2026 Leadership Development Institute

Wayne D. Lewis, Jr., is the sixth president of Houghton University, a Christian college of arts and sciences in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. Under his leadership, Houghton is experiencing enrollment growth at the undergraduate and graduate levels, the expansion of undergraduate and graduate programs, fundraising success and major renovation to campus facilities. Wayne formerly served as dean and professor of education at Belmont University, as a faculty member and graduate programs director at the University of Kentucky and as Kentucky’s commissioner of education. Under his leadership, the Kentucky Department of Education revised the state’s monitoring and evaluation of state-funded preschool programs; revised the state’s minimum high school graduation requirements to include greater emphasis on the acquisition of basic skills and graduates’ preparedness for college and the workforce; expanded early postsecondary opportunities for high school students; and launched Go Teach KY, an initiative for increasing the teacher workforce through traditional and nontraditional routes.

Dr. Stacey Martin is a distinguished higher education administrator with 28 years of dedicated service at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. She currently serves as vice president for student life & Title IX coordinator, providing strategic leadership and oversight for a broad portfolio of student services, including career services, global engagement, mental health services, residence life, spiritual formation, student engagement & retention, university police and university recreation. Dr. Martin has demonstrated a consistent record of excellence in institutional planning, fiscal management, student retention and crisis response, notably co-chairing the university’s COVID-19 Emergency Management Team. Stacey also spearheaded the campus-wide retention initiatives resulting in the two highest retention rates in the institution’s history. She earned her Doctor of Education, with a concentration in higher education leadership, from Hardin-Simmons University, where she also completed her Master of Education and Bachelor of Behavioral Science degrees.

Bill Peterson leads the nonprofit and higher education practice at CarterBaldwin Executive Search, where he specializes in recruiting presidents and senior leaders for universities and mission-driven organizations. With more than 25 years of experience in executive search, Bill has led hundreds of successful searches for chief executive officers, presidents, provosts and senior executives across both nonprofit and corporate sectors. Prior to joining CarterBaldwin, Bill served as a partner at a national search firm in Atlanta, where he helped launch and grow the firm’s healthcare and higher education practices. He began his career in executive search recruiting physicians and senior leaders for health systems and academic medical centers. Bill is deeply committed to service, both professionally and personally. He and his wife of more than 30 years, Angela, are active supporters of nonprofits that serve children and families.

Dr. Ted Song strives to make disciples of all nations through Christian higher education. He joined John Brown University in 2012 as a professor of electrical engineering and now serves as Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Intercultural Engagement Officer. A Korean-American who grew up in both the U.S. and Korea, Ted was an ROTC cadet and served as an Army officer. He has worked internationally, including with the United Nations, and hold advanced degrees in engineering (Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin), theology (M.Div. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) and law (M.S.L., Samford University). Through these diverse experiences, he seeks to equip future Christian leaders to serve the common good and minister across cultures for Christ and His kingdom. Outside JBU, Ted serves as a Peer Reviewer Team Chair for the Higher Learning Commission, chairs the CCCU Diversity & Inclusion Commission, and was an inaugural CCCU Presidential Fellow.

Dr. Wanda Velez is the Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), where she oversees national sponsorship initiatives, cultivates strategic partnerships, and manages collaborative engagement with member institutions and external organizations. Additionally, she leads the CCCU’s Leadership Development Institutes (LDIs), supporting the growth of both senior and emerging leaders within Christian higher education. Before her tenure at CCCU, Dr. Velez had an extensive leadership journey at Alliance University (formerly Nyack College), where she studied as an undergraduate student and served in various roles beginning with Director of Alumni Relations and concluding as Vice President of Student Development and Dean of Students. She earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from Alliance Theological Seminary. Dr. Velez is an alumna of the CCCU Women’s Advanced Leadership Institute (WALI) and the Multi-Ethnic Leadership Development Institute (M-ELDI). Her contributions include service as a Resource Leader, hosting leadership shadowing opportunities, and serving as co-chair for the Advancing Women in Leadership (AWIL) Conference.

Rev. Dr. Angulus Dion Wilson is a preacher, scholar, and spiritual leader whose ministry has shaped congregations, classrooms, and communities for more than three decades. Known for his compelling voice, pastoral compassion, and unwavering commitment to the Gospel, Dr. Wilson ministers with both intellectual depth and Spirit-led conviction. Dr. Wilson holds a Ph.D. in Divinity and a D.Min. in Spiritual Formation and Leadership in Preaching. His academic preparation reflects his belief that the preaching moment requires both a trained mind and a yielded heart. He has devoted his life to studying Scripture, understanding the history of the church, and equipping leaders who can faithfully proclaim Christ in an ever-changing world. In every context—pastoral, academic, or communal—Rev. Dr. Angulus Dion Wilson brings a steady devotion to Scripture, a passion for God’s people, and a heartfelt desire to see the Kingdom of God advance.

Lady Sharon Wilson has faithfully served the Lord for more than three decades as a Bible teacher, mentor, and global ministry leader. Married to Rev. Dr. Angulus Wilson for 34 years, she has devoted her life to advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Since answering God’s call to ministry in 1992, she has shared the good news in women’s prisons, homeless shelters, college campuses, and international settings. Alongside her husband, she has helped plant more than ten churches throughout the United States and Africa. Lady Sharon holds a bachelor’s degree in leadership and Christian Ministry from Fresno Pacific University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Christian ministry and a master’s in Christian education from Angelos Biblical Institute. Her favorite book of the Bible is Philippians, anchored by the promise, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).