The Rev. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley has been called as the new associate for leadership development for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The announcement was made by the Rev Marcia Clark Myers, director of the Office of Vocation, in which the position is lodged.

In her work with the Office of Vocation, Ashley will provide training, consultation, coaching, and resources for presbyteries in support of congregations, immigrant fellowships, and other new worshiping communities. She will also work with call system support and participate as a member of the For Such a Time as This pastoral residency staff team.

Ashley brings a breadth of life and ministry experience to this new call. She served pastorates in Illinois, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. She experienced urban and rural contexts in ministry and served in specialized ministry settings during her seminary years. Prior to ministry, she worked for the Centers for Disease Control and a technology company.

For the past year she has served the General Assembly Mission Council in the Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women ministry area as the associate for gender and racial justice with responsibility for facilitating ministries and programs at all levels of the church that assists the PC(USA) in becoming an inclusive, diverse, and racially just denomination.

Ashley has degrees from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary.

She will begin her new work on March 12, 2012.

The Office of Vocation is a shared ministry of the Office of the General Assembly and the General Assembly Council.