2024-2025 Coaches
Each scholar is paired with a professional coach for a year of individualized coaching. TEF's individualized support for scholars based on coaching is centered on the scholar. Coaches are dedicated to developing and maintaining a trusting relationship and cultivating an environment of curiosity and growth that enables scholars to fully exercise their passions, goals, agency, and autonomy. This environment should encourage scholars to pursue educational and professional goals while discerning their unique vocational calling.
​
Learn more about our coaches.
&
Explore resources for vocational discernment.
Dawn Williams, MA, LMFTA
Dawn Williams has 31 years of non-profit business experience working for the global humanitarian organization, World Vision. Once her husband retired from the Navy, and her children were in college, Dawn reimagined her future and passion for helping couples and families in crisis. During her final years at World Vision, Dawn decided to go to school and get her Bachelors's degree in Psychology. In the summer of 2021, she graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with her Masters in Marriage & Family Therapy, and now works at Integrated Therapy Services, in University Place, WA. Dawn is a living example of the dynamic journey of vocation and the unique path of finding joy and fulfillment in a career while serving the world to create positive impact.
Watch Dawn's Intro Video
Erik Samuelson, MDiv, MA, PCC
Erik Samuelson is a leadership, vocation, and transformation coach who works with individuals, teams, companies, churches, non-profits, and educational institutions. Erik holds the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential from the International Coaching Federation and is a certified Church Planter Coach through Fuller Seminary. He is the founder of "Come Alive Coaching," which offers coaching, workshops, practices, and resources to individuals and communities looking to deepen their impact, renew their organization, and develop leaders. As a former college professor and campus pastor, Erik delights in helping young adults (and not-so-young adults) discover their calling and live into their vocational potential. He is a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and has led, consulted, or coached several new ministry starts, networks, and congregational renewal efforts. He also does coaching through Vibrant Faith.
Watch Erik's Intro Video
Heather Mayer, MASF
Heather Mayer has been working in ministry and early childhood education for 15 years. After graduating with an undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon in Psychology, she jumped into a masters program at George Fox Seminary, now Portland Seminary. She completed a Master’s in Spiritual Formation, entering headfirst into ministry as the Associate Director of Youth Ministry at New Hope Community Church. When her daughter turned two, Heather redirected her focus to support ministry as a volunteer and being a homemaker, but the calling of becoming a licensed spiritual director remained firmly in her heart. When her second child turned two and her daughter started full time school, Heather reentered the workforce, but this time to work as an early childhood educator. In 2020, she opened her own nature-based preschool called Lucky Ducklings, which she continues to run and direct. In 2020, she also went back to Portland Seminary to complete and finalize her education by becoming certified in the art of Spiritual Direction. Since then, Heather has worked as an independent Spiritual Director, contracted with George Fox University, Portland Seminary, The Companioning Center, and West Hills Covenant Church. She also teaches soul-care and spiritual formation classes with the Companioning Center, and most recently became certified as a Nature Immersion Guide, practicing and guiding in the art of Shinrin Yoku or Forest Bathing. Heather is at her most centered and joyful place while companioning folks into wholeness and authenticity. And if she can do that work out in nature and surrounded by the trees, well that’s just the icing on the cake.
Watch Heather's Intro Video
Shannon Wallis, MBA, PCC
Shannon Wallis is a business acceleration consultant and coach who works with leaders to create strategies and build capabilities that achieve results. Prior to founding Cascade Leadership, Shannon was the global director of high-potential leadership development at Microsoft and the chief architect of an award-winning international leadership program. Shannon believes anything is possible, and change is a series of baby steps taken along a path to transformation. In her new book, WE the Change: Launching Big Ideas and Creating New Realities, Shannon chronicles her adventure of having walked 500 miles across Spain without any prior hiking experience. WE the Change provides a road map for anyone yearning to transform their life, organization, or community.
Vocational Discernment Resources
We believe in the unique vocational calling of every human--including each of our scholars.
The core of the mission of TEF is to help our scholars learn about vocational calling and begin discerning their unique place in the world.
One's calling is much more than a job or profession--it is much more expansive and malleable. You could say that a calling is interwoven into a beautiful tapestry that is your life. A vocational call isn't only reserved for those who find work in a church or ministry environment. Luther was the catalyst for "priesthood of all believers," which is foundational to the history of TEF in the legacy of Lutheran Bible Institute of Seattle and Trinity Lutheran College (LBIS/TLC).
In Wishful Thinking, theologian Frederick Buechner offers a profound view of vocation:
​
"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."
We invite each scholar into a period of wondering and discerning. We provide dedicated coaches to support the journey. Additionally, TEF recommends a number of resources to use as conversation partners—for now and into the future!
Please contact Ryan Ingersoll if you would like any of these books!
Calling and Clarity: Discovering What God Wants for Your Life
Koskela, Douglas. Eerdmans, 2015.
​
Specifically written for college students. Douglas is a professor at Seattle Pacific University.
Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human
Riley, Cole Arthur. Convergent, 2024.
​​
A profound book engaging in multiple important conversations. Cole writes about calling in the sixth chapter.​
Nobody Cries When We Die: God, Community, and Surviving to Adulthood.
Reyes, Patrick B. Chalice Press, 2016.
​
Vocational discernment through the lens of Patrick's personal story and the myriad of challenges. Patrick taught at Trinity Lutheran College until its closure in 2016 and now serves as the dean at Auburn Theological Seminary.