With gratitude to Senior VP Ballou

The President’s Commentary will now take a pause until August 1, 2023. So, as we come to the last commentary of this academic year, I do want to use the occasion to thank a key person in our organization who has spent every other week on the campus, learning the complexities of GTS. Senior Vice President Jacqui Ballou made a decision that presence was to be a key part of her ministry. From January until now, she has typically been on the campus every other week for four to five nights. She has become a regular, settling into the Icon room, hosting meetings, and checking on the team.

Jacqui Ballou is simply amazing. She loves the Lord Jesus; she has a capacity to understand a complex spreadsheet with ease; she is funny and gracious. With a background in consulting, she brings that eye to institutions. She makes suggestions that others cannot see; she has the capacity to create a healthy organization; and she always looks out for those who are easily overlooked.

I am very grateful to Jacqui. I enjoy working with her. And I sense that the team at GTS is enjoying working with her as well. Thank you Jacqui.

The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and President of The General Theological Seminary