KEES Executive Search client partner Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) announces Sandra Nelson as its next Vice President for Advancement. Ms. Nelson started in the role on June 15, 2020.

Sandra Nelson is a highly qualified and successful advancement professional who has been working in faith-based, healthcare, and higher education philanthropic areas since 1990.

Sandra comes to Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) from Concordia University, where she served as Vice President at the Foundation since 2015. Prior to her position at Concordia, Sandra worked in nonprofit consulting—both in her own company, SHN Advisors, and with The Alford Group. Other previous roles include President of the Foundation and Vice President of Development at Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare; Vice President Foundation, Corporate and Government Relations at Advocate Healthcare; Director of Donor Services at The Chicago Community Trust; and Director of Development and Communication with The Presbyterian Church (USA). Sandra has a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University and held CFRE certification for 21 years.

“I have known about the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago for a long time and its commitment to form leaders for a public church. This position brings together my love of the church with my professional background. I look forward to working with people of faith to shape those who will go out to serve the church as leaders.”

-Sandra Nelson

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago retained KEES as its Executive Search client partner for the Vice President for Advancement position in January 2020. KEES has also partnered with LSTC on three previous searches, successfully placing candidates in the roles of Director of Advancement Operations, Major Gifts Officer, and Director of Philanthropic Engagement in 2019.

KEES is a retained executive search firm that builds transformative nonprofit teams and leaders. Founded in 2013 as an expansion of Alford Executive Search, KEES partners specifically with nonprofit organizations to provide an array of services including executive search, leadership development, succession planning, interim staffing and human resources consulting.

Based in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) is the leading urban Lutheran seminary training students to serve in the global community. True to its Lutheran heritage and built on a foundation of intellectual rigor, its innovative, nationally recognized curriculum equips students for visionary ministry. LSTC’s curriculum cultivates competencies for leadership in a public church that focuses on community engagement, public witness, and social transformation. LSTC’s holistic approach to theological education breaks academic disciplines out of their silos and allows creative collaboration to flourish. To learn more, visit www.lstc.edu.