Russell Moore is President of the ERLC. In this role, he leads the organization to connect the agenda of the kingdom of Christ to the cultures of local congregations for the sake of the gospel. He holds a Ph.D. in systematic theology from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of several books, including The Storm-Tossed Family: How the Cross Reshapes the Home. He and his wife Maria are the parents of five boys. Read more here.

Daniel Patterson is Executive Vice President of the ERLC. In this role, he serves as the ERLC’s chief operating officer and leads the team to develop and drive innovative strategies to equip churches and address the key moral and ethical issues of the day. He holds a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and has wife Molly have been married since 2010, and together they have three children.

Brent Leatherwood serves as Chief of Staff. In this role, he directs the office of the President and is also responsible for strategic partnerships and media relations. Before coming to the ERLC, he served as the executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party from December 2012 to December 2016, where he managed the organization’s campaign apparatus at the federal, state and local levels. He also worked on Capitol Hill as a senior legislative aide to former Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fla. Brent and his wife Meredith have three children and are members of The Church at Avenue South, where Brent serves as a deacon.

Travis Wussow serves as the Vice President for Public Policy and General Counsel. Travis led the ERLC’s first international office located in the Middle East prior to joining the Washington DC office. He received a B.B.A. in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law. He and his wife, Katie, have two daughters.

Elizabeth Graham serves as Director of Events for the ERLC. Her responsibilities include directing the leadership, management, and operations of all ERLC events. Additionally, Elizabeth directs women’s initiatives and provides leadership, guidance, and strategy for the ERLC’s pro-life initiatives—including Stand for Life, Evangelicals for Life, and the Psalm 139 Project. Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is married to Richmond, and they have a son and a daughter.

Elizabeth Bristow serves as the Press Secretary. Elizabeth oversees press and media operations for the organization. Elizabeth received a B.A. in Public Relations and Marketing from Union University in 2010. She and her husband reside in Texas and are blessed with two beautiful children.

Tom Strode serves as Washington correspondent for Baptist Press. Tom and his wife, Linda, have been married since 1978. They have two children, who have wonderful spouses, and four grandchildren. Tom also serves as pastor of Covenant Community Church in Fredericksburg, Va. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary.

Trillia Newbell serves as the Director of Community Outreach. Trillia has a degree in political science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and is currently pursuing her M.A. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is the author of several books including Sacred Endurance: Finding Grace and Strength for a Lasting Faith, United: Captured by God’s Vision for Diversity, and the children’s book, God’s Very Good Idea: A True Story of God’s Delightfully Different Family. Trillia lives in the Nashville area with her husband Thern and their two children

Steven Harris serves as a Policy Director, with a particular focus on the U.S. Senate. In this role, he works with government leaders in the legislative and executive branches to advocate for the ERLC’s position on important issues, while also analyzing legislation and producing content for ERLC outlets. He holds a B.S. in Religion from Vanderbilt University, an M.Div. from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, an M.A. in Religion from Yale University, and is currently a PhD student in the Study of Religion at Harvard University. Steven lives in the D.C. metro area with his bride, Sunni, and their two sons.

Stacey Keck serves in the business and finance area, preparing payroll, accounts payable and assisting with other accounting functions. She and her husband, Bryan, were married in 1992 and are busy raising two boys.

Rachel Wiles serves as Events Project Manager. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Family Studies from Union University in 2005. Rachel and her husband Brad have been married since 2006 and have a son and a daughter. 

Meagan Smith serves on the Events Staff for the ERLC. Meagan has a B.A. in Psychology from Lee University and a Master of Divinity in Great Commission Ministries from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Lindsay Nicolet serves as the Managing Editor of Content. She oversees the day-to-day management of our online content from the Nashville office. Lindsay completed her Master of Divinity at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is married to Justin and they have one daughter.

Marie Delph serves as the Deputy Communications Director. Her primary duties are editing, web management and assisting the Vice President for Communications. Marie came to the ERLC in 2010, having previously served three years as a staff writer for the International Mission Board. She moved to the Nashville area in 2009 when she married her husband, Zach. She and her husband have two sons.

