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Armstrong Announces Resignation from Louisville Seminary to Focus on Private Practice; Earles to Assume Directorship of MFT Program

LOUISVILLE, KY — April 15, 2024 - Dr. Trina Armstrong, Director and Associate Professor of the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (LPTS) since August 2022, will resign from her position effective August 1, 2024. Dr. Trina served as Director of Pastoral and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and is the founder and inaugural Director of Interreligious Chaplaincy and Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.

Dr. Trina earned a Ph.D. and MA in Practical Theology: Spiritually-Integrated Psychology at the Claremont School of Theology, an MA in Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy from California Southern University, and an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary. Her research intersects with practical and womanist theology, post-trauma psychology, and relational cultural theory. She also researches issues of loss, grief, death and dying crisis care, and the impact of historical trauma on the well-being of African American families and interpersonal relationships.

Under Dr. Trina's leadership, the MFT program at LPTS achieved reaccreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and began significant work revising the MFT curriculum. Louisville Seminary President Andrew Pomerville expressed gratitude stating, “Dr. Trina guided our program out of the pandemic and set the MFT program on a path for success for years to come. I am thankful for her expertise and guidance in this important part of our seminary." 

Reflecting on her retirement plans, Dr. Trina expressed her intention to dedicate more time to her daughter in Northern California while focusing her professional endeavors in private practice. Please join us in wishing Dr. Trina the best.

In her stead, Dr. Lesley Ann Earles, Ph.D., MAMFT, currently serving as Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy since 2020, will assume the directorship of the MFT program, commencing August 1, 2024. She formerly worked as Assistant Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy Doctoral Programs at Eastern University’s Campolo College (St. Davids, Pennsylvania). Upon finishing her studies at Louisville Seminary (‘05), she completed a doctorate in Human Development with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).

Earles has collaborated with Virginia Tech, Florida State University, and Pepperdine University research teams. Her interests include questions related to religiosity and women’s roles in family systems. 

Earles is an approved supervisor and clinical fellow with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Her experience includes substantial cross-cultural and systemic work as a therapist, organizer, and administrator, and is demonstrated in her appointment with the Cayman Islands Government’s Department of Counseling Services. Here, she connected with underserved populations by designing, organizing, and directing culturally appropriate direct services, supervising counseling professionals, providing community-based therapeutic services, and developing partnerships with agencies and organizations to strengthen community referral networks and client care. Earles has worked extensively with families including children and adolescents, violence in the home, addictions, and returning to the community following incarceration.



Louisville Seminary President Pomerville expressed confidence in Dr. Earles' ability to lead the MFT program forward, by adding, “Having Dr. Earles at the helm of the MFT program is an extraordinary gift. Dr. Earles brings incredible talents from the world of marriage and family therapy and understands the opportunities at LPTS for our students and community. We are honored to have her leadership during this next season for the program.”

Dr. Earles shared her excitement for the opportunity, “I feel blessed to step into the director role and for the opportunity to build relationships through collaboratively leading our strong (MFT) program into the future." 

Her extensive experience and keen theological understanding position her well to continue the legacy of excellence in the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. 

UPCOMING EVENTS AT LOUISVILLE SEMINARY

Please mark your calendar for April 24th and plan to give a special donation!

The annual LPTS Day of Giving is a special time set aside for you, as alums and friends of Louisville Seminary, to rally together to raise support for your beloved seminary and the success of our students.

Your support is vital as Louisville Seminary, led by the Holy Spirit, continues to educate people to Proclaim the Gospel, to Care for All, and to Work for Justice in communities everywhere.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DEGREES & PROGRAMS AT LOUISVILLE SEMINARY

Are you being called as a minister, therapist, chaplain, public theologian, or other faith leader? Is Louisville Seminary the right stop on your vocational journey?

Visit our campus or ask questions during a virtual open house for either our Master-Level or Doctor of Ministry degree programs. You can also connect with an admissions team member or have more information sent to you. We are here to help you discern your call!

About Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Founded in 1853, Louisville Seminary offers an inclusive and diverse learning community, welcoming students from wide ecumenical backgrounds while maintaining its long, historic commitment to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). Louisville Seminary is led by the Holy Spirit to educate people to proclaim the Gospel, to care for all, and to work for justice in communities everywhere. It is distinguished by its nationally recognized marriage and family therapy and field education programs, the scholarship and church service among its faculty and a commitment to training individuals to participate in the continuing ministry of Jesus Christ. For more information, call (800) 264-1839 or visit lpts.edu. To make a financial gift supporting Christ-centered, justice-driven education at Louisville Seminary, click here.