Linda W. Nichols has been a lay professional for almost three decades in family, program and resource sized congregations. She received a Master’s in Christian Education in 1981 from Scarritt College, at the time associated with Vanderbilt School of Theology in Nashville. Linda is a member of the National Association for Episcopal Christian Education Directors and represented Province III on the Episcopal Council for Christian Education. As the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey’s Youth Director she was one of the original trainers for the Journey to Adulthood program and a writer for the Episcopal Curriculum for Younger Youth, as well as having worked with the Catechumenal Process while on staff at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City. All this experience speaks volumes for her love for mentors which she recognizes as invaluable to the confirmation process.