The Deacons' School Faculty
The Rev. Canon Augusta A. Anderson
Professor, Scripture
Augusta Anderson serves as Canon to the Ordinary for the Diocese of Western North Carolina. In the summer of 2013, she co-published Lessons From The Red Thread, a faith formation resource for families. She serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for a regional state charter school.
Following ordination in 1999, Augusta moved to Asheville, NC, to serve as Canon at the Cathedral of All Souls. In 2004, she became rector of St. Thomas', Burnsville, NC, a small rural congregation. In 2010, Augusta was called as assistant to the rector at St. James', Black Mountain, NC, a larger urban community. In 2014, Augusta accepted call the to the Church of the Transfiguration, a growing pastoral-sized congregation in Saluda, NC.
Augusta is a graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY, (1991) and received an MA in American Studies, with honors. After college, Augusta participated in the Washington National Cathedral Young Adult Service Intern Program. At the conclusion of the program, she continued to work at the Cathedral for the Director of Development. In 1995, she attended Virginia Theological Seminary as a postulant from the Diocese of Washington. After her second year, Augusta was invited to spend a year at Canterbury Cathedral as an intern under the supervision of the dean. Augusta graduated from VTS in 1999.
Augusta, the daughter of an Episcopal priest, was born in California and spent her youth in Honolulu, Hawaii. She is married to Steve Anderson, and they have four young children.
Following ordination in 1999, Augusta moved to Asheville, NC, to serve as Canon at the Cathedral of All Souls. In 2004, she became rector of St. Thomas', Burnsville, NC, a small rural congregation. In 2010, Augusta was called as assistant to the rector at St. James', Black Mountain, NC, a larger urban community. In 2014, Augusta accepted call the to the Church of the Transfiguration, a growing pastoral-sized congregation in Saluda, NC.
Augusta is a graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY, (1991) and received an MA in American Studies, with honors. After college, Augusta participated in the Washington National Cathedral Young Adult Service Intern Program. At the conclusion of the program, she continued to work at the Cathedral for the Director of Development. In 1995, she attended Virginia Theological Seminary as a postulant from the Diocese of Washington. After her second year, Augusta was invited to spend a year at Canterbury Cathedral as an intern under the supervision of the dean. Augusta graduated from VTS in 1999.
Augusta, the daughter of an Episcopal priest, was born in California and spent her youth in Honolulu, Hawaii. She is married to Steve Anderson, and they have four young children.
The Rev. Dr. Paul Nancarrow
Professor, "Connecting Theology"
Paul Nancarrow grew up in Michigan, where he was ordained in 1986. He has served churches in the dioceses of Michigan, Tennessee, Minnesota and Southwestern Virginia, where he is currently the rector of Trinity, Staunton, Va. He went to seminary at Seabury-Western, and holds a doctorate in theology from Vanderbilt University.
He describes his areas of theological interest as sacramental cosmology and sacramental psychology: E.g., "What kind of a world is this that can give rise to effective signs of God? What kind of beings are we that can respond to effective signs of God?" He often ponders these questions while enjoying science fiction, or riding his bicycle on the back roads of the Shenandoah Valley.
Paul is married to Lee and has two grown children, Maggie and Aidan.
He describes his areas of theological interest as sacramental cosmology and sacramental psychology: E.g., "What kind of a world is this that can give rise to effective signs of God? What kind of beings are we that can respond to effective signs of God?" He often ponders these questions while enjoying science fiction, or riding his bicycle on the back roads of the Shenandoah Valley.
Paul is married to Lee and has two grown children, Maggie and Aidan.
The Rev. Dr. David J. Schlafer
Professor, Homiletics
David Schlafer is an Episcopal priest who has taught theology and homiletics at four Episcopal seminaries, and in several seminaries of other denominational traditions.
He has served on the staff of the College of Preachers, and the faculty of the Doctor of Ministry in Preaching Program of Chicago area divinity schools.
David has led preaching conferences across the United States, England, and in Canada. He is the author or editor of eighteen books on preaching; he serves as a consultant on preaching for individual preachers, and preaches regularly in his home parish, Church of the Redeemer, Bethesda, Maryland.
He has served on the staff of the College of Preachers, and the faculty of the Doctor of Ministry in Preaching Program of Chicago area divinity schools.
David has led preaching conferences across the United States, England, and in Canada. He is the author or editor of eighteen books on preaching; he serves as a consultant on preaching for individual preachers, and preaches regularly in his home parish, Church of the Redeemer, Bethesda, Maryland.
The Rev. Preston Mitchell
Professor, "Our Story and Tradition"
Preston Mitchell is a retired educator with 39 years of experience of teaching and coaching basketball on both the secondary and college level in Wise County and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Thirteen of those years he spent as an instructor in the history department teaching Western Civilization and Early Church History. He has a BA. in history from The Citadel, an Master's in education from Radford University and a Master's in history from East Tennessee State University. Ordained to the diaconate in 2013, he serves churches in the Abingdon Convocation in the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia.
The Rev. Patricia "Patty" Phaneuf Alexander
Professor, Human Awareness and Understanding
Patty Alexander was ordained in 2001 and since that time has served as both a parish priest in the Diocese of New York and a school chaplain in the Diocese of Washington. She ministers to middle and upper school students, parents, and faculty at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland, where she also chairs the philosophy and religion department and teaches sophomore English.
Patty holds an undergraduate degree in English language and literature from Yale University; an Master of Arts degree in English Literature from the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College; and a Master of Divinity from the Virginia Theological Seminary. In the fall of 2014, she will begin part-time study toward an M.A. in Pastoral and Spiritual Care at Marymount University.
