Matthew Sleeth, MD – Executive Director

A former emergency room physician, Dr. Matthew Sleeth resigned from his position as chief of the medical staff and director of the ER to teach, preach, and write about faith and the environment. Since founding Blessed Earth, he has spoken at 1,000 churches and schools throughout the country. Dr. Sleeth is a graduate of George Washington University School of Medicine and has two postdoctoral fellowships. He is the author of Serving God, Saving the Planet: A Christian Call to Action, the introduction to The Green Bible , and 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life.  Contact Matthew!

Nancy Sleeth – Managing Director

As co-founder and Managing Director of Blessed Earth, Nancy Sleeth travels throughout the U.S. speaking and writing about faith and the environment. Prior to heeding this spiritual and environmental calling, Sleeth served as communications director for a Fortune 500 company and as an educator and administrator, most recently at Asbury University. Nancy is a graduate of Georgetown University and holds a masters degree in journalism. She is the author of Almost Amish: One Woman’s Quest for a Slower, Simpler, More Sustainable Life. She also authored Go Green, Save Green, the first-ever practical guide for going green from a faith perspective. Nancy and Matthew Sleeth have been married for more than 30 years. They live in Lexington, KY, near their grown children, Clark (a physician preparing for medical missions) and Emma (creation care speaker/author for teens and young adults). Contact Nancy!

Will Samson – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SEMINARY STEWARDSHIP ALLIANCE

Will Samson combines academic rigor with real-world engagement to shape and direct the Seminary Stewardship Alliance, an organization that assists seminaries and divinity schools in their efforts to incorporate care for God’s creation into their curriculum and practices. He is the author of multiple books, book chapters and articles, including Justice in the Burbs and Enough. Last year Yale published his research on religious responses to mountaintop removal mining, and his work on American evangelicalism will be featured in The New Evangelical Social Engagement, published by Oxford University Press. Will serves on the Board of Directors of Common Change, a group experimenting with alternative models of giving. He is involved in community gardening efforts through his volunteer work with Seedleaf, a Lexington-based food initiative. Contact Will!

Laura Leavell – External Relations Coordinator 

Laura joined the Blessed Earth team in June 2012 as External Relations Coordinator. She facilitates the Creation Care Year program, partnering with The Wesleyan Church in 2013-2014 and then churches across North Carolina the following year. Laura also works on public relations, event planning, and development. Before coming to Blessed Earth, Laura completed her Masters at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky. Contact Laura!

Jessica McKinney – Communications Assistant

Growing up in Ohio, Jessica learned to appreciate the beauty of creation through the trees and fields surrounding her small hometown, as well as through family trips to the ocean and desert.  Her love of reading inspired her to read nearly every book in the children’s section of the town library by age 12.  After relocating to the Lexington area in 2007, Jessica earned a Masters degree in Library Science from Eastern Kentucky University. Since joining the Blessed Earth team in March 2012, Jessica puts her skills to use by managing the Blessed Earth websites and working on various writing projects. Contact Jessica!

EMMA SLEETH – SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR

Emma, a recent graduate of Asbury University, wrote It’s Easy Being Green as a teenager. When not speaking to high school and college students about creation care, she assists other members of the Blessed Earth team with research, writing, and design projects. She enjoys writing and protecting the planet, but what she really loves about her job is how often she gets to go to the post office. Contact Emma!