Union Presbyterian Seminary Names Jamie Lynn Haskins Project Director for Seminary Extended Initiative
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Cory Schutter
(804) 278-4279
news@upsem.edu
March 27, 2025 – Richmond, VA – Union Presbyterian Seminary is pleased to announce the appointment of The Rev. Dr. Jamie Lynn Haskins as Project Director for Seminary Extended: Strengthening Pastoral Leadership, a major collaborative initiative supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. through the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative.
Seminary Extended brings together Union Presbyterian Seminary, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in a shared effort to strengthen pastoral leadership and support the long-term sustainability of theological schools. The initiative focuses on three integrated strategies: congregation-embedded leadership development, shared faculty and courses, and a joint Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) in Adaptive Leadership.
In her role, Haskins will provide strategic leadership and oversight for the initiative, coordinating collaboration across partner institutions while leading the development of A Seminary for Every Congregation, a model that equips pastors and lay leaders within the life of local churches.
“Seminary Extended is a bold collaborative initiative that embeds leadership development directly in congregational life while strengthening theological schools through shared faculty, courses, and expanded degree programs,” said Shawn Oliver, vice president for Strategy and Institutional Effectiveness. “We are thrilled to welcome Jamie Lynn Haskins to lead this role. She brings exactly what this initiative requires: vision, proven program development experience, and the relational leadership that makes multi-institutional partnerships thrive.”
Haskins brings experience in theological education, ministry leadership, and collaborative project development. Her work will focus on building strong partnerships, guiding program implementation, and ensuring that Seminary Extended delivers meaningful, accessible formation for leaders navigating the complexities of ministry today.
“I am deeply indebted to the congregations and classrooms that taught me to think deeply and critically and believe fiercely in the potential of the church and its people — that ordinary communities can do extraordinary things,” said Haskins. “Seminary Extended is a vision for what theological education and our congregations can be at their best, and I can’t imagine more meaningful work than helping build it alongside the pastors, lay leaders, faculty, and colleagues who will make it real.”
Seminary Extended reflects Union Presbyterian Seminary’s broader commitment to expanding access to high-quality theological education while remaining deeply rooted in the life of the church. By embedding learning within congregational contexts and fostering collaboration across institutions, the initiative seeks to equip leaders with the skills, resilience, and theological grounding needed for faithful ministry in a changing world.
About Union Presbyterian Seminary
Union Presbyterian Seminary is a community that is bound by the love of God, and united in bold Christian service for the church in the world. With campuses in Richmond, Virginia, and Charlotte, North Carolina, the seminary has prepared leaders for ministry since 1812 through rigorous theological education that is scholarly, pastoral, and engaged with contemporary life. Offering a range of degree programs, Union is home to distinguished faculty, a historic campus with one of the nation’s finest theological libraries, and a vibrant community of worship, service, and fellowship. Graduates serve as pastors, educators, chaplains, mission workers, and scholars, carrying forward the seminary’s long tradition of equipping leaders for the church and the world. Learn more at upsem.edu [upsem.edu].
