RODNEY K. SISCO SYMPOSIUM FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP, DIVERSITY & EQUITY PRACTICES
Theme: Kingdom Leadership for a Kingdom Agenda
March 19 - 20
Rodney Sisco 2026 Symposium
Keynote Speakers
Rev. Dr. Wayne Gordon
Wayne Gordon is a graduate of Wheaton College and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1975 Wayne moved to North Lawndale located on Chicago’s Westside. At that time, North Lawndale was the 15th poorest neighborhood in the U.S. He was a teacher and coach at Farragut High School, also located in North Lawndale. Wayne and his wife Anne have raised their three adult children: Angela, a graduate of Taylor University, Married to Nate George, lives in Chicago and is a school teacher; Andrew a graduate of Baylor University and a trader with the Chicago Board of Trade, married to Stacy, and Austin graduate of Azusa Pacific University, living and working in New York City. Wayne and Anne, along with some local high school students, founded the Lawndale Community Church. Today, LCC has over 1000 worshipping families and Wayne continues as Pastor Emeritus.
Rev. Dr. Don Davis '88, MA '89
Rev. Dr. Don Davis ’88, M.A. ’89, is the founder of World Impact’s Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI), which offers affordable theological training to leaders in urban contexts. He has nearly 50 years of ministry experience, beginning with his early work at World Impact in 1975. Davis grew up in Wichita, Kansas, where he met his wife, Beth, and encountered unique challenges amid the city’s rougher neighborhoods and drug culture. After the couple began following Jesus, Davis saw how difficult it was to access a theological education in marginalized and economically vulnerable urban communities, no matter how passionate he and his peers were about Scripture. Driven by his own upbringing, the rising poverty rate, and his ongoing proximity to urban communities, Davis returned to World Impact in 1995, founding TUMI in his hometown of Wichita. He designed curricula and began teaching theology classes to those who could not afford the kind of training he had received at Wheaton. Today, Davis serves as Senior Executive Advisor to the president of World Impact where he oversees urban training, leads TUMI’s distance learning programs, and works with other churches and organizations to facilitate leadership development.
Rev. Dr. Esther D. Jadhav
Rev. Dr. Esther D. Jadhav is the Associate Dean of Intercultural Life at Asbury University. As a researcher and practitioner, she has focused on developing initiatives and programs that elevate the critical role of theology in activating cultural responsibility as an institutional distinctive. In her current role, Esther provides institutional leadership, and guidance across the university in all areas of cultural responsiveness and spiritual development with primary responsibility for institutional outcomes rooted in Asbury’s commitment to be a Christian Community that practices hospitality, mutuality, redemptive social action, and grace-filled reconciliation. Bringing her academic background in Anthropology, Sociology and Theology, and experiences in diverse settings to this effort, Esther combines her passion for Christian higher education and the Church to help communities thrive.
Nominate someone for the Sisco Award
The Office of Intercultural Engagement invites you to nominate two diversity champions for the Seventh Annual Rodney K. Sisco Diversity Students' Choice Awards from until Friday, January 30th. The honorees of the Award are current Wheaton College staff and faculty members who embody the Kingdom-inclusive traits of the late Mr. Rodney K. Sisco ’86. They have made outstanding contributions toward advancing the purpose and goals of the Wheaton College Christ-Centered Diversity Commitment. Eligible staff and faculty members must work in departments that do not primarily focus on Campus diversity work (Example: OMD and ISP Staff members).
The Award celebrates Campus-nominated individuals who champion efforts resulting in greater diversity, Kingdom inclusion, justice, and unity for all Wheaton College community members. One faculty member and one staff member will receive a trophy and a $1000.00 cash prize on Friday, March 20th, 2026. Students may submit nominations on this linked webpage until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 30th. For more information, email diversity@wheaton.edu.
Symposium Schedule
Theme: Kingdom Leadership for a Kingdom Agenda
Revelation 5:9 -10, Revelation 7:9-10, & St. Matthew 6:9-10
THURSDAY, MARCH 19
| 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. |
Reception/Conversation with Student Leaders Facilitated by Dr. Cho, Director of the Office of Multicultural Development & Jerry Woehr, Director of International Student Programs “Encouraging the Multicultural Student Community on Campus” (For all student organization leaders & their cabinets) With Drs. Davis, Gordon, & Jadhav *At The Melvin Banks Welcome Center |
| 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. |
Opening Session Moderator, Dr. Theon Hill, Associate Professor of Communication Dr. Philip Ryken, President, Welcome, Q&A with Dr. Hill Welcome – Mrs. Hasana Sisco, The Rodney Sisco Foundation Worship – Rev. Von and Dr. Vilma Mathews, (Guest Worship Leaders for the Symposium) Presentation of the Rodney Sisco Diversity Awards Presentation of the Arnold Sojourner Community Award Dr. Don Davis, Keynote Speaker “The Kingdom Agenda – Diversity & Transformation” *CORAY GYM – Todd Beamer Student Services Building |
FRIDAY, MARCH 20
| 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. |
Morning Session (Continental Breakfast provided) Facilitator, Dr. Steve Ivester, Dean for Student Engagement Worship Spoken Word, Steve Gaskin, Director of Intercultural Arts & Media *Dr. Esther Jadhav, Keynote Speaker “Transformational Practices in the Kingdom” *PHELPS ROOM / Todd Beamer Student Services Building / Lower Level |
| 10:40 - 11:20 a.m. |
Chapel Service Those attending the Symposium are invited to go to Chapel together. Students should go to chapel as regularly scheduled. *EDMAN CHAPEL |
| 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. |
Luncheon Facilitator – Dr. Donte Ford, Assistant Professor of Music & Associate Chaplain for Worship Arts, & Chair of the Faculty Diversity Committee Welcome, Dr. Karen Lee, Provost Worship Greetings from….Azana Mack & Ella Djjonegoro, Student Government Association & Student Representatives from Multicultural Student Organizations “I Am” (An original poem) Jadisha Lis Vargas Correa, Ph.D. Student in the Department of Psychology (Discussion Leaders will be present at each table.) *PHELPS ROOM |
| 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. |
Workshops Workshop A Workshop B Workshop C (A student assistant will be assigned to each workshop) |
| 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. |
Closing Session Dr. Angulus Wilson, Chaplain, Service Leader Worship A Prayer of Commissioning & Dedication - Closing *PHELPS ROOM |
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