iliff School of Theology
    Denver, CO, United States

    blee [at] iliff [dot] edu

    REA Program Chair, President-Elect
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Hosffman Ospino
    Hosffman Ospino

    Professor
    Boston College
    Waltham, MA, United States

    ospinoho [at] bc [dot] edu

    REA Board
    REA Advisory Council
    Program Conference Committee
    Chair, Proposals Selection Committee
  • Patrick B. Reyes
    Patrick B. Reyes

    Director of Strategic Partnerships for Doctoral Initiatives
    Forum for Theological Exploration
    Decatur, GA, United States

    preyes [at] fteleaders [dot] org

    REA Vice President
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    AAR Program Committee
    Program Conference Committee
  • Tony Vrame
    Tony Vrame

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

    tonyvrame [at] gmail [dot] com

    REA Treasurer
    REA Board
    REA Board Steering Committee
    REA Advisory Council
    Program Conference Committee
 

Proposals Selection Committee

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

  • Monique van Dijk-Groeneboer
    Monique van Dijk-Groeneboer

    professor of religious education
    Tilburg School of Catholic Theology
    The Hague, ZuidHolland, Netherlands

    m [dot] c [dot] h [dot] vandijk [at] uvt [dot] nl

    REA Advisory Council
    Proposals Selection Committee
  • Hosffman Ospino
    Chair
    Hosffman Ospino

    Professor
    Boston College
    Waltham, MA, United States

    ospinoho [at] bc [dot] edu

    REA Board
    REA Advisory Council
    Program Conference Committee
    Chair, Proposals Selection Committee
  • Carl Procario-Foley
    Carl Procario-Foley

    Director Mission and Ministry
    Iona College
    New Rochelle, NY, United States

    cprocario-foley [at] iona [dot] edu

    REA Advisory Council
    Proposals Selection Committee
 

Publications Committee

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

 

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.