Patty is also a clergy spouse. She is married to the Rev. Randy Alexander, rector of Immanuel on-the-Hill, Alexandria, VA. Patty and Randy are the proud parents of three sons: William, Peter and Andrew.
Patty holds an undergraduate degree in English language and literature from Yale University; an Master of Arts degree in English Literature from the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College; and a Master of Divinity from the Virginia Theological Seminary. In the fall of 2014, she will begin part-time study toward an M.A. in Pastoral and Spiritual Care at Marymount University.
Patty is also a clergy spouse. She is married to the Rev. Randy Alexander, rector of Immanuel on-the-Hill, Alexandria, VA. Patty and Randy are the proud parents of three sons: William, Peter and Andrew.
John F. Dold
Professor, Human Awareness and Understanding
John Dold has practiced organization development consulting for more than twenty years. Most recently, John worked as an internal consultant for Lockheed Martin from 2000-2013. During this time, he led and participated in numerous large scale change initiatives. His work focused on organizational design and restructuring, strategic change, performance management systems, high performance team development and leadership development.
Before working at Lockheed Martin, John was senior consultant at VIMA International. While at VIMA, John focused on senior executive leadership and team development working with clients that included Freddie Mac, MITRE, International Monetary Fund, National Public Radio and Life Technologies. He also facilitated numerous Looking Glass leadership development institutes for a variety of clients as a certified facilitator and adjunct faculty for the Center for Creative Leadership, headquartered in Greensboro, NC.
Prior to working in the corporate world, John worked in ministry. His efforts in ministry focused on enabling effective parish ministry organizations. This included community organizing initiatives to empower neighborhoods and families. Beginning in the fall of 2014, John will be adjunct faculty at Touro College, New York City, teaching a graduate course on organization design in the industrial organization psychology department.
Before working at Lockheed Martin, John was senior consultant at VIMA International. While at VIMA, John focused on senior executive leadership and team development working with clients that included Freddie Mac, MITRE, International Monetary Fund, National Public Radio and Life Technologies. He also facilitated numerous Looking Glass leadership development institutes for a variety of clients as a certified facilitator and adjunct faculty for the Center for Creative Leadership, headquartered in Greensboro, NC.
Prior to working in the corporate world, John worked in ministry. His efforts in ministry focused on enabling effective parish ministry organizations. This included community organizing initiatives to empower neighborhoods and families. Beginning in the fall of 2014, John will be adjunct faculty at Touro College, New York City, teaching a graduate course on organization design in the industrial organization psychology department.
The Rev. Deacon Lauren Welch
Professor, Liturgics and Capstone Projects
Lauren is the Deacon for Mission in the Diocese of Maryland, works with their Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and is the President of the Association for Episcopal Deacons.
Lauren served as a faculty member of the deacon formation and diocesan discernment programs from 1992 to 2006, then as Archdeacon for Formation in the Diocese of Maryland’s School for Deacons from 2006 to 2012. She also served as the Diocesan Liaison for Urban Ministry, working with faith-based organizations to develop community leaders in congregations, and served on the Diocese of Maryland’s justice team.
Ordained in 1989, Lauren’s first assignment as deacon was to design a vacation Bible school and Sunday school curriculum for children from low-income neighborhoods. During her second assignment, she developed North Baltimore CARES, an emergency assistance program working with Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation (GEDCO).
Lauren worked as a medical technologist for 30 years and as a chaplain for 10 years. She is a Reiki Master teaching practices of spirituality, healing, forgiveness and reconciliation to youth, cancer patients and people living with addictions. Lauren lives in Baltimore and enjoys caring for her 11-year-old granddaughter.
Lauren served as a faculty member of the deacon formation and diocesan discernment programs from 1992 to 2006, then as Archdeacon for Formation in the Diocese of Maryland’s School for Deacons from 2006 to 2012. She also served as the Diocesan Liaison for Urban Ministry, working with faith-based organizations to develop community leaders in congregations, and served on the Diocese of Maryland’s justice team.
Ordained in 1989, Lauren’s first assignment as deacon was to design a vacation Bible school and Sunday school curriculum for children from low-income neighborhoods. During her second assignment, she developed North Baltimore CARES, an emergency assistance program working with Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation (GEDCO).
Lauren worked as a medical technologist for 30 years and as a chaplain for 10 years. She is a Reiki Master teaching practices of spirituality, healing, forgiveness and reconciliation to youth, cancer patients and people living with addictions. Lauren lives in Baltimore and enjoys caring for her 11-year-old granddaughter.
The Rev. Deacon Theresa Lewallen
The Deacons' School Chaplain
Theresa Lewallen is the chaplain of the Deacons' School. An alumna of the Deacons' School, Theresa graduated from the first class of the Deacons' School in 2016. She serves as deacon to St. Alban’s, Annandale. As part of that work, she supports a partnership with Belvedere Elementary School providing weekend food to students identified by the school as needing assistance. She serves on the Diocese of Virginia's Committee on Race & Reconciliation as well as on the Committee on the Diaconate.
She is the senior program director and deputy director of the National Collaborative for Health Equity, where she directs the day-to-day operations of a leadership program funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Her adult son and daughter-in-law live in Tampa, FL.
She is the senior program director and deputy director of the National Collaborative for Health Equity, where she directs the day-to-day operations of a leadership program funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Her adult son and daughter-in-law live in Tampa, FL.
