Sarah E. Bollinger Joins GBHEM as the Director of Leadership Development in Collegiate Ministry

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) today announced the appointment of Sarah E. Bollinger, Ph.D., as the director of Leadership Development in Collegiate Ministry in the Division of Higher Education’s Office of Collegiate Ministry. Bollinger’s appointment is effective January 16, 2018.

In this role, Bollinger will develop resources, programs, and processes to aid in the leadership development and formation of college and university chaplains, campus ministers, and other professionals in higher education with responsibilities for student success. She will lead continuing education programs and work with the office’s ecclesiastical partners to develop vibrant programs and innovative experiences for leadership formation and competency training, focusing on developing new models and opportunities for chaplaincy in Africa, South America, Europe and Asia. A significant part of Bollinger’s work will be implementing a new initiative devoted to improving student well-being and how they flourish on campus, with the assistant general secretary in Collegiate Ministry, Rev. Matthew Charlton, Ph.D.

Prior to GBHEM, Bollinger was an assistant professor of Social Work and director of the Social Work program at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee. She also served as the associate director of the Mozambique Initiative for the Missouri Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. She is well known by those who have participated in Imagine What’s Next and Exploration (discernment programs for young adults) as a gifted musician and worship leader. 

Bollinger earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Music from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, a Master of Social Work from New York University, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. She is a licensed clinical social worker in Tennessee and Missouri.

“Dr. Bollinger brings a rich tapestry of gifts to this position that will greatly benefit the people our office seeks to serve,” said Charlton. “Her expertise will be especially helpful in responding to the immediate and expressed needs of our constituents for more training and resources around well-being and flourishing for students and collegiate ministry leaders. Sarah will help us build on past successes and lead our efforts in important new initiatives.”

For more information about Collegiate Ministry at GBHEM, visit www.gbhem.org.

About GBHEM: As the leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s mission is to build capacity for United Methodist lay and clergy leaders to discover, claim and flourish in Christ’s calling in their lives, by creating connections and providing resources to aid in recruitment, education, professional development and spiritual formation. Every elder, deacon and licensed local pastor benefits from our training and candidacy programs. Many young adults find help in clarifying their vocation and God’s call in their lives through our leadership and discernment programs. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @GBHEM.