WILMORE, Ky., July 22, 2025—As part of Asbury Theological Seminary’s ongoing Optimizing Mission Effectiveness initiative, the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) of Asbury Seminary is announcing a strategic realignment of the Beeson International Center for Preaching and Leading. This realignment is designed to expand the Beeson Center’s service to the church in the United States and around the world, strengthen its capacity to equip leaders in its traditional two foci of preaching and leading, support new ministry innovation, and extend Asbury Seminary’s missional impact across diverse contexts.

As part of this realignment, the ELT is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jessica LaGrone as Executive Director of the Beeson Center. Dr. LaGrone has served faithfully and capably as Dean of the Chapel for eleven years. She is a recognized leader in the global Wesleyan movement, serving currently as the Chair of the Connectional Council of the Global Methodist Church. As a reputable preacher in the Wesleyan tradition, she is widely sought after as a preacher and speaker. As noted above, the primary emphases of the Beeson Center are preaching and leadership, and Dr. LaGrone excels in both areas.

Dr. LaGrone shared, “I’m honored and energized to step into this new role as Executive Director of the Beeson Center. Preaching and leadership have always been deep passions of mine, and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead to create and share resources that will equip leaders for ministry. I believe this realignment opens the door for fresh innovation and Spirit-led impact, and I look forward to what we will build together.”

Dr. Ragsdale added this thought: “The Church needs effective leadership. And, a necessary part of how the Church’s leadership is communicated is through preaching. Educating, resourcing, and inspiring effective preachers must be at the forefront of what Asbury Theological Seminary does in the classroom and through the Beeson Center. Dr. LaGrone’s passion for incubating leaders who can preach is contagious, and I am thrilled to be able to work together with her to make Beeson initiatives successful and sustainable.”

In light of Dr. LaGrone’s new position, the ELT is working diligently on the position of Dean of the Chapel. More information will be available soon.

Another change to the Beeson Center is the adoption of a hybrid organizational model to better align the center with its founding purpose and expand its reach across academic and ministry-training dimensions. There will be two areas of oversight:

Academic Programs: All degree-related academic activities will continue under the oversight of the Provost’s Office, maintaining continuity in curriculum and academic vision.

Non-Academic Programs: Responsibility for non-degree initiatives, including certificates, micro-credentialing, and other current and future ministry-focused training, will shift to the newly appointed Executive Director, Dr. Jessica LaGrone.

Recognizing that the Beeson Center’s initiatives touch virtually every area of Asbury’s mission, the Executive Director will report directly to the President. This reporting structure is designed to ensure cross-systems collaboration and leverage Asbury’s institutional resources more effectively.

This restructuring marks a significant step toward optimizing Asbury Seminary’s mission effectiveness, expanding its service to the Church, and renewing its commitment to Spirit-empowered leadership development for the next generation.

About Asbury Theological Seminary

Asbury Theological Seminary was founded in 1923 to prepare and send forth well-trained, sanctified, Spirit-filled, evangelistic ministers to spread scriptural holiness around the world. Today, thousands of Asbury Theological Seminary graduates flourish in every state, on every continent, and in every time zone, reaching the world through evangelism, missions, church planting, preaching, teaching, and counseling. The sun never sets on its graduates. Asbury Theological Seminary continues its mission in providing holistic ministerial preparation as an interdenominational institution with a flagship campus in Wilmore, Ky. and extension sites in Colorado Springs, Memphis, Orlando, Tampa, and Tulsa, and fully online degree programs.

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