Development and Marketing Staff

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773.322.0249

Chris Dorsey

Vice President of Development & Marketing

The Reverend Bernard “Chris” Dorsey is and ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciple of Christ) He is currently serving as Vice President of Development and Marketing at the Chicago Theological Seminary. Prior to serving at CTS he was  University Chaplain and Director of Religious Life at Clark Atlanta University. He has also served as pastor of Woodlawn United Methodist Church on the South Side of Chicago, IL. As an undergrad, Rev. Dorsey studied Chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin and graduated from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree and also holds a graduate certificate in African Studies from Northwestern University. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Theology at the University of Chicago. During his time as a doctoral student he has traveled extensively research traditional medicine in Africa and studying French, German and Arabic.

In addition to serving as pastor of Woodlawn UMC, he has served as assistant pastor at St. Mark UMC in Chicago, IL and Youth Minister at Park Manor Christian Church in Chicago and St. John A.M.E. in Aurora, IL. He has also served as Lead Chaplain for the Cook County Core Center in Chicago, where the focus was on providing pastoral care to persons with HIV/AIDS. For five years he taught as a lecturer with the University of Chicago Study Abroad program in Cape Town, South Africa. He has also taught at Emory University in Atlanta, GA and Dominican University in River Forest, IL. His teaching and research interests include Religion and Medicine, Religion in Africa, Hermeneutics, Black Theology and Islam in Africa.

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773.322.0224

April Lewton

Director of Annual Giving & Community Engagement

The Rev. April Lewton is the Director of Annual Giving and Community Engagement for Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS). As part of her work, she focuses on nurturing and strengthening the relationships between local congregations, alumni of CTS, and supporters of the Seminary. Additionally, she seeks out partnerships and opportunities for collaborations between CTS and the diverse community-based organizations located around the Chicago metropolitan area. As a member of the CTS staff, April knows and appreciates the important role that theological education, opportunities for learning, and dialogue on faith and religion are for the world today - perhaps more so now than ever before.

Prior to joining CTS, April worked in development and fundraising for a national, faith-based social service agency in St. Louis, Missouri, focusing on church relations, major donor acquisitions, and annual fund giving. Her development work helped to support a nationwide scholarship initiative for young people interested in working in social service and/or ministry in religious communities and churches. She has also worked as a community organizer for immigration reform and immigrants’ rights with the Asian American Institute, a social justice, advocacy organization working with the Asian American communities in and around Chicago. April received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Religious Studies from Chapman University in Orange, California, and her Master of Divinity from the Divinity School at the University of Chicago. She is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and is currently seeking dual-standing with the United Church of Christ.

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773.322.0245

Nell Stigler

Development Office Assistant

Ms. Eula “Nell” Stigler provides administrative assistance, database maintenance and event planning for CTS’ Office of Development and Marketing.

Joining CTS in March of 2009, Nell brings over 30 years combined experience in office management and general accounting. In addition to working for corporate giants such as Hewlett Packard and Reuters America, she draws from her experience as Office Manager for Call to Action, a Catholic movement working for equality and justice in the Church and society.