From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)
Gillet, Charisse L.
Charisse L. Gillet became the 17th president of Lexington Theological Seminary (LTS) in September 2011-the first woman and African American in the seminary’s 146-year history. Gillett had been the seminary's vice president for administration and special projects since February 2010. Before that, she was a seminary trustee and an officer on the board [source: J. Warren “Lexington Theological Seminary names its first female president”].Holding a doctorate in education from Northern Illinois University, Gilet has more than 25 years of exceptional administrative experience including service at local colleges Transylvania University, where she served as the program director of the Lilly Project, and Midway College as the director of financial aid. Additionally, she completed a continuing education program called Foundations of Christian Leadership with Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, in collaboration with the Center for Creative Leadership [source: Meet Charisse Gillett, President of Lexington Theological Seminary]. In 2010 she became a commissioned minister of the Christian church (Disciples of Christ) and has served as associate minister East Second Street Christian Church where she had formerly served as a moderator presiding over the 2005 General Assembly [source: “Charisse L. Gillet”].
Dr. Gillett was born on January 1, 1962, and is the daughter of Mr. Clayton G. Brown and Ms. Vivian L. Brown, mother to Jeremy, Liyah, Tasia, and Trey, and grandmother to Jayda. She is married to the Rev. Dr. Donald K. Gillett, II, the Senior Pastor of East Second Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Lexington, KY and executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches [source: “Meet Charisse Gillett, President of Lexington Theological Seminary”].
This entry was written by Angelica Miller.
