Louisville Seminary Announces Faculty Milestones
and Leadership Appointments
| | Louisville, KY [July 8, 2026] - Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (LPTS) is pleased to announce several important faculty and leadership milestones that reflect the institution’s continued commitment to academic excellence, student formation, and the preparation of leaders who proclaim the Gospel, care for all, and work for justice in communities everywhere. | Dr. Lesley Ann Earles Granted Tenure and Promoted to Full Professor | |
On March 25, 2026, upon recommendation of a faculty review committee and vote of the full and tenured faculty, Rev. Dr. Lesley Ann Earles was granted tenure and promoted to the rank of full professor.
Dr. Earles, Director of Marriage and Family Therapy Program and Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy, joined the Louisville Seminary faculty on July 1, 2020, during a time of extraordinary challenge and transformation. As the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted higher education across the globe, institutions were rapidly adapting to new methods of teaching and learning while implementing evolving health and safety protocols. Simultaneously, communities across Louisville and the nation were responding to the murder of Breonna Taylor and engaging in renewed conversations about racial justice, equity, and systemic change.
Within the Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT) program, students were calling for changes that would better address the evolving needs of therapists and more fully reflect the Seminary’s commitments to diversity and inclusion. Throughout these challenges, Dr. Earles provided steady leadership, teaching with distinction while collaborating with program directors, faculty colleagues, clinical supervisors, and staff to strengthen the program.
Stepping into the role of program director, Dr. Earles has continued to focus on student experience, academic excellence, and theological integration as the program grows into the future. She has played a key role in faculty searches, maintained her professional credentialing requirements through the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), and helped ensure the program remained in good standing with the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).
Dr. Earles shares, “I am so pleased to celebrate this moment of seeking to live into the missional work of theological education for the next generation. I am deeply grateful for the faithful support of this beloved community and look forward to the continued growth of our family therapy program.”
“This well-earned promotion for Dr. Earles is reason for celebration. Her tireless work in the MAMFT program is just one example of her desire to serve our students, community, and world. It is a joy to recognize this exceptional colleague,” adds Rev. Dr. Andrew D. Pomerville, President of Louisville Seminary.
“We are blessed to have Dr. Earles as a faculty colleague,” says Rev. Dr. Debra J. Mumford, Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “For her to have earned tenure during this particular time in LPTS history is an extraordinary accomplishment. We celebrate with her and look forward to having her as a member of the LPTS community well into the future.”
| Dr. Verena Schmidt Begins Faculty Appointment in Marriage and Family Therapy | |
Louisville Seminary is pleased to welcome Dr. Verena Schmidt, who officially began her appointment as Assistant Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy on July 1, 2026. Following the completion of her Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy degrees from Louisville Seminary this spring, Dr. Schmidt now joins the faculty, bringing an interdisciplinary background that bridges theology, social work, research, and clinical practice.
Dr. Verena Schmidt earned her Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Louisville Kent School of Social Work and Family Science, where her dissertation examined the incarceration experiences of older African American adults living with HIV using a constructivist grounded theory approach. She also holds a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Louisville and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Social Pedagogy from Katholische Stiftungshochschule München, University of Applied Sciences in Germany.
Before joining Louisville Seminary, Dr. Schmidt taught graduate social work courses at the University of Louisville, including Research Methodology and Design, Advanced Research Practice, Diversity, Oppression and Social Justice Practice, and International Social Work. She has served on interdisciplinary research teams spanning marriage and family therapy, social work, and public health.
Dr. Schmidt specializes in qualitative research, particularly constructivist grounded theory, and her scholarship examines incarceration, HIV, spirituality, systemic inequities, and the intersections of faith and lived experience among marginalized individuals, families, and communities. Her work has been published in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved and the International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies. She has presented her research nationally at the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, the American Public Health Association, and other professional conferences.
Originally from Germany, Dr. Schmidt brings an international perspective to her teaching, research, and ministry. She is committed to creating learning environments that combine academic rigor with compassion, helping students integrate systemic thinking, theology, spirituality, and evidence-based clinical practice. Her passion is preparing future marriage and family therapists who serve individuals, families, and communities with humility, curiosity, and hope.
"I am excited to join the Louisville Seminary faculty and to contribute to the education and professional formation of future marriage and family therapists,” says Dr. Schmidt. “I look forward to teaching, mentoring, and collaborating with students and colleagues.”
Dr. Pomerville adds, “Dr. Schmidt is the ideal addition to our already extraordinary MAMFT faculty. Her experience and expertise make her uniquely positioned to succeed in her new position. I look forward to witnessing the remarkable work the MAMFT faculty will accomplish together in the years to come.”
Dr. Schmidt joins Program Director Rev. Dr. Lesley Ann Earles, Rev. Dr. Hee Jin Lee, and Sarah Flannery to form the Seminary's largest Marriage and Family Therapy faculty in program history. Together, the four faculty members represent a significant investment in the continued growth of the MAMFT program and its commitment to preparing exceptional therapists, scholars, and ministry leaders.
