Introducing Shelby Coble

We are pleased to announce that Shelby Coble has expanded her work with the Siburt Institute as our new assistant director

Our colleague Shelby Coble has been working with the Siburt Institute for almost three years, first as a student worker and graduate assistant and then as our research associate. Her presence within the Siburt Institute has offered support with events and consulting relationships while also providing resource material for our website. However, this spring she accepted the appointment to become Assistant Director of the Institute, effective June 3rd.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the hard work of our leadership, the Siburt Institute has continued to grow lately. Shelby’s new role is both an expression of that expansion and will catalyze further development. While aspects of her new role will continue to engage her strengths of pastoral listening, focus group oversight, and material development, she will assist in the creation and implementation of an array of new initiatives that the Siburt Institute will launch with various partners. In her new role, she will manage Siburt’s consultative work and partner with the other Siburt Institute church consultants while maintaining research and writing related to the needs of congregations and ministers.

Shelby recently completed her Master of Divinity degree in ACU’s Graduate School of Theology, receiving the Outstanding Leadership and Academic Excellence awards from the department along with the Stone-Campbell Journal award for a promising scholar. Her presence in the Siburt Institute while pursuing her degree provided immense contextual experiences that informed and furthered her learnings. Her foundations in scholarship and ministry provide value as she continues to engage with churches and ministers and on various Siburt initiatives. 

Shelby originally came to ACU after having served for six years at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, as an event coordinator and first impressions coordinator. This ministry work followed her earning a Bible and Ministry degree from Harding University in Arkansas. Shelby utilizes her presence on ACU’s campus to mentor undergraduate students and discuss where God is at work in their lives. She also finds enjoyment in running, clipping coupons for her next H-E-B trip, and watching an array of sports, especially SEC football. 

We are excited to see how Shelby’s role will continue to resource Siburt’s mission of equipping leaders and helping churches thrive!