The Serve to Lead Team
The Serve to LEAD team shares a common vision for the transformational development of young people and communities. We are passionate about living our love for God and neighbor through our programs that develop heart and mind, shape world-view, build community, and engage worldwide to address critical global issues.
We are a team of educators, creators, community developers, business people, activists, and philanthropists who believe that demonstrating God’s love for all of creation through meaningful education and service across cultures brings people together and promotes our core values of Love, Equity, Altruism, and Dignity. We believe that only by addressing global poverty in a holistic way: spiritually, socially, and materially, can we truly create sustainable world change and meet the global goals.
Meet our Executive Director
Our Executive Director, Jessica Tripp, brings over twenty years of experience working cross-culturally in education and global service. She spent fifteen of those years serving the United Methodist Church in Christian Education and Missional Leadership roles. In addition, Jessica has extensive experience in domestic and international development work in the US, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Africa, South America, Central America, Eastern Europe, and South Asia.
As founder and Executive Director of Serve To LEAD, Jessica lives the ministry’s mission to address personal, social, and material poverty through education and development in our local and global communities. She currently leads education programs and poverty alleviation projects in Serve To LEAD’s hometown of Asheville, within the US, and alongside STL’s international partners.
Jessica received her BA in Religion and Christian Education from LaGrange College and her MA in Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership at Wheaton College Graduate School. Jessica is a certified TBRI® Practitioner and holds multiple leadership and trauma-informed care certifications.
Meet our Board
Jim Bowers, Chairperson
Claire Hug, Secretary
Brad D. Burlingham, Treasurer
Lesli Hollowell
Patrick Jordan
Blake Wagner
Karen Walter
Betsy Cunagin
Kendall Wagner
Melissa Wiggins
Sean Frabitore
Bud Rainey
See our Board’s bios here.