Headshots for bios and bulletins…
Sarah B. Drummond Biography
Professional Role
Sarah B. Drummond serves as Founding Dean of Andover Newton Seminary and Professor in the Practice of Ministerial Leadership at Yale Divinity School. She has been part of Andover Newton, a graduate theological school focused on ministry education for locally governed faith communities, since 2005. At Andover Newton at YDS, Sarah is lead administrator for a professional school for congregational ministry within a world-class ecumenical divinity school. She teaches and writes about leadership and serves as combination advisor/minister/mentor to ministers in-formation. Sarah is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.
Educational Background
Sarah earned her PhD in Urban Education at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee with a specialization in administrative leadership. She is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Sarah earned her Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, where she also served on the staff of Memorial Church in Harvard Yard and earned a Hopkins Share award for promise for ministry. Her Bachelor of Arts degree comes from Yale College, where she majored in Ethics, Politics, and Economics. Her thesis on citizenship theory’s implications for North African immigrant women in France earned her Yale’s Wrexham Prize for the best Senior Essay in the social sciences. She was Class Marshall for Saybrook College at Yale.
Writing and Publications
Sarah has written five books on the subject of ministerial leadership and dozens of articles on the same. Her most recent books are Intentional Leadership In Between Seasons, and Sharing Leadership: A United Church of Christ Way of Being In-Community. They were published by the Pilgrim Press in 2022 and 2021 respectively. Sarah ‘blogs weekly on Medium, and her current series is entitled “Inspirit… That Love Might Grow,” https://sbdrummond.medium.com/. In that series, she directly addresses dimensions of ministerial leadership too-often approached tangentially or in-passing.
Personal
Sarah is from Suffield, Connecticut, where her mother Jackie and sister Wendy reside today. She and her spouse, Dan, live in New Haven, Connecticut, along with four cats and two dogs. The couple’s daughter JJ is an undergraduate student at Harvard University. Sarah enjoys reading fiction, spending time with friends, and learning new skills like languages and musical instruments. She is a member of Spring Glen Church, UCC, in Hamden, CT.
Experience
Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School (YDS)
Founding Dean and Professor in the Practice of Ministerial Leadership, 2019–present
Andover Newton Theological School
Dean of the Faculty & Vice President for Academic Affairs, 2011–2019; member of faculty since 2005
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University Christian Ministries
Campus Minister & Executive Director, 2000–2005
Harvard University, The Memorial Church in Harvard Yard
Affiliated Minister, 1997–1999, 2005–2016
Summer Minister, 2007–2008; Religious Education Chaplain, 1998–2000; Seminarian, 1994–996
Harvard University, The Freshman Dean’s Office
Assistant Dean of Freshmen, 1998–2000
Resident Proctor, 1995–1998; Prefect Program Director, 1996–1998
Consulting & Speaking (selected)
Association of Theological Schools (ATS)
The ATS is the accrediting body for theological schools in North America, which provides both quality control and leadership development for theological educators and their institutions.
Commissioner, Association of Theological Schools Board of Commissioners, 2014–2020
Chaired Standards Redevelopment Task force, 2018–2020
New Educational Models Steering Committee, 2015–2019
Standards Redevelopment Process Design Committee, 2016–2017
Chair of Board of Commissioners Nominating Committee, 2016
Peer Review Committee Chair, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 (anticipated)
Peer Review Committee Member, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013
Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning Theology and Religion
The Wabash Center, a key partner of the Lilly Endowment, conducts research and educational programs on effective teaching in theology and religion in colleges, universities, and seminaries.
