Bird joined the Institutional Advancement team in August of 2013 as the director of planned giving, In November 2016 she became the associate vice president for advancement. Bird has leadership responsibility for major gifts and manages a comprehensive planned giving program, including the Kelsey Society, charitable gift annuities, wills and trusts, non-cash gifts like real estate, stocks, and farm crops, endowed gifts, and gifts needing complex planning assistance. She will also assist the vice president for advancement to secure gifts for the Sterling Fund, Cooper Fund, major gifts, grants, and all capital projects for campus improvements.

She comes to Sterling College from the Church of the Nazarene Foundation in Kansas City where she has served from 2007-2013 in the areas of planned giving, donor relations, planning and marketing. Her most recent title was director of development and strategy.

She also served for three years as a program coordinator of stewardship ministries for Nazarene World Headquarters. She taught as an adjunct professor specializing in fundraising and non-profit leadership, for MidAmerica Nazarene University from 2006-2013.

Sheila is a native of Colorado, but was transplanted to Kansas over 40 years. She is married to Don, a pastor in Overland Park, Kansas, and is the mother of four adult children (Justin, Jessica, Jeremy/Christin and Julie/Brenton). She also has two grandchildren (Matthew and Levi). Her hobbies include vintage shopping and decorating, and more recently holistic health studies, learning how to relieve physical distress through a method called “Touch for Health.”

Education and Certifications

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from MidAmerica Nazarene University

Masters of Business Administration from MidAmerica Nazarene University (2004)

Masters of Organizational Administration/Non-Profit from MidAmerica Nazarene University (2005)

Certificate in Graphic Design from Johnson County Community College (2011)

Certified Christian Non-Profit Leader from Christian Leadership Alliance (2013)

Certificate in “Touch for Health” (2013)

Member MidAmerica Planned Giving Council

Member Christian Leadership Alliance

Contact

Phone: 620-278-4247