Meet the Team!
Pastor Tondala Hayward Campus Minister
Pastor Tondala Hayward has deep ties to Memphis Wesley and a heart for campus ministry. She has served Wesley Memphis as a volunteer as well as chair, vice chair, and member of the Memphis Wesley Board of Directors. Before her faithful involvement with the board, she volunteered to bring meals with her church on Tuesday nights. Pastor Tondala is very excited to be a Campus Minister for not only United Methodist students but for all students from various religious backgrounds, ethnicities, gender, and socioeconomic status.
Pastor Tondala, as many call her, is an ordained Elder in The United Methodist Church (UMC). She conferred a Bachelor of Science in Education with a sociology minor from the University of Memphis, a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix, and a Master of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary. In the United Methodist Church, she has gracefully navigated pastoring cross racial and cross-cultural churches and served on teams and boards. Currently, she co-facilitates the Tennessee Western Kentucky Anti-Racism Coalition (TWK-ARC). The mission of the TWK-ARC seeks to awaken the voice of justice in the United Methodist Church. The coalition commits to be unapologetically explicit in eradicating racism from our church and communities by sharing the love of Christ to all people in all places.
Leading and participating in ministries at churches and communities along with being a licensed k-6 elementary teacher in the public school system have afforded her with many opportunities to express the love of Christ.
Tondala likes to garden, decorate, read, macrame, and watch Law and Order. She is married and has two sons, one stepdaughter and two granddaughters.
Her favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Her spiritual animal is an eagle.
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
The scripture and spirit animal reminds her that all things are possible, when you trust God, believe in Jesus, and follow the Holy Spirit.
Ashley Harris
Graduate Leadership Intern
Associate Director of Worship
Ashley Harris is a singer/songwriter from Memphis. She received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the illustrious Xavier University of Louisiana before receiving a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Memphis. Ashley serves as a worship leader and organizer at Dominion Christian Center and is working within her graduate studies to develop a curriculum and conversations centered on multicultural music history. She employs musical insights from past and present influences to relate inclusive and relevant concepts within worship, but never forgets to allow Spirit to lead as she connects heart to heart with the Wesley community and the l greater Memphis area.
In her new role at Memphis Wesley, Ashley will take on the challenge of expanding our ensemble to enhance our student worship experience. Alongside Daniel, she will also aid in developing student musicians, including coordination and planning of Tuesday community night programming and worship.
Daniel Ward
Graduate Leadership Intern
Musician
Daniel Ward is a composer, conductor, singer, and pianist/organist from Memphis. He received his Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education from the University of Memphis. Daniel serves as the Director of Music at St. Anne Catholic Church and is active as a freelance composer, private voice and piano teacher, and performer. He distinctly understands the role music plays in the worship of many denominations and faiths and works to use music to deepen the worship experience and foster full and enthusiastic participation in worship.
In his new role at Memphis Wesley, Daniel will work to enhance our student worship experience by developing student musicians, including coordination and planning of Tuesday community night programming and worship.
Our Board of Directors
Officers
Lisa Chitwood, Chair & Personnel Team Lead
Carla Taylor, Co-Chair & Facilities Team Lead
Matthew Lott, Treasurer & Finance Team Lead
Gary Vanasek, Secretary & Development Team Lead
Elaine Cain, Nominations Team Lead
Voting Members
Rev. Charles Elliott
Ayanna Hampton
JT McCallen
Rev. Fred Morton
Catherine Phelps
Rev. Dean Emerson
Danielle Seemann
April Thompson
James Haley II
Renee Hardaway
Rev. Christy Brown
Voting Student Representatives
Jackie Madrid - Christian Brothers University
Cali VanCleve - Rhodes College
Kyla Smith - University of Memphis
Avery Willis - LeMoyne Owen College
Campus Advisors
Dr. David Arant - University of Memphis
Rev. Dr. Michael Moore - LeMoyne-Owen College
Dr. Elizabeth Thomas - Rhodes College
Joel Vera - Christian Brothers University
Ex-Officio Members
Erv Walker, Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference Trustees Chair
Eliza Ford, Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference Board of Higher Education & Campus Ministry Representative
Pastor Tondala Hayward, Campus Minister