EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH 2026
We are entering into a process of discernment to identify Shalem’s next executive director in light of Margaret Benefiel’s retirement after 10 years of service.
Video Recordings of Transition Town Halls
Frequently Asked Questions
Keep checking this page for any announcements and updates from the Board of Directors regarding the status of the search process.
COMMUNITY UPDATES
1/9/26: Read the President of the Board Jeffrey Ross’s message about trusting the Spirit to guide us during this liminal time of transition:
Shalem in Transition: A Time for Discernment
Beloved,
Grace and peace to you as we stand together at an important threshold in the life of our community.
In Celtic tradition, thresholds are holy places. They are neither the place we have been nor yet the place we are going. They are liminal spaces—thin places—where the Spirit often feels closer, more active, and sometimes more unsettling. We do not rush through these spaces. We listen in them. We pray in them. We trust that God is already at work there as we expectantly seek the Divine… Read more.
VIDEO RECORDINGS OF TRANSITION TOWN HALLS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When will the position be advertised?
The board of Shalem is engaging in a comprehensive recruitment process that will begin with clarification of Shalem’s direction, leadership needs, and hiring criteria. Assuming all goes according to plan, the position should be posted in early spring.
Will there be opportunities to provide input into the recruitment process?
Yes! The first opportunity to inform the process will be through a series of “Transition Town Halls,” designed to invite community input on a path to success, which ultimately will help inform the hiring criteria for the new executive director. Additional opportunities for community participation will follow and might include candidate nominations, participation in a screening committee to review top candidates, or supporting the on-boarding process.
Is Shalem using a search consultant? If so, who is it?
Yes, Shalem has been working with Sonia Stamm, Principal of Stamm Consultancy, Inc. Ms. Stamm brings over 30 years of experience in supporting nonprofit organizations through critical junctures, including leadership transitions. With a background in retained executive search, Sonia has guided numerous nonprofits through the executive search process.
If I am interested in the position, how do I apply?
When the position is posted in the spring, the notice will include information on how and where to submit your application for consideration by the Search Committee.
Can I nominate someone for the position? If so, how?
Absolutely. When the position is posted, you will be invited to recommend candidates directly to the search consultant.
Who is making the hiring the decision?
For a nonprofit corporation, the responsibility for hiring a chief executive lies with its board of directors. That said, the Shalem Board is committed to engaging in a recruitment process that invites input from the larger Shalem community – e.g., Shalem Society members, staff, donors, and program participants.
If you have other questions, please contact Pamela Leland, Shalem’s Interim Executive Director at pam@shalem.org