Dean of Chapel
Meet the Chapel Staff
Dr. Jessica LaGrone
Dean of Chapel
- BA in Biology, Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas
- MDiv Asbury Theological Seminary
- DMin 2022 Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University
Jessica LaGrone became the Dean of the Chapel at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky in 2014. She is an acclaimed pastor, teacher, speaker, and writer whose engaging communication style endears her to groups throughout the United States. A native of Texas, Jessica is an ordained pastor who served churches in the Houston area, most recently serving for nine years at The Woodlands Methodist Church near Houston, Texas.
Jessica’s books and studies include Out of Chaos; Namesake: When God Rewrites Your Story; Under Wraps; Broken and Blessed: How God Used One Imperfect Family to Change the World; Set Apart: Holy Habits of Prophets and Kings; and The Miracles of Jesus. Jessica is a contributor to an all-church Advent study called Under Wraps and is the New Testament video presenter for the Disciple Fast Track series. Her works have been used in personal and group studies around the world.
Jessica and her husband, Jim, have two young children, Drew and Kate.
Tabitha Perez
Associate Director of Chapel
Tabitha has been the Associate Director of Chapel since September 2024. She holds her Bachelor of Arts in Science, concentration Psychology from the University of Central Florida and is nearly graduating with her MDiv with a specialization in Ethics and Social Responsibility from Asbury. She has been in active ministry for most of her adult life and ordained for the six years. Tabitha was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago as the youngest of six kids. Born and raised in the church, she understands that working in the church and the academy is her vocation, being a worshipper of Christ is her identity.
Tabitha is passionate about topics of peace, justice, diversity in worship, orthodoxy, and pentecostal worship. She does most of her work training deacons in her ecclesial organization about sacramental theology, rubrics, rites, and rituals of the ancient church in a pentecostal context. She wants to eventually pursue her PhD and become a professor in an institution of higher education.
Holly Fohr
Coordinator of Worship
Holly has been the Coordinator of Worship since August 2024. She graduated from University of Central Florida with her BA in Communication and a Minor in Leadership. She is currently pursuing her MDiv in Wilmore, but began as a global student in Orlando while serving as a Youth Pastor.
Early in her walk with Jesus, Holly was changed deeply by meeting a God she could both wrestle with and fall in love with. She loves creating spaces for people to do the same. Holly is passionate about digging into scripture, discovering God through prayer, and building leaders (like those on Chapel Team!) who are hungry for more of Him. Holly is originally from Orlando, and loves running (usually), being outdoors, and good coffee.
The Chapel Intern Team
The Chapel Team is a group of 12-15 students who work together to plan and lead worship in Estes Chapel. As a team, the interns focus on loving God and neighbor, learning in community, and leading together.
Chapel Internships are a two-semester volunteer commitment open to students and spouses. Interns assist in the day-to-day operations of the Chapel Office. Interns develop a close working relationship and receive mentoring from both the Dean of Chapel and Coordinator of Worship. Together, this unique team seeks spiritual growth, personal piety, and leadership development by giving one’s self to God in worship, prayer, and conversation. The Internship Program is designed to be a living laboratory to learn and practice worship planning, creativity, detail management, and leadership. This is a ministry opportunity unlike any other. Serving as a Chapel Intern is a great place to grow in the knowledge of theology and practice of worship.
Interns are asked to give 10 hours per week in servant leadership. They attend a weekly team meeting that consists of worship planning, team building, and theological/spiritual/leadership formation, and they attend a retreat at the start of each semester. Additionally, interns will have specific duties during Chapel including set up, counting attendance, greeting, etc. Chapel Interns will have a greater opportunity to lead in Chapel through scripture reading, prayer, leading liturgical elements, hosting and preaching in Daily Eucharist, and other unique opportunities. The Chapel Office is committed to helping interns grow in their knowledge of worship leadership, and equipping them to lead a worshiping community in the future.
The Chapel Team may be used as Mentored Ministry I or II credit (non-local church option). The Chapel Intern Team recruits new interns at the end of each Spring Semester. To apply, reach out to chapel@asburyseminary.edu and be on the lookout on our social media for the application.
