Killough concludes role as Director of Campaign

Published: November 14, 2024

By Annette Brill Bergstresser

Paula Killough, MDiv, of Elkhart, Indiana, ended her time as Director of Campaign for Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Indiana, in October 2024 after more than six years of service. She will continue to serve as an instructor for AMBS’s Practical Leadership Training modules. 

Killough joined AMBS as Interim Director of Development in June 2018, following her retirement from her role as Senior Executive for Advancement for Mennonite Mission Network in August 2017. In 2019, she became half-time Interim Advisor to Advancement. She transitioned to her current part-time role in July 2020.  

In this role, she oversaw the seminary’s Forming Leaders Together campaign, which began in 2021 to nurture and develop Anabaptist leaders in the U.S., Canada and across the world. She led the development of the campaign plan and policies; recruited campaign leaders; worked with the President and Development Team to plan donor connections; and oversaw campaign communication. AMBS exceeded its $12 million goal for the campaign, which ended June 30, 2024.

Killough saw “robust relationship-building” as a key accomplishment of the campaign. The seminary strengthened existing relationships and responded to invitations to enter into new collaborative relationships with leaders of Anabaptist-Mennonite organizations across the world to work toward educating and forming Anabaptist leaders in their contexts. These invitations and connections came about through the seminary’s collaboration with Mennonite World Conference.

These relationships also led to forays into joint marketing and fundraising with the collaborative organizations, Killough said. These turned out to be positive and rewarding experiences in which all of the organizations gained knowledge about fundraising best practices. 

Through the campaign — which began with a listening project with leaders in Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA — the seminary developed new programs and strengthened existing ones to provide practical training for leaders in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. All of the campaign initiatives are now funded through 2032, Killough said.

“Because of her love for AMBS, Paula delayed her retirement to provide leadership for this campaign,” said David Boshart, PhD, President. “Her deep experience in fundraising, her steady hand and her leadership in building a coalition of support were the key ingredients in making this campaign successful. AMBS owes Paula a deep debt of gratitude for her support in making the mission of AMBS sustainable.” 

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