An Inspired Team

Allison Arsenault directs FTE's coordination efforts in partnership with the Lilly Endowment. She oversees the Youth Theology Network and supports efforts centered on theology programs accompanying young adults in discernment. Allison also supports the data and knowledge management needs of FTE.

FTE's work is critical at a time when both young adults and the church are working to define their place and purpose in the world. Guiding students and young adults to engage questions of meaning and purpose is the most life-giving work I’ve ever been a part of. I love coming to work at a place that is actively creating spaces for people of faith to grow and shape their communities and the world.

Elsie Barnhart helps develop and resource an engaged community of doctoral students, young adults, and church and institutional leaders.

Simply put, FTE matters and that’s why I am here. When I interviewed for my position with FTE I said, “Whatever job leads me away from being a full-time care provider for my kids would have to matter.” As I researched FTE and interviewed with the full staff, it was clear to me that they weren’t just there to do ‘a job.’ At FTE, the people truly are committed to serving in roles that help young people become future leaders, instrumental in shaping the church of the 21st Century.

Paul Bois is responsible for the talent development, operations management, human resources and infrastructure enhancements that advance the organizational mission through functional support of program development.

I asked the Lord, “What would you have me do next?” I pondered my calling after a lengthy corporate career, and the answer was FTE. This job appealed to me initially because I would get to work on the business side of an impactful organization. More importantly, it allows me to do work that is aimed at developing people — and not just any type of person; young people who are becoming leaders for the church.

Kimberly R. Daniel is responsible for managing communications strategies, public relations and marketing for FTE and its efforts.

Growing up a preacher’s kid, I saw the need for young leaders to have real space to explore. I recognized the value of a context where these students could be nurtured while exploring their purpose, whether ministry-related or secular. Working at FTE gives me a sense of fulfillment in knowing that I am contributing to young adults’ discovery of their gifts, and their exploration of what they are called to do and be in the world.

Chrishaun Hoopes manages FTE's communications strategies and marketing efforts to increase awareness, engagement, and support for FTE’s vision, mission, and programmatic work.

As I approached a career milestone, I began seeking more meaningful ways to combine my passion for marketing with my spiritual calling to help people. I soon discovered an opportunity to promote one of the best brand stories through volunteer work at my church. I learned that there were career opportunities outside of corporate and agency life that allowed me to have a greater purpose. This journey led me to FTE, a brand shaking things up for the next generation of diverse faith leaders. Through my work, I lead communication strategies to reshape how we reach and empower individuals seeking meaningful ways to answer their callings for social good.

Pre-Gathering Workshop: Igniting the Pen: Unleashing the Power of Storytelling in Youth Theology Programs 

Join Brian Hull, director of Asbury’s Youth Becoming Leaders YTN program, and Darlene Hutto, FTE’s director of community engagement as we harness the power of storytelling and resource sharing to ignite your passion for writing and empower you to articulate the profound impact of your youth theology programs. Through engaging discussions, an interactive session, and hands-on activities, we will guide you on a journey of self-reflection, exploration, and collective growth. This workshop will serve as a platform to showcase the successes and failures of planning, programming, and returning to the work of cultivating young people in a post-pandemic reality. Join us as we collaborate, imagine, and discern a brilliant resource project to share with adjacent constituent groups.

The President of FTE, Stephen Lewis holds lead responsibility for the strategic direction of FTE.

I do what I do in hopes that my work with good colleagues will have a lasting impact on everyday people and communities across the world. The future is inevitable. Communities of faith, their leaders and the next generation are important catalysts in shaping the future. There is no viable path to the future absent of developing faithful, wise and courageous leaders now. No other national organization is like FTE in shaping the future by developing leaders on behalf of a diverse church and the academy.

Lee Anne McGaha provides secretarial and administrative support to the FTE President and Vice President of Administration.

I first connected with FTE through my previous position at Quaker Voluntary Service. Working at FTE feels like the natural continuation of that work. I am excited to provide the background support for my colleagues who are holding space for and guiding the next generation of leaders. I'm grateful to be connected to work that is helping to redefine ministry.

Christina Repoley directs and leads FTE's programs and initiatives centered on cultivating the next generation of diverse leaders for the church and academy.

I have been connected to FTE for over a decade. As a seminarian, FTE supported my own discernment and connected me to a network that helped me successfully found and grow Quaker Voluntary Service. After pouring my heart and soul into supporting young adults in discernment, ministry and service for nearly 10 years in the Quaker context, I am excited to now be able to support an even wider network of young adults discerning their call in the world and finding out what makes them come alive. FTE is uniquely positioned to be a prophetic voice for both the church and the world, while supporting current and future leadership of a diverse network of young people.

Heather B.P. Wallace helps develop and resource an engaged community of young adults, students, and church and institutional leaders through FTE’s online courses and Lilly Endowment coordinated initiatives.

Since 2014, Heather B.P. Wallace has managed grants, resource development, and now FTE’s online learning platform. She also supported FTE's events for young adults, such as the regional discernment retreats, Christian Leadership Forum, and supports partners who work with young adults through learning events and consultations. She was raised as a Lutheran on a small farm in East Tennessee by her Brethren/pacifist father and Peruvian descent mother who both instilled in her a love of storytelling. She holds a Master of Arts in Social Justice and Community Development from the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Communications.