About Us
Meet our Faculty and Board of Directors*.
*RUTH D. ANDERSON, PH.D. received her M.A. from Kent State University and
her Ph.D. from the University of Oregon in Communication. Ruth, a professor
at North Carolina State University for 15 years and then vice-president of
Kindermusik International for eight years, brings both theory and practice to
servant leadership. Currently, Ruth is Director of the Servant Leadership
School of Greensboro where she teaches and learns in Servant Leadership 1,
Centering Prayer, Communion, Compassion, Money, Power, Writing, the Enneagram,
and through other servant leadership experiences.
Ruth is the author of 3 books and a workbook. In her book, Hairpin Turn, Ruth Anderson,
describes her discovery of servant leadership and entrance into another way to lead and live--
hence the title of a hairpin turn! The proceeds from the book Hairpin Turn benefit the children at
Partnership Village, a nonprofit in Greesnboro that serves the needs of formally homeless
children and their families. Ruthie Stories: Recapturing the Girl Left Behind, is based on real-life
experiences, uncovered and written "from the heart" while learning and teaching at The Servant
Leadership School.
newsletter and/or blog about leadership and life lived from the heart.
*ROBIN BRITT serves as the Executive Director of Guilford Child Development.
He received a law degree from UNC-CH in 1973, a graduate law degree from
New York University, and became a partner in the Smith Moore law firm in
Greensboro. He served in the cabinet of Governor Jim Hunt from 1983-1987 as
Secretary of the NC Department of Human Resources.
THE REV. FRANK DEW is a chaplain at Greensboro Urban Ministry and a pastor
at New Creation Community Presbyterian Church. He holds a B.A. from Wake
Forest University and a M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. Frank provides guidance
for Stephen Ministers and teaches classes at Greensboro Urban Ministry
for The Servant Leadership School of Greensboro.
MARJORIE DONNELLY, founder and director of InnerWalk, is a guide for
the inward journey of exploring spirituality, psychology and creativity. As
an experienced teacher, retreat leader, labyrinth facilitator, and spiritual
director, she provides tools and practices that have changed her own
life. Marjorie’s faith is grounded in the Judeo-Christian tradition, and
she encourages contemplative awareness and practice. In her work, she
incorporates a variety of traditional and non-traditional educational
trainings, including a M.Ed. in counseling from the University of Virginia
and certifications as a Shalem spiritual director, Veriditas labyrinth
facilitator, and Enneagram teacher. She has been the coordinator of Holy
Trinity’s labyrinth since 2006.
*DEE IRWIN, Ph.D. taught child psychology and human development for
30 years in university settings (Columbia University, Teachers College,
Stanford University, UNC–Greensboro). With Pat Bailey, she founded
Healing Ground in 2000, a small retreat center in Summerfield, NC that
supports the mission of The Servant Leadership School of Greensboro.
She loves teaching, offers spiritual direction, facilitates small-group work
with churches, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations, and is
a student and teacher of the Enneagram.
VICKI LONGHOFER is a teaching artist and Veriditas-certified labyrinth
facilitator. Her workshops and retreats are rooted in 27 years of arts
program development, instruction, and a diversified studio background.
She has a B.F.A. from the University of Oklahoma and postgraduate
training from the Kansas City Art Institute. Before relocating to North
Carolina, Vicki was an artist in residence for the Oklahoma Arts Council.
She currently serves as a visiting artist in schools for the Durham Arts
Council and works from her studio. A special focus of Vicki’s group work
is helping participants connect to the creative process. Visual art and
written expression are interwoven with the contemplative practices of
walking meditation and centering prayer.
*THE REV. TIMOTHY PATTERSON is one of the founders of The Servant
Leadership School of Greensboro. A graduate of Duke University and Duke
Divinity School, Tim’s experience includes six years’ work as a counselor on an
in-patient psychiatric unit, two years of Clinical Pastoral Education at Duke
Medical Center, and completion of the certificate program in Spiritual
Direction at General Theological Seminary in New York. Since arriving in
Greensboro in 1989, Tim has served at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church where he
became Rector in 1995. He was awarded the 2001 Leadership Medal by
Leadership Greensboro for his work in community outreach and establishing
The Servant Leadership School.
*AMELIA POOLE holds Master’s Degrees in biology and conflict resolution
and has worked with The Servant Leadership School since 2003. She has
been trained in Peer Spirit Circle Practice, and has completed Enneagram
training with Russ Hudson and Don Riso. Her current work is with
Nonviolent Communication and mediation. She is a certified Superior
Court mediator and works for One Step Further, Inc. training volunteer
mediators and mediating in the District Criminal Court System. She
teaches communication skills in small groups and coaches communication
one-on-one. She is a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, where she
is outreach coordinator.
ELLEN SUMMERS, a native of St. Louis, taught writing and literature for
twenty years in small liberal-arts colleges. She earned a Ph.D. in English
at UNC-CH with a specialty in Shakespeare and was a prize-winning
professor at Hiram College in Ohio. Devoted to the arts, she has been
a semi-professional singer, has acted in and directed academic and
professional theater productions, and is a practicing poet. Having moved
to North Carolina in 2009, she now leads creative writing workshops in
Greensboro.
MAY TOMS holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and
an Early Childhood Credential from the American Montessori Society.
Since retiring from a 24-year teaching career, she has been involved in
The Servant Leadership School as a student and advocate in the homeless
community. She is trained as a Stephen Minister for Greensboro Urban
Ministry, has been a member of Holy Trinity’s Christian Social Ministries
Commission and co-coordinator for Guilford Interfaith Hospitality
Network.
KISHIE WYATT first came to The Servant Leadership School of Greensboro
as a student, in the fall of 2005. She was amazed at how the philosophy
of servant leadership created peace, joy, and a deep connection to God
in her life. These principles were further explored when she became a
registered yoga therapist. Kishie incorporates the spiritual aspects of The
Servant Leadership School into her yoga classes, giving participants the
opportunity to experience their spiritual practice at a physical level, by
uniting mind, body, and soul.
PAUL C. VOLK is a small-group facilitator, workshop leader and spiritual director.
Paul has 30 years’ experience working with special education students and
their families. He also had a private counseling practice in New York. Paul holds
a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Fordham University’s School of Social
Service, and a Master’s of Education (Special Education) from the College of
New Rochelle. He also completed the certificate program in spiritual direction
at General Theological Seminary, and the two-year program at the School of
Christian Healing at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Darien, Conn.
*Currently serving on the Board of Directors of The Servant Leadership School of
Greensboro.
