An ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Rev. Emily Enders Odom serves as mission interpretation strategist for the Presbyterian Mission Agency in Louisville, where she previously worked from 2005-2017. She holds a B.A. in German and Spanish from Wellesley College (Ma.) and an M.Div. degree from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. Immediately prior to accepting her current call, she served her alma mater, Union Seminary, for three years as its director of Alumni/ae Relations, including seven months as interim vice president for Development. Previously a vice president for planning and administration at Montreat Conference Center (N.C.), Emily has also served as a parish pastor and hospital chaplain. In addition to her background in ministry, she has over ten years of experience in advertising, public relations, and television production. Her professional writing for the Church has been recognized with several awards, both from the Associated Church Press and the Religion Communicators Council. She and her husband, the Rev. John L. Odom, general presbyter for Mid-Kentucky Presbytery, have two young adult children, both living in North Carolina. Their son Nathaniel is an IT specialist for Bank of America in Charlotte. Their daughter Lizzie, who married Ryan Clark-Sulkey in March 2021, is a certified American Sign Language interpreter and professional social worker in Greensboro for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
