Dr. Charisse L. Gillett serves as the 17th president of Lexington Theological Seminary. She assumed this role in September 2011 and became the first woman and first African American to lead the seminary in its 146-year history. Prior to her appointment as President, she served as vice president of administration and special projects at the seminary. She is also a former LTS trustee and officer of the Board of Trustees. In addition, she is the former program director of the Lilly Project at Transylvania University, a Program for the Theological Exploration of Vocation, and director of financial aid at Midway College. In reflecting on her time as President of LTS, Dr. Gillett said: “It is an enormous privilege and honor to serve Lexington Theological Seminary as president. I am keenly aware of the weight of this responsibility and am grateful to serve with committed trustees, faculty, staff, and students who also care deeply about educating men and women for the church.”
Dr. Gillett has more than 25 years of successful administrative experience in higher education, including service at Transylvania University, Midway College, Robert Morris College, and the University of Northern Iowa. Gary Kidwell, President of the Christian Church Foundation, was Chair of the LTS Board of Trustees when Dr. Gillett was hired in 2011. When asked his thoughts on Dr. Gillett’s years as President, Rev. Kidwell noted: “She personifies leadership, integrity and servanthood. We were thrilled when she accepted the call to lead Lexington Theological Seminary. Dr. Gillett loves and understands the church and the vital role of theological education. Her outstanding leadership is blessing LTS and the whole church.” Rev. Doug Lofton, current chair of the LTS Board of Trustees, adds: “Dr. Gillett is a joy to work with. She has visionary leadership and understands what it means to be committed to the local church. We have been wowed by her leadership and she was and is the right person at the right time to lead LTS.”
Dr. Gillett is a former moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In this capacity, she presided over the work of the general board and the 2005 General Assembly in Portland, OR. She has also served as Secretary of the National Convocation of the Christian Church and as a board member of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society. She has served on numerous boards and committees including the Foster Parent Association of Fayette County, the African-American Clergy Leadership Development Committee, and Transylvania University’s Presidential Taskforce on Diversity. In 2008, she received the Diversity Award from the Faculty for outstanding contributions to the faculty. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the In Trust Center for Theological Schools, an umbrella organization resourcing theological schools.
Dr. Gillett holds a doctorate in education from Northern Illinois University and earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Northern Iowa. She completed a continuing education program Foundations of Christian Leadership with Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, in collaboration with the Center for Creative Leadership. The program was funded by a grant from the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. She is commissioned by the Christian Church in Kentucky and serves as an associate minister at East Second Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Dr. Gillett is the daughter of Mr. Clayton G. Brown and Ms. Vivian L. Brown, mother to Jeremy, Liyah, Tasia, and Trey, and grandmother to Jayda. She is married to the Rev. Dr. Donald K. Gillett, II, the Senior Pastor of East Second Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Lexington, KY and executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches.