Lesley Wilder
Lockhart,Texas
Summary
Dynamic Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant with extensive experience in strategic partnership and organizational improvement. Committed to creating inclusive cultures that promote trust and alignment, while successfully managing complex initiatives that support leadership and operational goals.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief of Staff
Rawson Saunders School for Dyslexia
Austin, Texas
11.2025 - Current
- Acted as a strategic partner to head of school, anticipating needs and advancing impactful decisions.
- Monitored organizational priorities, removed barriers, and reinforced accountability in head of school's office, ensuring alignment with strategic initiatives.
- Translated strategic vision into measurable goals and drove execution across faculty and leadership teams.
- Led cross-functional initiatives between head of school and internal and external constituents.
- Streamlined organizational systems and decision processes to better align resources with strategic priorities.
- Fostered collaborative, inclusive culture that promoted trust and engagement, enhancing alignment with mission.
- Collaborated with advancement leadership to enhance donor strategy, stewardship, and campaign initiatives.
- Co-managed executive communications, board materials, and institutional messaging for clarity and transparency.
Chief of Staff to the Dean and President, CEO
Seminary of the Southwest
07.2018 - 09.2025
- Advised CEO on executive discussions, providing solution-oriented ideas for growth.
- Planned CEO’s engagements with executive team, stakeholders, and external constituencies.
- Facilitated communication between CEO and board of trustees to ensure alignment.
- Co-created and maintained seminary’s five-year strategic plan and process.
- Established and chaired seminary’s first president’s cabinet, fostering collaboration.
- Coordinated functions of president's office, facilitating collaboration with board of trustees and senior leadership.
- Supported development of systems for departmental assessments and evaluations, enhancing overall effectiveness.
- Managed reception staff and organized institution-wide meetings, ensuring smooth communication and operations.
Executive Assistant to the Dean & President, CEO
Seminary of the Southwest
03.2016 - 07.2018
- Coordinated schedules and demands of dean and president's office, ensuring timely minute-taking for executive meetings.
- Served as secretary to board of trustees, managing administrative tasks to facilitate efficient meeting operations.
- Scheduled administrative and executive meetings to ensure efficient time management.
- Supervised front desk reception team, enhancing professional service standards and visitor experience.
- Oversaw seminary guest suite reservation system to optimize accommodation processes.
- Managed office supply inventory to ensure availability and reduce waste.
Administrative Assistant to the Registrar and Director of Assessment
Seminary of the Southwest
06.2012 - 03.2016
- Executed key functions of registrar’s office to enhance operational efficiency.
- Facilitated course registration process to enhance student experience.
- Collaborated with registrar on consulting students regarding degree plans and progress.
- Submitted end-of-semester grades accurately and timely.
- Assisted daily operations within seminary’s student services to adapt to evolving demands.
- Developed first annual student services survey for assessment and accreditation purposes.
- Coordinated meetings with southwest administration members to align on various initiatives.
- Managed routine filing and sorting of records to maintain organization.
In-Patient Services Coordinator
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
11.2008 - 05.2012
- Executed inpatient scheduling, order processing, faxing, filing, and telemetry monitoring to streamline patient experience.
- Demonstrated exceptional troubleshooting skills while addressing patient needs and physician demands.
- Contributed to hospital pilot team developing improvement plans for building expansion, enhancing service delivery.
- Promoted to new building space after demonstrating value through pilot team initiatives.
Education
200 Hour Yoga Teacher Certification -
Black Swan Yoga
01-2019
Personal Training Certification -
University of Texas
01-2017
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
University of Phoenix
01-2015
Skills
- Strategic planning
- Project management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Executive communication
- Risk management
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Organizational development
- Performance evaluation
- Fundraising
- Event coordination
- Problem solving
- Relationship building
Degrees And Certifications
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology, University of Phoenix, 01/01/11, 01/01/15
- Personal Training Certification, University of Texas, 01/01/17
- 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Certification, Black Swan Yoga, 01/01/19
Timeline
Chief of Staff
Rawson Saunders School for Dyslexia
11.2025 - Current
Chief of Staff to the Dean and President, CEO
Seminary of the Southwest
07.2018 - 09.2025
Executive Assistant to the Dean & President, CEO
Seminary of the Southwest
03.2016 - 07.2018
Administrative Assistant to the Registrar and Director of Assessment
Seminary of the Southwest
06.2012 - 03.2016
In-Patient Services Coordinator
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
11.2008 - 05.2012
200 Hour Yoga Teacher Certification -
Black Swan Yoga
Personal Training Certification -
University of Texas
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
University of Phoenix