The AMBS Marketing and Communications Team is undergoing some shifts in roles and responsibilities:
Nekeisha Alayna Alexis’s role as Intercultural Competence and Undoing Racism (ICUR) coordinator is being expanded to 0.8 FTE, with approximately one-third of her role devoted to internal/institutional ICUR leadership and assessment and two-thirds dedicated to external consulting through AMBS’s Church Leadership Center. Alexis, who resides in Elkhart, Indiana, and earned an M.A.: Theological Studies from AMBS in 2008, has served as ICUR coordinator since 2014 and has also been a member of AMBS’s Marketing and Communications Team since 2007. She will conclude her role as Graphic Designer and Website Specialist in February to focus solely on her ICUR role.
“This expansion will build on the significant success Nekeisha has had with external audiences, including consulting, workshop leading and teaching for a variety of organizations,” said Beverly Lapp, Ed.D., Vice President and Academic Dean. “AMBS's ICUR commitments and the needs of our community and constituency to be resourced in the important work of undoing racism and increasing intercultural competence intersect with the exceptional gifts that Nekeisha brings.”
“Nekeisha’s creativity, her expertise with systems and processes, and her leadership in intercultural competence and undoing racism have enhanced the work of our Marketing and Communications Team,” added Melissa Troyer, Director of Marketing and Communications. “We’ve appreciated her many contributions to AMBS’s overall communications concepts and strategies. I’m excited that her new role will allow her to focus on the work she is most passionate about; the world needs her insights and leadership more than ever!”
Troyer noted that Alexis will continue to give ICUR oversight to selected marketing projects.
Rachel Denlinger of Elkhart began Jan. 4 as 0.5 FTE Graphic Designer and Marketing Specialist. A graduate of Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana, and Ivy Tech Community College in South Bend, Indiana, Denlinger most recently served for six years as Associate Graphic Designer for 1st Source Bank in South Bend. She also has been a freelance graphic designer since 2014.
Denlinger is familiar with AMBS, having served as a communications intern for the seminary in 2012. She also served as Communications Coordinator for Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference in Goshen, Indiana, for two years. Denlinger will be responsible for communicating about events and programs of AMBS’s Church Leadership Center in addition to designing online and print communication pieces for the seminary.
“I’m delighted with the energy, initiative and administrative skills that I see Rachel bringing to her new role,” said Troyer. “Her range of design skills and experience with print and digital communication make her an excellent addition to our team.”
Ben Parker Sutter of Kansas City, Kansas, who has served as Digital Marketing Manager and Church Leadership Center Marketing Coordinator since July 2018, is increasing his time as Digital Marketing Manager from 0.375 to 0.75 FTE as of Jan. 1. His responsibilities now include managing the seminary’s social media accounts, maintaining the website and overseeing digital analytics and strategy.
A graduate of Goshen (Indiana) College, Parker Sutter has a background in communications with a focus on video and online marketing. He was an online assistant for a year with the Sojourners Fellowship Program in Washington, D.C., and worked for a D.C. business for three years in website design, email marketing, search engine optimization and social media strategy. He also recently served as Outreach Coordinator for Rainbow Mennonite Church in Kansas City, Kansas. Parker Sutter is also a current student in AMBS’s M.A.: Theology and Global Anabaptism degree program.
“I'm grateful to have Ben’s increased role in the area of digital marketing,” said Troyer. “Ben brings a breadth of experience to help our communication strategies meet the moment we’re in. We also value the perspectives he brings as a current AMBS student.”
Continuing members of AMBS’s Marketing and Communications Team include Melissa Troyer of Middlebury, Indiana, who serves full time as Marketing and Communications Director, and Annette Brill Bergstresser of Goshen, who serves as 0.7 FTE Communications Manager.
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