Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation Appoints New Executive Director—Dr. Margaret Benefiel

Washington, DC—The Board of Directors of the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Margaret Benefiel as the Executive Director for Shalem Institute effective July 1, 2015. A teacher, consultant and scholar in the field of organizational leadership, Dr. Benefiel brings a unique combination of gifts and skills to […]

Washington, DC—The Board of Directors of the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Margaret Benefiel as the Executive Director for Shalem Institute effective July 1, 2015. A teacher, consultant and scholar in the field of organizational leadership, Dr. Benefiel brings a unique combination of gifts and skills to this position.

For over two decades, Dr. Benefiel has run her own consulting, speaking, training and coaching business, Executive Soul, helping leaders and organizations nurture their souls and express their deepest values institutionally. At the same time, she has taught as adjunct faculty at Andover Newton Theological School in the area of contemplative leadership. Her consulting, speaking, and teaching have taken her to most of the U.S., as well as to Ireland, England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Finland and Kenya.

Dr. Benefiel holds a B.A. in History from Princeton University, an M.A. in Mathematics from Portland State University, an M.A. in Theology from Earlham School of Religion, and a PhD in Spirituality from Catholic University of America. She is a graduate of Shalem’s Nurturing the Call: Spiritual Guidance Program and a member of Shalem’s Society for Contemplative Leadership, a group of Shalem graduates dedicated to sharing insights, resources and a shared spiritual discipline.


Dr. Benefiel is an accomplished writer who has written extensively on various aspects of contemplative leadership and spirituality at work, including The Soul of Supervision; The Soul of a Leader: Finding Your Path to Fulfillment and Success; and Soul at Work: Spiritual Leadership in Organizations. She is currently at work on a book about contemplative higher education.

“We are delighted to have someone of Margaret’s stature join Shalem in this capacity,” said Shalem’s board president, CeCe Balboni. “Her experience and vision excite us as we all trust the Spirit to guide us into the future.”

The Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation is a non-profit, religious organization that has provided in-depth support for contemplative living and leadership for over 40 years, offering a wide variety of programs and resources for spiritual directors, clergy, lay leaders and individuals who want to open themselves more fully to God in their daily lives and work. More details about Shalem and its ministry can be found at http://www.shalem.org

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