Leah Fulton

Chicago, IL
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About Leah Fulton

I have more than 10 years of experience working with students, faculty, staff, and administrators in Christian college settings, pastors, and ministry leaders around race. My work begins with a foundation for understanding organizational context including history, values, and theology. From there, I leverage my training African American and Intercultural Studies to design interactive workshops with activities that examine race as a construct and why it matters for Christian spiritual formation. I facilitate presentations that examine the history of race in the church, why race matters in contemporary Christian communities, and nuances between race, culture, and ethnicity. I do my work through one on one coaching, organizational assessments, focus groups, and strategic planning efforts designed to produce equity and inclusion.

Areas of Expertise

Christian Colleges
Christian K-12 School
Individual 1 on 1 coaching
Other Organizations

Services

References

Stephanie Williams
Lead Pastor - Mill City Church
We hired Leah to teach courses on Racial Justice from a Biblical perspective for the adults and leaders at my church. She also was hired as a consultant to help our church planters who were planting in a diverse neighborhood. She did an excellent job and we were able to grow because of her investment and expertise. We highly recommend Leah for those who are looking for a gifted communicator who has deep knowledge and experience when it comes to intercultural humility and racial justice!
JD Larson
Co-Lead Pastor - North City Church
Leah's work with us was foundational in the launch of our church in 2019. Leah's thoughtful balance of challenge and empathy was a perfect match for our community and what it needed to take steps towards deeper cultural humility. Leah is highly skilled both in one-on-one coaching spaces and in small to medium size groups. Our church was deeply grateful for our time with her and her work with us truly made a difference.
Priscilla Kibler
Associate Regional Director - Young Life
Leah was able to provide insight and guidance for a team strategic planning retreat as well as a training series for an upcoming intercultural camp experience. Leah did an excellent job asking questions that helped create an agenda and vision for both events. Leah was also able to provide resources/researched frameworks that was previously unknown by the client. If you have are pondering what direction to take an upcoming meeting or tasks, Leah, someone who is well research, is your person.

Work Experience

Vice President for Student Success
Trinity Christian College - Palos Heights, IL
July 2022 - Current
  • Provide visionary leadership to the 27 member Student Life team including co-curricular operations of the College

  • Cultivate a shared understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and corresponding strategies to enhance student success

  • Convener of the campus wide retention and student success committee to establish disaggregated metrics, key progress indicators, programs, and services to improve retention and graduation rates

  • Assess Student Life programs, policies, and procedures using an intersectional, equity lens

Co-Founder and Principal Consultant
Project 51, LLC - Remote
August 2018 - Current
<p>I founded Project 51 consultancy in 2018 to help leaders interested in closing the gap between values (what they say), practices (what they do), and policies (what they put into writing). I use a history and hopes model to gain insights that inform a strategy to create alignment between DEI aspirations, organizational culture, and policies.</p>
Associate Dean for Intercultural Programs
Bethel University - St. Paul, MN
June 2012 - November 2016
<p>I worked as a functional director and consultant on culturally responsive practice within the division of Student Development. I provided oversight for student leader development, retention efforts for students of color, and a variety of other services, programmatic efforts, and collaborative initatives designed to support students of color and enhance the campus community's understanding of the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the context of Christian spiritual formation.</p>

Education

Doctorate - Higher Education and African American Studies
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
August 2017 - Current
Masters - Intercultural Studies and Urban Missions
Wheaton College - Wheaton, IL
August 2009 - June 2012

Resources