Personnel

Richard Blackburn is Executive Director of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, where he has served since 1984.  He is an ordained minister in the Mennonite Church, and served ten years as chairperson of the Peace and Justice Committee of the Mennonite Church.

Prior to his calling to the peace center ministry, Richard taught Art History at Trinity College, Goshen College, and Northern Illinois University. More recently he has taught conflict transformation skills at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Goshen College, and Southern Methodist University-in-Legacy as a component of his work with LMPC.

Richard has led hundreds of workshops on conflict transformation and mediation skills; he has also had broad experience as a mediator and consultant, working primarily with conflicted churches, both at the congregational and judicatory level. For several years Richard participated in Dr. Edwin Friedman's "Post Graduate Clergy Seminar in Family Emotional Process." He also participated for four years in the "Postgraduate Program in Bowen Family Systems Theory and Its Applications" at the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family in Washington, D.C.

Richard is a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution and a number of other professional organizations in the field of alternative dispute resolution.

Tim Kaiser is Assistant Director for LMPC, joining the staff in 2008. An ordained Presbyterian minister, PC(USA), Tim previously served as Campus Chaplain and taught at a four year liberal arts college, following his service as a pastor in various congregations. Tim now serves with LMPC as a trainer and mediator, working with churches of all denominations.

Victoria Wilcox is Assistant for Communications for LMPC, joining the staff in 2008. Victoria is a graduate of Elmhurst College and is currently finishing her studies at McCormick Theological Seminary. In the past, Victoria has served as a Christian Education Director and Pastoral Intern. Victoria is currently a member of the Riverside Presbyterian Church and is an ordained elder.

Sheryl Reynolds Slack is Administrative Assistant for LMPC, joining the staff in 2000. Sheryl has been a Peace-with-Justice advocate in her United Methodist Church, and participated in the Peace Conferences at College of DuPage in the 1990s.

Mary Ellen O'Donnell is Administrative Assistant for LMPC, joining the staff in October, 2005.  Mary Ellen is a lector and a member of the social action committee at St. Eulalia Parish in Maywood, and is the site coordinator for the West Suburban PADS program based at St. Eulalia Parish.

Bob Williamson serves as Adjunct Faculty for LMPC.  He is a graduate of Concordia Senior College, Ft. Wayne, Indiana (B.A., 1972) and of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (M. Div., 1976).

Bob has also been trained in Bowen family systems theory,  having studied briefly under Dr. Edwin Friedman prior to his death. He has also participated in Dr. Peter Steinke's "Bridgebuilder" and "Healthy Congregations" training. Bob also participated in the "Special Post-Graduate Program in Bowen Family Systems Theory and It's Applications" at the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family in Washington, D.C.

Bob began his ministry as a pastor in the Lutheran Church.  Since joining the LMPC staff in 1992, he has led numerous workshops and judicatory training events.  In addition, Bob has conducted a number of congregational consultations and interventions.

Employment Opportunities

Lombard Mennonite Peace Center