Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Training
Professional Affiliations
Timeline
Hi, I’m

Laura Fairchild

New Rochelle,NY
Laura Fairchild

Summary

Student-centered Associate Director with 3.5 units of CPE in the ACPE, training in Spiritual Direction, and two years of experience joyfully assisting in the training and mentorship of student ministers. A team-oriented leader with success redeveloping co-curricular programs for spiritual nourishment, community engagement, and personal growth. Devoted to offering quality spiritual care and creating space to encounter grace.

Overview

4
years of professional experience

Work History

Iona University
New Rochelle, NY

Associate Director
04.2022 - Current

Job overview

  • In collaboration with the Director: recruit, select, and train eight students to lead teams of 6-10 peers on local, domestic, or international service immersions centered on various social justice topics.
  • Extensive planning with organizations that host Iona students to conduct site visits, prepare a trip itinerary, arrange accommodations, share needs, and coordinate other details.
  • Directed trip leaders regularly, offered guidance, tracked team fundraising, and problem-solved as the group progressed from preparation through post-trip reflection.
  • Evaluated student response to Kairos and shifted to a more transparent promotional strategy to increase awareness and comfortability. Introduced new moderators from Residence Life and Club Sports to support the team and foster staff interest.
  • Assisted with divisional programs and events such as New Student Orientation and served on Student Life committees as needed.

Iona University
New Rochelle, NY

Assistant Director of Retreats and Spirituality
08.2021 - 04.2022

Job overview

  • Assisted with Fall and Summer training retreats to help prepare a team of 10 campus ministers for community service roles and campus programming; supervised at least two student ministers through weekly one-on-ones for support and consultation.
  • Guided Kairos retreat program that engages 30-40 students each semester by collaborating with the Chaplain and student director to select and mentor six student leaders who commit to creating a safe space for peer-to-peer support, reflection, and community.
  • Invited Counseling Center staff to offer retreat leaders practical support regarding small group facilitation, inclusive communication, and neurodiversity; welcomed staff members from Residence Life and Admissions to serve as first-time Kairos moderators.
  • Organized a campus-wide collection of 150 food baskets for local families identified by four community organizations; engaged student groups, staff, administrators, and faculty.
  • Utilized Canva to create flyers, TV slides, information packets, presentations, social media marketing, and other designs.

Penn Medicine Princeton Health
Plainsboro, NJ

Chaplain Resident
08.2019 - 05.2020

Job overview

  • Completed three units of CPE by offering comfort and support to patients and families experiencing difficulty coping with a diagnosis or hospitalization on the Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) and Medical, Neurology, Oncology, (MNO) units.
  • Responded to referrals from the interdisciplinary team to assess patient needs and effectively initiate helping relationships regarding end-of-life decision-making.
  • Collaborated with Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and other Staff Chaplains to meet patient's religious, spiritual, and cultural needs.
  • Transitioned to telechaplaincy model temporarily during the pandemic; worked with Pastoral Care Manager to offer music to quarantined patients for spiritual uplift.
  • Worked with cohort to plan and conduct 15-minute chapel services every Friday.

Princeton House Behavioral Health
Princeton, NJ

Chaplain Intern
06.2019 - 08.2019

Job overview

  • Completed half-unit of CPE at a 110-bed inpatient treatment center for adults seeking care for mental health or substance use issues. On-call for emergency pastoral care.
  • Led three spirituality groups each week with openness, respect, and inclusion to explore the role of patients’ personal beliefs in their recovery and healing.
  • Offered spiritual support related to grief, loss, addiction, guilt, and chronic illness.

Education

Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton, NJ

Master of Divinity
05.2019

University Overview

  • David Hugh Jones Award in Music

Kean University
Union, NJ

Bachelor of Science from Accounting
05.2014

University Overview

Skills

  • Individual Spiritual Direction
  • Grief and Crisis Care
  • Supervision, Coaching, and Mentoring
  • Preaching and Message Writing
  • Program Planning and Evaluation
  • Active Listening
  • Spiritual and Emotional Support
  • Leadership in Diverse Spiritual Settings

Training

Training
  • Spiritual Direction | Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development - 2019
  • Adult Mental Health First Aid | National Council for Wellbeing - 2022

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations
  • Virtual Spiritual Director, Synergy Wesley Foundation - University of Texas at Dallas (09/2022 - Present)

Timeline

Associate Director
Iona University
04.2022 - Current
Assistant Director of Retreats and Spirituality
Iona University
08.2021 - 04.2022
Chaplain Resident
Penn Medicine Princeton Health
08.2019 - 05.2020
Chaplain Intern
Princeton House Behavioral Health
06.2019 - 08.2019
Princeton Theological Seminary
Master of Divinity
Kean University
Bachelor of Science from Accounting

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Laura Fairchild