Gary Janak
Rector, Assumption Seminary
Assumption Seminary has wel-comed Auxiliary Bishop Gary Janak as its new rector for the 2025–26 formation year, succeeding Father James E. Myers, PSS.
A native of El Campo, Texas, Janak began his formation at Assumption Seminary in 1984 and earned a Master of Divinity from Oblate School of Theology in 1988. He was ordained for the Diocese of Victoria that year and later earned a Licentiate in Canon Law from The Catholic University of America and a master’s in counseling from the University of Victoria–Houston. He has been a licensed professional counselor since 2000.
His pastoral and diocesan roles have included parochial vicar, pastor, cathedral rector, and diocesan administrator, as well as chancellor, vicar general, and vocation director. In 2016, he co-founded The Emmaus Center for counseling and spiritual direction.
Since 2021, he has served as Chancellor of the Archdiocese of San Antonio and Episcopal Vicar for Vocations. Janak brings a passion for formation, pastoral care, and intercultural understanding. His episcopal motto, “Give Your Servant a Listening Heart,” reflects his servant leadership.
Shauna Hannon
President, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago’s Board of Directors has named the Rev. Shauna Hannan, Ph.D., as its next president, concluding a national search.
An esteemed homiletician, ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and seasoned leader in theological education, Hannan brings more than 20 years of experience across academic, congregational and churchwide settings. She most recently served as professor of Homiletics at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California, and was a core doctoral faculty member at the Graduate Theological Union, where she taught and mentored students across doctoral, master’s, and certificate programs.
Hannan is widely recognized for her innovative preaching methods, scholarship in collaborative and contextual theology, and deep commitment to cultivating emerging leaders. She is a published author and a respected voice as a teacher, preacher, and community builder.
She holds a Ph.D. in Practical Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, an M.Div. from Luther Seminary, and a B.A. from Concordia College in Moorhead. A long-standing leader within the ELCA, Hannan has been deeply engaged in candidacy and leadership development efforts.
Rachel Wrenn
Interim Dean, Trinity Lutheran Seminary
The Rev. Rachel Wrenn, Ph.D., has been appointed interim dean of Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University, effective July 1, 2025. Wrenn succeeds the Rev. Dr. Kathryn “Kit” Kleinhans, who retired after serving as dean since 2018.
Wrenn brings a rich combination of academic, pastoral, and leadership experience to her new role. An ordained pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, she joined the Trinity faculty in 2020 as assistant professor of Biblical Studies. She has contributed to numerous university committees, received multiple grants and published widely in her field. Wrenn is also a popular presenter at ecclesial and lay conferences and co-hosts “First Reading,” an Old Testament lectionary podcast for preachers and teachers.
She earned her Ph.D. in religion from Emory University, specializing in Hebrew Bible with a certificate in religious practices.
Trinity’s leadership has announced that a national search for a permanent dean will be launched under the direction of the Rev. Steve Wachtman, a 1985 Capital graduate and former member of the university’s Board of Trustees.
Christian Rice
Vice President and Dean, School of Theology at Moravian University
Christian Rice, Th.D., has been appointed vice president and dean of the School of Theology at Moravian University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a newly elevated role reflecting the university’s commitment to theological education.
Rice brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education, most recently at Ursinus College, where he held various leadership roles and collaborated on curricular and co-curricular initiatives. In 2016, he co-founded the Melrose Center for Global Civic Engagement, a cross-disciplinary program supporting student involvement in social issues locally and globally.
He has served on the board of trustees of Moravian Academy in Bethlehem since 2014. A strong advocate for integrative learning, Rice has consistently worked to connect academic programs with broader community engagement.
Rice earned his Th.D. in 2008 and M.Div. in 2001, both from Harvard Divinity School, with a concentration in religious ethics. He received his B.A. in politics and German from Ursinus College in 1998, graduating magna cum laude with distinguished honors.
Darren Dahl
President, Newman Theological College
Darren Dahl, Ph.D., assumed the presidency of Newman Theological College effective July 1, 2025, following an extensive search. A theologian, academic leader, and person of deep Catholic faith, Dahl brings nearly two decades of experience in higher education and theological formation.
He has held teaching and leadership roles at Briercrest College, St. Thomas More College at the University of Saskatchewan, and Lutheran Theological Seminary. His interdisciplinary work spans philosophy, theology, religious studies, and classics, with a focus on Catholic thought, phenomenology, and ecumenical dialogue.
Passionate about mission-driven education, Dahl also served for seven years as executive director of the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism, where he led interchurch collaboration, strategic planning, and mission-focused initiatives rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition.
He holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from McMaster University, a Master of Philosophy from the University of Guelph, a Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Seminary, and a B.A. in History from the University of Saskatchewan.
Sherry Turner
President, Hartford International University
Sherry Turner, Ph.D., was appointed the 12th president of Hartford International University (HIU) for Religion and Peace in Connecticut, succeeding Joel N. Lohr, Ph.D., who had served in the role since 2018. She began her tenure in June and is the first African American and third woman to lead the university, founded in 1834.
Turner earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology-anthropology and sociology from Rhodes College, a Master of Science in developmental psychology from North Carolina State University, a Master of Theological Studies from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, and a Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
A Memphis native, Turner most recently served as vice president of strategic initiatives at Rhodes College. She previously held leadership roles with the United Negro College Fund and the Atlanta University Center Consortium and has served in administrative and faculty positions at Spelman College and Mount Holyoke College.
Turner is an alumna of HIU’s Black Ministries Program and a former trustee. She will additionally hold a faculty appointment as professor of psychology and practice.
Vanessa Lovelace
Executive Director, Louisville Presbyterian Seminary
The board of trustees of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the Advisory Board of the Louisville Institute appointed the Rev. Vanessa Lovelace, Ph.D., as the executive director of the Louisville Institute. She began her tenure on Aug. 1.
Lovelace previously served as vice president for academic affairs and dean at Lancaster Theological Seminary of Moravian University School of Theology. She brings to the role a depth of experience in theological education, leadership, and academic innovation, along with a strong network across church and academy.
A former recipient of a Louisville Institute Sabbatical Research Grant, she is the creator and host of Womanist Bible Talk: A Podcast for Womanist Bible Readers and Friends, which explores themes in womanist biblical scholarship.
She earned her Ph.D. in Bible, Culture, and Hermeneutics from Chicago Theological Seminary, an M.Div. from McCormick Theological Seminary, and a B.A. in Radio and Television from San Francisco State University.
Lovelace becomes the fourth executive director of the Louisville Institute, founded in 1989 to support transformative leadership in church and theological education.