Colloquy leader on planning and evaluation for grantees 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019
Participant, Wabash Dean’s Colloquy, 2013–2015
Evaluation Coach, 2005–2010
Selected Recent Speaking Engagements
Plenary speaker for Chief Academic Offices Society of the Association of Theological Schools, 2023
Keynote for Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ’s (UCC) Annual Meeting, 2023
Breakout session for Southern New England Conference of the UCC’s Annual Meeting, 2023
Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts Dean’s and Bishop’s retreat leader, 2023
Clergy Day speaker, New Hampshire Conference of the UCC, 2023
Inaugural keynote speaker for Southern New England Conference “Super Saturday,” 2022
Preaching in congregations, at graduates’ ordinations and installations, approximately bi-weekly
Publications
Books
Intentional Leadership in Between Seasons. The Pilgrim Press, 2022
Sharing Leadership: A United Church of Christ Way of Being in-Community. The Pilgrim Press, 2021
Dynamic Discernment: Reason, Emotion, and Power in Faith Community Change Leadership. The Pilgrim Press, 2019
Leading Change in Campus Religious Life. Scholars’ Press, 2015
Holy Clarity: The Practice of Planning and Evaluation. The Alban Institute, 2009
Articles & Book Chapters
“Imagining Social Justice Ministerial Leadership Education.” Co-authored with research assistant Omena McCoy. Accepted for publication in Reflective Practice. February, 2023 issue
Thriving Congregations Workbook and Leaders’ Guide. Created for Yale Divinity School for use among student consultants participating in Lilly-Endowment funded initiative. August, 2021
“Please Go Around.” The Christian Citizen Weekly. March 25, 2021
“Supply Chains.” Chapter in We Shall Be Changed, Mark Edington, editor. Church Publishing, Inc., spring 2021
“Finding Hope.” Reflections, the Yale Divinity School magazine, fall 2020
“Why Andover Newton requires seminarians to take a course from the Yale School of Management.” The Christian Century, February 4, 2020
“Changing the Rules of the Game.” Reflections, the Yale Divinity School magazine, Fall 2019
Book review on Safe Spaces, Brave Spaces: Diversity and Free Expression in Education, and Free Speech on Campus, The Christian Century, May 9, 2018
Lectionary essays on II Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Romans 5:12-19; and Romans 4:1-5, 13-17. Connections: A Lectionary Commentary. Westminster John Knox Press, 2018
“Leadership Amidst ‘Institutional Pain.’” The Journal of Religious Leadership, Spring 2017
“The In-Ministry MDiv.” The Journal of Religious Leadership, Spring 2016
“A Dean’s Perspective on Shared Governance,” In Trust, New Year 2016
Devotion series on “Everyday Resurrection,” These Days, Westminster John Knox Press, 2016
Book review on Mothers in Academia. Teaching Theology and Religion, October 2014
Devotion on “Respite and Compassion,” These Times, Westminster John Knox Press, January-March, 2013
“Surfing the Sea Change: Academic Leaders Pool Their Knowledge on Building Assessment Programs.” Colloquy, Spring 2012
United Church of Christ bulletin insert, Easter Sunday, 2012, viewed by over 1,000 worshipers
“Assessing Student Learning.” Chapter in Welcome to Theological Field Education! Matthew Floding, ed. The Alban Institute, 2011
“Attracting Younger Adults to Congregational Life: Three Tensions.” Congregations Magazine, Summer 2010.
Lectionary essays on II Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18; II Thessalonians 1: 1-4, 11-12; and Ephesians 1: 11-23. Feasting on the Word: Year C, Volume 4. Westminster John Knox Press, 2010
“The Integrative Seminar: A National Perspective on Field Education On-Campus Courses.” Co-authored with Rev. Dr. Henrietta Aiello. Reflective Practice: Formation and Supervision in Ministry, Volume 29, 2009
“The Integrative Seminar: Field Education On-Campus Courses.” Conference presentation and published abstract, Association of Theological Field Education. Atlanta, January 2009
“Making the Connection: A Case Study on Bridging Classroom and Experiential Learning.” Christian Education Journal (Series 3, 6:1). Spring 2009, pp. 71–83
“Theoretical Foundations for Integrative Learning in Theological Field Education.” Theological Education (43:2). Spring 2008, pp. 55–66
Faith Practices in Context. Edited anthology of student essays, published internally, Andover Newton Theological School, 2007.
View anthology (PDF) »
“Learning, Leadership, and Rapid Change.” The Journal of Religious Leadership (6:1). Spring 2007, pp. 103-120
“Key Findings from a Case Study on the Programs for the Theological Exploration of Vocation.” Religion and Education (34:2). Fall 2007, pp. 77–94
“Assessing a Field Education Program.” Conference presentation and published abstract, Association of Theological Field Education. Dallas, January 2007
“God Wants You! Ministerial and Military Recruitment.” Congregations, Winter 2007. Co-authored with Rev. Andrew Warner
“Online Learning in Secondary Education: A New Frontier.” Educational Considerations (XXXIII:1). Fall 2005, pp. 31–36. Co-authored with Simone Conceiçao