Our Staff
We have a small staff that supports day-to-day operations, engages with donors, connects with community partners, and manages the vocational calling and scholarship programs.
Ryan Ingersoll, M.Ed.
Executive Director
Ryan Ingersoll (he/him) is a relational, innovative, and compassionate leader with two decades of experience in higher education at several universities. Committed to authenticity and innovation, Ryan regularly asks questions and challenges the status quo to embody values that promote a holistic approach while creating a space for transformation, diversity, equity, and belonging. He is passionate about education and helping others uncover and integrate their vocational discernment.
Ryan is a first-generation college student formed by LBIS/TLC, earning a B.A. in Youth and Family Ministry at the Issaquah campus. Ryan also met his wife, Heather, at TLC. Ryan earned a Graduate Certificate in Christian Studies from Seattle Pacific Seminary and a M.Ed. in Digital Education Leadership from Seattle Pacific University
When he's not playing with his young kids or sharing morning coffee with Heather, you can find Ryan among the hops pondering life’s biggest questions with friends and family. Ryan enjoys serving the community through various volunteer roles, including serving as a board member for Clackamas Community College, as an elder at his church, on a committee for the local school district, and as a board member for Luther's Table in Renton, WA.
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ryan [at] trinityeducationfoundation.org
Maren Diamond
Office Assistant
Maren oversees day-to-day office operations, database systems, and donor managment.
Our Coaches
In several of our programs, TEF provides scholars with professional independent coaches. Our individualized support for scholars is based on coaching that centers the scholar while developing and maintaining a trusting relationship and cultivating an environment of curiosity and growth that enables the scholar to fully exercise their passions, goals, agency, and autonomy. Our primary focus is fostering a trusting, authentic, and relational environment. This environment encourages scholars to pursue educational and professional goals within a mutually trusting relationship with an experienced coach. Our scholars also engage in conversations and activities to support their development of calling and vocational discernment.
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Our Board of Trustees
TEF is governed by a Board of Trustees. Our trustees come from a range of professional backgrounds. Still, all share a passion for seeing students thrive in their vocations through a life of service-mindedness—honoring the traditions of Trinity Lutheran College and Lutheran Bible Institute Seattle.
Heather Goff, CPA CIA
Trustee, President
Heather lives in Bentonville, Arkansas where she is a Director, Finance System Transformation at Walmart, Inc. She graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting as well as Business Administration in Organizational Change Management. When faced with challenges and improving processes, Heather isn’t afraid to think outside of the box to create and implement nontraditional solutions and strategies. Heather joined the Board in 2021.
Aubrey Thonvold
Trustee, Vice President
Aubrey Thonvold (she/her) is a lifelong Lutheran who is committed to work centered on justice and equity for LGBTQIA+ people and their families within religious and faith communities. With a bachelor's from Trinity Lutheran College and a master's in Transforming Spirituality from The School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University, she strives to bring people in and invite all to the table. She is the executive director at Reconciling Works, a national non-profit working for the welcome, inclusion, celebration, and advocacy of LGBTQIA+ people and their families in the Lutheran church. Aubrey has worked on marriage campaigns in Washington, Hawaii, and Oregon, organizing outreach, education, and advocacy and encouraging faith communities to support the freedom to marry for LGBTQIA+ couples. Aubrey and her spouse Heather both have a call to ministry, a love of adventures, and enjoy time with family and friends. Aubrey joined the Board in 2021.
Jon Snare
Trustee, Treasurer
Jon is the Managing Partner of the Seattle office of Bordeaux Wealth Advisors. He has nearly 30 years of financial advisory experience. Jon earned an M.B.A. from Wayne State University and a B.A. with a major in Finance from the University of Nebraska. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and the Certified Financial Planner designation. He is a member of the CFA Institute, the CFA Society of Seattle and the Financial Planning Association of Puget Sound. Additionally, he is an Adjunct Faculty Member at the Albers School of Business at Seattle University where he teaches graduate Finance classes. Jon lives in Bellevue, WA with his wife Jane. They have two grown children. In his spare time, Jon enjoys traveling, cooking, exercising, reading and watching sports. Jon joined the Board in 2024
Joan Thorson
Trustee, Secretary
Joan loves to see people light up with their passions and gifts in life. Helping students to find their voice and a sense of belonging is her greatest joy. Joan is a 2013 graduate of Trinity Lutheran College. She is currently enjoying being a professional coach empowering individuals to discover and live out God’s calling. Joan and her husband Dave have two adult children and spend their spare time gardening in Stanwood. Joan joined the Board in 2019.
Rev. Miguel Gomez-Acosta
Trustee
Rev. Miguel Gomez-Acosta has a B.A. in Biblical Studies Lutheran Bible Institute of Seattle and a M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary. He served as a parish pastor for 10 years, as a mission developer and redeveloper, before being called to the Grand Canyon Synod of the ELCA as Director for Evangelical Mission, where he served for 7 years. Today he serves as the Senior Director for New Ministry Development and Evangelism for the ELCA. Pr. Miguel is an evangelist and missionary at heart which he also lives out as a coach for missional pastors and congregations. He is an ICF Associate Certified Coach who enjoys working with both individuals and teams. Pr. Miguel resides in Chandler, AZ with his wife and two young adult children. Miguel joined the Board in 2024.
Sue Houglum, M.Ed.
Trustee
Sue Houglum (she, her) lives in Bellevue, Washington, with her husband, Mark. She is
retired from a long teaching career in mostly remote areas of Alaska (Teller, Nome, and
Kodiak), Nashville, Tennessee, and at Trinity Lutheran College in Everett and Issaquah. Trinity honored Sue with the title of Professor Emerita upon her retirement in 2015. Sue graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 1971 with a BA degree in Religion and Sociology. Her M.Ed. was earned at Vanderbilt University in 1985. Most of her adult life was spent teaching in a variety of positions from preschool to college. In 1996, she became the professor of Christian Education at LBIS/TLC. During her 20 years in that position, Sue taught in the areas of Early Childhood Education and Children, Youth and Family Studies. Her specialty was in nature education, connecting young children with the out of doors. Currently, Sue volunteers at the Bellevue Botanical Garden, spends time in her yard growing vegetables, blueberries and flowers, and reads about 100 books each year. Sue joined the Board in 2024.
Judy Yu
Trustee
Judy serves as the Associate Director for Executive Enrollment and Strategic
Partnerships at Seattle University—a title that reflects her passion for connecting talented professionals with transformative opportunities. Her work revolves around recruiting for our executive education programs, including the Leadership Executive MBA and the Executive Leadership Program. Judy fosters meaningful relationships with prospective students and their employers, many of whom generously invest in the growth of their workforce. Judy joined the Board in 2024.
Patrick Brady
Trustee
Patrick is an alumnus of Seattle Pacific University. Six years ago, Patrick was elected by the union membership as the financial secretary/treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587, where he serves as the chief financial officer and labor negotiator. Patrick has answered God’s call to service by taking on many different roles at his church over the years, including youth ministry, interim pastor, business manager, and various committee roles. He currently serves on the board of Compass Housing Alliance. Patrick joined the Board in 2020.