Kathy Abraham is our Woman of the Week, nominated for her role as Executive Director of Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School (ACTS). We asked her to tell us how she got started in this role:
“My journey at ACTS started as I was taking classes in theology online while homeschooling my kids during COVID. I was transitioning out of medicine and really felt called to dedicate my life to full time service in the church. When COVID lifted and my kids went back to school I found this new kind of space for service.
“After praying this for about a month, the Dean of the school, His Grace Bishop Kyrillos called me, and he asked me, “Can you help with the school?” At first I was reluctant, because I have no knowledge or background in upper education. But it became clear that the Lord wanted me there in this season.
“It was a huge learning curve for me, but I took it very slowly and I worked in the background for a year. I was trying to be faithful in the small things, even if it was just stocking the bathrooms with supplies, bringing snacks for the staff, or helping organize and plan things and put meetings on the schedule. I tried to be faithful in every task that was given to me and anticipate the needs of the school before I saw anything. Then, as we were applying for accreditation, the need for this leadership role became more and more evident, the school needed more structure, proper planning, vision and execution. That's really when I put my boots down into the ground and I said, “OK, I will take on this responsibility.” I stepped into the role of Executive Director and helped lead my team through the process of accreditation, which was really grueling but so rewarding. When we finally received accreditation last year by the Grace of God, again, it was very evident and clear that He had put me in this role for such a time as this and there was no way any of this would be possible on my own accord or ability. Glory to God.
Axia!
Kathy Abraham is our Woman of the Week, nominated for her role as Executive Director of Saint Athanasius and Saint Cyril Coptic Orthodox Theological School (ACTS). We asked her to tell us what an Executive Director does at the seminary level:
“When stepping into this role, I really wanted to equip myself with the proper tools and knowledge I needed to lead well so I completed a 1-year program at Cornell University in Executive Leadership and Management, to help strengthen my leadership skills. I also tried to do as much research and talk to other people who were executives in this sort of field. What's interesting is that, when you're mixing business and church, it's a very different dynamic. It's not just serving in the church and it's not just work in a secular setting. Having the two merge is a very delicate balance, one that takes extreme discernment and wisdom. I found myself many times not having answers, but having to prayerfully consider everything, and then slowly God would lead me and guide me into the correct action or decision.
“At a higher level, it's strategizing for the school and having that visionary mindset: how do we take the school to the next level, what can we do to expand? What are the needs of the school? What are the needs of the students and our community? What are the needs of the faculty, the staff? There was a lot of organizational structure and care that we had to do. During my time we have hired a lot of new staff, which meant we had to budget different staff. We moved into a new building and became very present in our community, hosting events and trying to have more in-person live lectures, teachings, and seminars to engage the community a lot more. That's been really helpful.
“As an example of other responsibilities that come up: recently we went to Catholic University in Washington, DC. I planned the entire event, including an MOU between our school and their school. It was an amazing time, and our Bishop, the President, His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion, received an honorary doctorate while there. It was a very proud moment for our school, community and our Coptic Orthodox Church as a whole. As a school, I feel that we are expanding both locally and regionally and outward, and I feel that was one of the values that I really wanted to drive with our school – to go above and beyond our small church borders within our diocese.
“Now that we are an accredited school, we can reach so many people. I would say my job means both having a high-level strategy, and learning how to execute it on every level, whether that's the director's levels that are part of our team, or the micro-level where the day-to-day management comes in. I make sure emails are being sent out, communications are being properly handled, day to day operations are covered and that our admission numbers are going up, but also working on our graduation and matriculation rates. It also means making sure all of our systems and platforms and softwares are all up to date and we have a better flow of communication with our students and faculty. Between that and between organizing events and having more of a public face and knowledge within the community, that’s where my overall role is found on an everyday basis.
“Women make up almost half of our student body. I think women are hungry for more knowledge and we're hungry for more depth in our spiritual life, faith, and beliefs. Women are also great students. We love to study and read. I know I do, and that's what's drawn me to education: I've always been a student, I'm forever a student of life, and I can never learn enough. I love to learn, especially things that are of high value to me, whether that is in my own personal growth or my faith. That's what led me initially to the school - I started with my certificate in Orthodox Scripture and later finished with my Master's in theology because I kept wanting to learn more. I still continue learning - I just finished a Christian leadership certificate with John Maxwell Institute, and became a certified speaker, coach, and trainer, and now I'm starting to write books, and publish biblical studies for women in the Orthodox faith. I think as women, we are hungry for a higher knowledge of God and the church, and learning how to deepen our relationship with God through the church as a woman is my life-long calling and endeavor.
“I don't necessarily meet the criteria of your typical theologian. I'm a mom of two teenage boys, I go to Pilates, attend meetings, conferences, I’m at the sidelines of my sons’ basketball games and I have a full life. I don't just sit and study all day long in a library, even though I would love to. I cook and bake, hang out with my family, attend as many church services as possible and am embedded in our community. But the truth is, theology is for everybody, and when you as a woman step into this role and lead by example, I think it inspires other women around you.
“There's no separation between what God is offering us in the church as women. When education empowers you and when you really learn what our Fathers taught us and who Jesus is in the Bible and what our traditions are, that actually women are highly valued in our Church, and this truth honestly does set us free. So I feel that education is very empowering for women in our church. I want to leverage other women who are in the faith, our leaders in the faith, and be unified and lift other women up.
“One thing that also attracts students is that we are very community-based. We are considered an online institution: you can take from A to Z every single class and graduate strictly online, but we do like to offer some in-person experiences of having classrooms and interaction with other students. So yes, I do see more of the younger girls and the community of women in our community enrolling, but also abroad. Our school has female students in New York and other states who are online and can find the time to sit and study when their kids are sleeping at night or between their job shifts and other responsibilities, for the same reason that they just want to grow in that knowledge.”
As always, we asked our Woman of the Week, Kathy Abraham, to share with us her morning routine:
“I try to wake up before the rest of the house does, and just spend some quiet time with God, inviting Him into my day and into my meetings, my schedule, and the decisions I need to make so that I feel every part of my day is covered by Him. Then I try to spend some time in the Word and do a devotional or study Scripture before I go. And then, it's the typical lunch-making and breakfast and those sorts of things with two teenage boys, and I make my coffee and take them to school.
“Sometimes I will attend liturgy in the morning, if liturgy is offered at the campus or at my local church. I try to attend as many weekday liturgies as I can. And then I start my day. I always try to make time, of course, to walk and do things like that, but definitely the most important time of my day is that morning time between me and God and seeking the Lord before I start my day.”
Thank you, Kathy!