TCP Leadership
Shelley oversees TCP’s development and operations. Prior to joining TCP, she served as Assistant Head of School for Advancement at Westminster Christian Academy. She has also served as Associate Provost at Washington University, preceded by roles as Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences and Associate Director of Development in Arts and Sciences. Shelley holds a BA from Washington and Lee, an MA in higher education advancement from Vanderbilt, and an Ed.D. in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.
Abram oversees TCP’s strategic initiatives and partnerships and reports to TCP’s board of trustees. Abram is Professor of English and an affiliate faculty member in the Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis. His research, writing, and teaching focus on early American culture, especially the Puritans. He has a BA from Calvin College and PhD from Northwestern University.
Penina Laker, Associate Director
Penina is an associate professor of communication design in the Sam Fox School of Art and Design at Washington University. She focuses on design as integral to addressing systemic issues in public health and racial inequity in St. Louis and in global contexts. She holds an MFA in Visual Communication from Kent State University, and a bachelor’s degree in art from Goshen College.
Louisa Wimmer, Administrative Coordinator
Louisa assists TCP in various administrative, organizational, and event planning tasks. Before joining TCP, she worked as the Education & Community Engagement Manager for Kentucky Opera, and the Office Manager for Union Avenue Opera. She holds an MM in Vocal Performance & Opera from the University of Louisville, and a BM in Vocal Performance from Webster University. While opera is her first love, the community and relationship work of TCP has quickly captured her heart and passion.
John oversees TCP’s communications and the annual Carver Conversation. John is an associate professor of visual communications and chair of design at Washington University. He is a New York Times Bestselling illustrator and author of numerous award-winning children’s books. John has a BA in visual communication from the University of Kansas and an MFA from The School of Visual Arts.
George Stulac, Pastoral Care
George gives pastoral care to TCP faculty and staff on Washington University’s Danforth Campus and School of Medicine Campus. He leads small group Bible studies and meets with individual faculty for spiritual direction and prayer. George was a church pastor for thirty-eight years and has eleven years of experience in campus ministry with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He is a graduate of Washington University (B.A. 1967), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div. 1971), and Covenant Theological Seminary (D.Min. 1993).
NAOMI Kim-Yu, Board Secretary
Naomi organizes minutes for The Carver Project's board meetings. She is a third-year student in the English PhD program at Washington University with interests in race, religion, and literature. Naomi is also a Lynne Cooper Harvey Fellow in American Culture Studies and a graduate fellow at the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Equity. She holds a BA in English from Brown University.