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You are here: Home / News / Collegeville Institute Announces Acting Executive Director

Collegeville Institute Announces Acting Executive Director

June 28, 2023 By Collegeville Institute Leave a Comment

The Collegeville Institute’s Board of Directors has appointed an Acting Executive Director to fulfill the leadership duties necessary to keep the Collegeville Institute moving forward with purpose and vitality. The Acting Executive Director, staff, and Board will continue to pursue the Collegeville Institute’s mission of promoting scholarship, leadership, creativity, and community among people of faith.

Martin Wells has been named as Acting Executive Director while Executive Director Dr. Jacqueline Bussie is on a special leave of absence. Wells will begin his work at the end of June 2023.

Martin Wells is a thoughtful executive and Bishop with extensive experience in leading staffs, working with Boards of Directors, fundraising, communications, and planning in educational and nonprofit settings, including a church-related college and a retreat center.

Wells holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Denver, a J.D. from the University of Puget Sound School of Law, and a Master of Divinity from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. For 18 years, Wells was Bishop of the Eastern Washington and Idaho Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; served for five years as Co-Executive Director of Holden Village, a year-long, intentional Christian community of work and prayer that served thousands of retreatants in residencies; and was pastor of Pacific Lutheran University and Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Bellingham, Washington.

Wells will be joined in Collegeville by his wife, Pastor Susan Briehl. Both have experience with Collegeville Institute programs – Communities of Calling and Ecclesial Literature Project Writers’ Workshops.

The Collegeville Institute warmly welcomes Martin Wells and Susan Briehl to its expanding and forward-thinking community.

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