Dr. Chris Burton of Union Presbyterian Seminary is announced as a 2025-2026 Obama Foundation Leader

On Wednesday, Dr. Chris Burton of Union Presbyterian Seminary announced his acceptance to The Obama Foundation’s Leaders program, joining more than 200 global changemakers for the 2025-2026 class.

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Following a competitive selection process, Burton will be one of just over 100 leaders participating in the Leaders USA program. They will receive training in leadership development and civic engagement to help build their skills and scale their work across public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Burton is the director of the Leadership Institute at Union Presbyterian Seminary, where he oversees a continuing education program and a certificate program that works with returning citizens to develop their leadership skills and prepare them for successful reentry into society. Through workshops, conferences, online courses, and networking opportunities, the Institute equips pastors, ministry directors, educators, lay leaders, and community partners to sharpen their skills, expand their perspectives, and strengthen their witness in the church and the world.

Burton has also championed innovative initiatives such as the Remix Project, a hip-hop education course created with a Henderson Middle School teacher and a licensed, nationally certified professional counselor to support students’ emotional development, and continues to explore ways to connect hip-hop pedagogy and social-emotional learning with new models of education.

As part of the six-month program, these changemakers will convene virtually each week for sessions designed to help them drive change by honing their leadership skills, building deep relationships with their peers, and engaging with thought leaders and members of the Obama Foundation community. They will also have an opportunity to participate in virtual experiences and special events, including conversations with experienced mentors in the Foundation’s global network.

Now in its third year, The Obama Foundation Leaders USA Program is guided by the leadership values of Barack and Michelle Obama. The program draws on the Foundation’s Hope to Action curriculum to support leaders in embracing diverse perspectives, harnessing collective power, and driving tangible progress toward a more just and sustainable world. The Leaders USA Program has a particular focus on strengthening democratic culture, and the more than 100 leaders are working across a broad range of focus areas, including democracy and civic engagement, public health, climate and environmental sustainability, and arts and culture.

The Obama Foundation Leaders program is designed to inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the United States to change their respective communities and the world. Learn more here.

Learn more about Burton’s work at Union Presbyterian Seminary  at https://www.upsem.edu/leadership-institute. 

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 — including the M.Div., M.A.C.E., dual degrees, D.Min., Th.M., and M.A.P.T. — 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.