Leslie Umstattd
Associate Professor of Christian Education and Ministry to Women Director of Christian Education Co-Faculty Coordinator, Ministry to Women Program
At a Glance
Biography
Leslie Umstattd serves as Associate Professor of Christian Education & Ministry to Women and Faculty Co-Coordinator, Ministry to Women Programs. She holds an Ed.D. from Midwestern Seminary, Masters of Marriage and Family Counseling and Religious Education from Southwestern Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Alabama. She began working at Midwestern in 2010, and she and her husband have been part of the MBTS community since 2008.
Dr. Umstattd came to Midwestern with over 15 years of experience in education, most recently serving as senior learning strategist at Cerner. She is a pastor’s wife and has served as a volunteer women’s ministry director for the past 10 years at her local church—teaching Bible studies, writing curriculum, and planning annual women’s retreats. She also serves as a children’s ministry volunteer.
Dr. Umstattd is passionate about education and loves to see students grow in their understanding of God’s design in the teaching and learning process. She and her husband, Rustin, have two daughters, Ashtin and Jordan
Education
Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management- University of Alabama
Masters Marriage and Family Counseling- Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Masters Religious Education- Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Doctorate of Education (EdD)- Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Faculty Q&A
As I teach and engage with students on the topic of Christian education, we talk a lot about teaching and learning in the context of the church. I love to see students make direct connections between the content they learn in class and the follow through with their teaching in the church. “For the Church” is not just a motto, it is embedded in the foundations of everything I teach. I do not teach simply for content acquisition but rather for transformation and application.
The students at Midwestern have a genuine desire to see God gloried in their life. I love being able to engage in rich and meaningful conversation about ministry and specifically about teaching and learning in ways that honor the Lord. Being a part of the For the Church cohort has been a life changing experience for me as a faculty member to engage with young women who deeply love the Lord and getting to walk alongside them in their first year journey at Midwestern has been a blessing. The faculty at Midwestern have a strong sense of faith, intelligence and encouragement. Teaching alongside the faculty at Midwestern is an honor.
I think of one my student Darren, who is about to graduate. He has a deep desire to learn and grow in his faith. He wants to take the things he has learned and applied them in his local church. He wants to make an impact in the world around him as a young Christian leader who thinks deeply about the things of God. Savannah, a first year student, who is incredibly gifted in teaching and is serving in her local church women’s ministry while in seminary. I think of Sarah, who is currently in my class, she wants to serve overseas and be a homeschool mom training up the next generation while taking the gospel to the nations. I think of Maddie, a first year student, who has a deep love for special needs children. She already serves at her local church in the children’s ministry and wants to start a special needs ministry at her church. I think of Abby, a first year student, who has been gifted with a strong sense of justice who wants to give voice to the helpless and hurting. These students give me hope for what the next generation of the church will do for the Lord.
