Steering Committee
Christina Zaker, Chair
Dr. Christina Zaker fills the role of Director of Field Education at Catholic Theological Union while also teaching spirituality and pastoral ministry. Her research focus includes theological reflection as it intersects with justice and family spirituality. She previously served in parish ministry, campus ministry, university teaching and non profit management. Her book, Surprised by God: Teaching Reflection through the Parables, is a popular resource for field educators and their students. A member of ATFE for 8 years, Christina served as the chair of the Research & Publications committee until 2018, moving to the seat of ATFE Vice-Chair in 2022.
Contact Christina at chair@atfe.org
Carolyn Wright, Vice Chair
Dr. Carolyn A. Wright serves on the faculty of Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, MO, and teaches spirituality and ministerial formation. She directs the Theological Field Education and Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies – Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (MAPS-CGS) degree programs, beginning in 2006. At Aquinas, Carolyn currently serves on the Doctor of Ministry in Preaching Committee, the Assessment Committee, the Academic Affairs Committee, and is the faculty representative to the Aquinas Board of Trustees. She is a member of and serves on the Steering Committee for the Catholic Association of Theological Education (2011-2014, 2020-present). In addition, she serves locally on the St. Louis Cluster Clinical Pastoral Education Board and the Mercy Conference and Retreat Center Board of Directors. Carolyn’s research interests include, broadly, spirituality and ministerial formation. Publications include short pieces for Celebrations, Living Pulpit, and she is currently writing about the role of hospitality in theological education.
Contact Carolyn at vicechair@atfe.org
Janine Myrick, Secretary
Rev. Janine Myrick serves as the Director of Online, Integrative and Field Based Education and Adjunct Faculty for Field Education at Union Theological Seminary. She is the 2020 recipient of the distinguished Maxwell Fellowship Award, awarded for most promise of excellence for future service in parish ministry. Janine holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baruch College, attended New York Law School and she received her Master of Divinity degree in Social Ethics from Union Theological Seminary. Janine was licensed and ordained at the Abyssinian Baptist Church located in Harlem, New York where she currently serves as Associate Minister.
Contact Janine at secretary@atfe.org
Jim Hampton, Treasurer
Rev. Dr. James K. Hampton is the Professor of Youth Ministry and Director of Mentored Ministry at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is the current chair of the Evangelical caucus for ATFE. Jim has previously served on various academic professional committees: a chair of the Association of Youth Ministry Educators; vice-chair of the Society of Professors of Christian Education; and a member of the editorial board and assistant editor for the Journal of Youth and Theology. He co-founded Barefoot Ministries, a publishing company in the Wesleyan tradition and served as the coordinator of Youth Ministries (USA/Canada) for the Church of the Nazarene from 1999 to 2001. In addition, he spent nine years on ministerial staff in churches in Ohio and Kansas. He is a well-respected writer, having written numerous articles and chapters for youth and youth workers, including serving as the author and/or editor of seven books, including Worship-Centered Teaching, and Everyday Saint. He and his wife, Carolyn, have two adult children.
Contact Jim at treasurer@atfe.org
Tim Coltvet, Research & Publications
Rev. Tim Coltvet joined the Luther Seminary faculty as Director of Contextual Learning in January of 2015. In his role, he has guided the various contextual programs including clinical pastoral education and internships. He also worked with Prof. Rolf Jacobsen and his contextual learning staff to design the contextual elements of the accelerated MDiv Program (MDivX). Prior to his role on the faculty, Pastor Coltvet served in the Children, Youth and Family concentration at Luther Seminary as an adjunct instructor and contextual learning coordinator with Twin Cities ministry partners. He has published works in the faculty journal, Word and World, and serves on many boards and committees including the Reflective Practice Journal, the Association of Theological Field Education, and the Professional Advisory Group for the MHealth Chaplains in the Twin Cities. He works collaboratively with his contextual learning colleagues across the ELCA seminaries and enjoys connecting the classroom to context. Tim served for just over 10 years as a pastor in two separate ELCA parishes in the Twin Cities prior to coming to Luther Seminary in 2008.
Tim and his wife Sarah enjoy outdoor activities around their home in Maple Grove, Minnesota, and watching their kids discover their vocations and callings into adulthood.
Contact Tim at research@atfe.org
April Stace, Member At Large (1)
The Rev. Dr. April Stace has been a professor at The General Theological Seminary since 2017 and has served as the Director of Contextual Education since 2021. An Episcopal priest, April serves as priest-in-charge in a small rural parish in the picturesque Finger Lakes region of New York State. She is the author of Secular Music, Sacred Space, an ethnographic study exploring the use of secular music in evangelical worship services, and White Knuckle Love: A Memoir of Holding, which reflects on her experiences as a hospital chaplain. In addition to her academic and pastoral work, April is a professional harpist, and her recordings can be found on all major streaming platforms.
Tanya Linn Bennett, Member At Large (2)
An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, Rev. Dr. Tanya Linn Bennett serves as Associate Dean for Vocation and Formation, Teaching Professor in the Practice of Public Theology and Vocation, and University Chaplain at Drew University. She is committed to creating education and experience to shape prophetic, professional religious leaders for the future of the church and the world and is active in a variety of social justice movements focused on anti-racism and gender equity. She graduated from Allegheny College with a BA in Communications, and from the Theological School at Drew with her M.Div. and Ph.D.
Obituary for Dr. Bennett: https://drew.edu/2026/03/14/drew-university-mourns-the-passing-rev-dr-tanya-linn-bennett/
Eileen Shanley-Roberts, Member At-Large (3)
The Rev. Dr. Eileen Shanley-Roberts, is an Episcopal priest with over 20 years’ experience in parish ministry. She joined the faculty of Bexley Seabury as Assistant Director of Contextual Learning and Formation in 2017 and became director in 2022. Eileen served as program director of the Campus Ministry Center at Miami University from 1998-2001. She received her MDiv from Episcopal Divinity School in 2004 and has served parishes in Arlington, MA, Wyoming Ohio, Waukegan, IL, and McHenry, IL. Eileen maintains an active role in her diocese and with several non-profits devoted to environmental sustainability and justice.
Contact Eileen at atlarge3@atfe.org
Susan MacAlpine-Gillis, At Large Member
The Rev. Dr. MacAlpine-Gillis is Assistant Professor at Atlantic School of Theology. Ordained in the United Church of Canada, her academic pursuits include congregational development, leadership, and transformation. She teaches courses in pastoral theology at AST, co-coordinates the summer distance MDiv program, and serves as Recruitment and Vocations Coordinator.
Contact Susan at atlarge4@atfe.org