Louisville Seminary first announced Dr. Schmidt's anticipated faculty appointment in June 2025. With the successful completion of her degree requirements, we are delighted to officially welcome her to the faculty.
| | Rev. Dr. Angela Johnson Appointed Director of Field Education and Lifelong Learning | | |
Louisville Seminary is pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Dr. Angela Johnson as Director of Field Education and Lifelong Learning, effective July 20, 2026.
For the past two years, Dr. Johnson has served as Interim Director of Field Education, where she has worked diligently to connect students with placement sites that align with their vocational goals and ministry interests. During her tenure, she has also developed and taught online co-curricular Field Education courses that have been highly valued by Master of Divinity students.
In her expanded role, Dr. Johnson will also lead the Seminary’s Lifelong Learning initiatives. Her educational background, organizational leadership, pastoral experience, and extensive connections throughout Louisville and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) position her well to cultivate innovative learning opportunities that serve both church leaders and the broader community.
“With an obvious dedication to the thriving of the church and the seminary, Dr. Johnson is uniquely suited to serve in this new role,” says Dr. Pomerville. “I look forward to partnering with her to meet the needs of our community through lifelong learning.”
Dr. Mumford adds, “Rev. Dr. Johnson is a pastor and a gifted administrator who understands the importance of education for all. She is committed to developing educational opportunities that meet the needs of diverse populations while helping us fulfill our mission to care for all and work for justice in communities everywhere. We are excited about the future of both of these programs with her at the helm.”
Dr. Johnson shares her enthusiasm for the appointment: “I am excited to serve as the Director of Field Education and Lifelong Learning. This is a marvelous opportunity to build bridges between the Seminary, alums, and the broader community as we continue to equip the called to do Christ’s work in the world.”
A Louisville Seminary alum, Dr. Johnson earned her Doctor of Ministry degree in 2020, Master of Divinity degree in 2013, and Certificate in Black Church Studies in 2014. She currently serves as Stated Supply Pastor at Grace Hope Presbyterian Church in Louisville, where she preaches, teaches, and leads community justice initiatives.
In addition to her pastoral ministry, Dr. Johnson has served as an Adjunct Professor at Louisville Seminary, facilitating Field Education Reflection Groups and teaching Introduction to Basic Preaching. She has also held numerous leadership positions within Mid-Kentucky Presbytery, including Moderator, Vice-Moderator, and Chair of the Coordinating Commission.
Before entering full-time ministry, Dr. Johnson built a successful career in interior design and project management at the University of Louisville, overseeing major construction, design, and furnishings projects. Her diverse professional experiences continue to inform her collaborative leadership style and commitment to equipping leaders for service in the church and the world.
| Please join us in congratulating Dr. Earles, Dr. Schmidt, and Dr. Johnson on these significant accomplishments and new opportunities for leadership and service within the Louisville Seminary community. | | |
SAVE-THE-DATE
Mark your calendars for these LPTS events happening on campus or hybrid over the summer and into the fall!
More info coming soon!
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July 23, 10:00 AM: "Equipping Faithful Parents" Coffee Break hosted by the Faithful Formation Project - RSVP here!
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July 30, 10:00 AM: "Difficult Conversations: Pre-Adolescent Children" Coffee Break hosted by the Faithful Formation Project - RSVP here!
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August 31-September 3: Third Annual Mosaic Symposium - a week of events which include new student orientation, a 1-credit course, worship, community meals, centered around the theme, "Woven Together: Where our humanity meets the world today."
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September 2, 6:00 PM: Caldwell Lecture
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September 3, 9:00 AM: Alum Reunion 5:00 PM: Alum Reunion Reception
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September 3, 11:00 AM: Fall Opening Convocation of the 173rd Academic Year
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September 10, 10:00 AM: "Faith, Fathers, and Sons" Coffee Break hosted by the Faithful Formation Project
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September 15, 12 Noon: Black Church Studies (BCS) "Akwaaba" Lunch & Learn
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September 18, 9:00 AM: MFT Continuing Education Day
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September 23, 6:00 PM: Presler Lecture
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September 26, 9:00 AM: BCS Ministry Leadership Seminar
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October 1, 6:00 PM: Katie Geneva Cannon Lecture
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October 6, 11:30 AM: J. Bradley Wigger's "Children Imagine God" Book Launch & Community Lunch
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October 27, 11:30 AM: Black Church Cornerstone Collaborative "RISE and ReNew: Stories of Hope and Heritage in Rural Ministry" Lunch & Learn
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October 28, 6:00 PM: Greenhoe Lecture
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October 29 & 30: Fall Board of Trustee Meeting
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Led by the Holy Spirit, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary educates people to proclaim the Gospel, to care for all, and to work for justice in communities everywhere.
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