Bexley Seabury Seminary Names Angela Wood Director of Philanthropy

Chicago, IL  – September 21, 2026 – Bexley Seabury Seminary has named Angela Wood its new Director of Philanthropy, strengthening the Seminary’s leadership and capacity to build the philanthropic relationships and resources that support its students, programs, and long-term mission. 

As Bexley Seabury’s senior advancement leader, Wood will work closely with President Mark C. Lee to shape and advance the Seminary’s philanthropic strategy. She will lead efforts to deepen relationships with alumni, donors, and friends; cultivate major and long-term gifts; strengthen donor engagement and stewardship; and connect the generosity of Bexley Seabury’s supporters with opportunities to expand the impact of theological education. 

“We had a large pool of extremely qualified philanthropy experts, but Ms. Wood stood out among the candidates because of her love for Jesus, the sharing of the gospel, and the work of the Church. Her humility, humor, authenticity, and love and excitement for the work of Bexley Seabury Seminary, as a unique part in the ecology of theological education, really stood out for us. Her passion and zeal align well with ours – to educate lay and ordained leaders for the world today, wherever they are. Angie has 20+ years of experience in philanthropic work, mostly with religious and religiously affiliated organizations, which is a bonus for us. We are thrilled to have Angela Wood as a member of team!” said the Very Rev. Dr. Mark C. Lee, President of Bexley Seabury Seminary. 

Philanthropy Supporting a Seminary Beyond Walls 

Bexley Seabury’s distributed learning model enables students to pursue theological education while remaining rooted in the communities, congregations, families, and professional contexts in which they live and serve. Philanthropic support plays an important role in sustaining that model—helping make theological education more accessible while supporting the people, programs, and learning experiences that form leaders for ministry and service. 

Wood’s leadership will help connect those opportunities with people who believe in the importance of preparing thoughtful, faithful leaders for a changing Church and world. 

Building Relationships Around Mission 

Wood brings more than two decades of nonprofit leadership, development, and donor engagement experience to Bexley Seabury. Most recently, she spent six years with Resonate Global Mission, where she served as Donor Engagement Manager and Major Gifts Officer, developing relationships with donors and connecting their philanthropic interests with opportunities to advance mission. 

Central to Wood’s approach to philanthropy is relationship building. She looks forward to hearing the stories of Bexley Seabury alumni, students, donors, and friends—what brought them to the Seminary, where they believe God is calling them, and how Bexley Seabury has shaped their lives and ministries. Those relationships will help strengthen the community surrounding the Seminary while inviting others to participate in advancing its mission. 

“One of the greatest privileges of philanthropy is hearing people’s stories—learning what they care deeply about, what has shaped their lives, and where they feel called to make a difference. I’m excited to build those relationships at Bexley Seabury and to help connect the generosity of our alumni, donors, and friends with the students and leaders who will carry the work of the Church into the future. There is something incredibly meaningful about inviting people to invest in a mission they believe in and then showing them the difference their generosity makes,” Wood said.  

Experience Grounded in Development and Donor Engagement 

Before joining Resonate Global Mission, Wood held leadership and development roles with Mission Point, ICU Mobile, and Heartline Pregnancy Center. Her experience spans major gifts, donor engagement, nonprofit operations, organizational leadership, and community relationship building. 

Wood holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management and Operations from Grace College & Seminary and an associate degree in Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services from Indiana Wesleyan University. 

Wood’s appointment reflects Bexley Seabury’s continued investment in the relationships and resources necessary to sustain and expand its mission. Through a stronger culture of philanthropy, the Seminary seeks to broaden access to theological education, support students in their formation, strengthen innovative programs, and prepare leaders equipped to serve the evolving needs of the Church and their communities. 

About Bexley Seabury Seminary 

Bexley Seabury Seminary empowers lay and ordained leaders through rigorous theological education grounded in active engagement with the Gospel and the rich Anglican spiritual and intellectual tradition. As the Seminary Beyond Walls, Bexley Seabury offers accessible, distributed learning that connects students with faculty, peers, and ministry communities across the country. Based in Chicago, Illinois, Bexley Seabury serves a nationwide community of students, faculty, and staff and is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools. 

Media Contact: 

Vicki Bohlsen 
vbohlsen@bexleyseabury.edu 
(317) 513-8039