Chances are, you haven’t had a chance to meet Belinda Wisdom, the new administrative coordinator for Faculty Affairs. Her first day at the Divinity School coincided with the “work from home” directive. Learn more about Belinda and her role in the Dean’s Office!
What do you do at the Divinity School, and in what circumstances would faculty or staff come to you for something?
I work closely with the dean and the senior associate dean for institutional and faculty advancement, and I manage all processes related to the hiring, onboarding, and Appointment, Promotion and Tenure (APT) of the Divinity School faculty. I schedule and coordinate all meetings of the Committee on Faculty, Regular Rank Faculty, and Divinity School Council, and prepare and keep current Divinity School collateral (i.e., calendar of meetings; committee, divisional and faculty lists). I also coordinate events sponsored by Dean’s Office and events related to faculty. In addition, I monitor and reconcile operational funds; process AP checks for invoices and honoraria payments; and have oversight of faculty divisional funds. Faculty may come to me with any questions relative to APT and sabbatical/leave processes, guest lecture series, divisional budgets, business card requests and office supply needs.
What three words would your friends use to describe you?
Loyal, compassionate, and trustworthy. In Maryland I worked for high-level political appointees and was privy to a lot of discussions. A common phrase was, “This cannot leave the room.” I know many secrets -- and I’ll never tell.
If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?
My pet peeve is people who lie. So, my superpower would be the ability to make people’s noses grow (like Pinocchio) every time they spoke untruths. Any guesses on where I would begin? Hint: One lives in a big white house; the others like to congregate in a building on a hill …
What energizes you outside of work?
Volunteering and participating in outreach/mission activities.
What’s something—big or small—that you’re really good at?
Planning and organizing trips/events. I planned and executed a mission trip to Haiti. I have planned various community outreach activities for “the least of these,” including food for children during spring break living at or below the poverty level; collecting toiletries for and visiting residents at nursing homes; soliciting and obtaining (free) books for Durham children of all ages from publishing houses; collecting and donating hygiene products for the women at North Carolina Correctional Institute for Women (NCCIW); hosting an annual Christmas worship and catered meal for 300+ women at NCCIW; and collecting nearly 600 donated shoes for one of my favorite nonprofit/ministries, Teamwork City of Hope in Tanzania. God is good! Obviously, this is where my passion lies.
What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy day?
Exercise and comedy. I walk on the treadmill while watching a sitcom in syndication (Everybody Loves Raymond, King of Queens, Bernie Mac Show or Frasier). I love to laugh and have a great sense of humor.
What book are you reading now?
I am actually reading two books at the moment: Kingdom Woman by Tony Evans and Chrystal Evans Hurst; and Be Distinct (2 Kings & 2 Chronicles): Standing Firmly Against the World's Tides by Warren W. Wiersbe.
What’s something you saw recently that made you smile?
My mom (best friend) via video call. God willing, she will be 89 years old this year and still lives in New York.
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?
PRAY! You cannot have such a large amount of money and not go before the all-knowing God for guidance first. Of course, I would travel to the poorest regions of the world building wells, homes, schools, and churches. And yes, I would give an endowment to the Divinity School (smile).