Kevin Miller is the Video Producer for the ERLC. He shoots and edits many of the in-house interviews and promotional videos. Along with serving the ERLC, he works full time in the production department at WTVF in Nashville and is the chief video producer at First Baptist Church, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Kevin Miller has a bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Electronic Media Communication Production.

Kris Towers serves on the Events Team for the ERLC. His responsibilities include assisting with planning events, working with sponsors and exhibitors, and overseeing conference apps. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia where he received a B.S. in Health Promotion.

Joshua B. Wester serves as Chair of Research in Christian Ethics. In this role, he provides analysis, content, and counsel on ethical issues to advance the ERLC’s internal and external needs, directs research and content development for the President, and coordinates the ERLC’s academic partnerships. He holds an M.Div from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a Th.M. in Public Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Josh is married to McCaffity, and they have two children.

Julie Masson serves as the Marketing Director for the ERLC. She is responsible for strategizing, managing and executing the organization’s marketing initiatives across all departments by using various forms of digital media. Julie and her husband Jesse spent two years working as Church Planters in Spain with the International Mission Board before moving to Kansas City where they live with their three children. She is a graduate of Iowa State University.

Jeff Pickering serves as Policy Communications Director in the Washington, D.C., office. In this role, he hosts the weekly Capitol Conversations podcast, develops communications strategy, and connects journalists with the organization’s policy work. He also serves as the mentor and director of the DC internship program. Jeff previously served in both local church ministry and government affairs in his home state of Texas, where he graduated from Texas A&M University. He and his wife, Chelsea have a son.

Jenn Kintner serves as Office Coordinator in Nashville. She takes care of general office management and serves as an assistant to the Executive Vice President. Jenn has a B.A. in Biblical Exposition, an M.A. in Biblical Counseling, and graduated from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with her Doctorate of Education.

Jill Waggoner serves the ERLC in the areas of public relations and marketing. A 2005 graduate of Union University, she and her family reside in Lebanon, Tenn., where her husband Brandt serves as lead pastor of Fairview Church. She and Brandt have three boys. 

Jason Thacker serves as the Creative Director and as Chair of Research in Technology Ethics. In these roles, he develops content and resources in the area of technology ethics and oversees all creative projects including design, video, web, audio, and print media. Jason is the author of The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity with Zondervan. He is a graduate of The University of Tennessee and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Dorie and they have two sons.

Conrad Close serves as a Digital Marketing Associate. In this role, he manages the ERLC’s email communications and develops messaging for ERLC brand awareness campaigns, special initiatives, and events. He also assists with various with various public relations and outreach initiatives. Conrad is engaged to Stephanie. 

Chelsea Patterson Sobolik serves as a Policy Director in the Washington, D.C. office. Previously, she worked in the U.S. House of Representatives on pro-life policies, domestic and international religious freedom, adoption, and foster care issues. Chelsea is the author of Longing for Motherhood – Holding onto Hope in the Midst of Childlessness. She has a B.A. in International Relations from Liberty University, and lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband Michael.

Bobby Reed serves as Chief Financial Officer. His primary responsibilities are financial oversight, human resources, and administrative business functions. Bobby, a graduate of Louisiana State University, came to the ERLC after serving on the staff of churches in Louisiana and Florida. He and his wife, Louise, have four children, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and a precious granddaughter.

Brooke Kramer serves as the Team Coordinator for the Washington, D.C., office. She assists with scheduling, event planning, office coordination, and project management. Brooke graduated from John Brown University with a B.S. in Political Science and Intercultural Studies. 

Alex Ward serves as the Executive Assistant in the Office of the President at the ERLC. In his role, he assists with all logistical and operational needs for the Office of the President. He also assists with the oversight of the Research Institute under the leadership of the Director of Research and Senior Fellow in Christian Ethics. He is currently pursuing a Master of Theology in church history from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He holds a Master of Theological Studies from Vanderbilt Divinity School and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy from Mississippi State University.