Diane Stanton Named Director for Uganda Partners

Uganda Christian University Partners is delighted to announce the appointment of its first Executive Director.

Uganda Christian University Partners is delighted to announce the appointment of its first Executive Director, Mrs. Diane Stanton. Mrs. Stanton served most recently as the Chief Operations Officer of the American Anglican Council. She chaired the mega youth conference "Y2K4JC" held in Boulder, CO in 2000 where over 1500 Episcopal youth attended. "I have worked with Diane previously," said Dr. Stephen Noll, Vice Chancellor (President) of Uganda Christian University, "and I am excited to have her on our team now on behalf of Uganda."

Diane Stanton has been active in Uganda since 1995 where she has overseen the resettlement of the Batwa people (pygmies), a clergy widow's tailoring project, and an orphans' home. She has also been involved with the completion of Uganda Martyrs' Seminary in Namugongo, which is an affiliated college with Uganda Christian University. In addition, previous to her appointment as Executive Director, she has been invited to be the keynote speaker for a huge women's conference to be held next October in Kampala. She and her team of about 20 women leaders will be addressing "Leadership in Conflict" to several thousand East African women and will lead a conference to leaders of the Diocese of Maseno South, Kenya in June of this year.

"Diane Stanton has a heart for the people of Uganda," Dr. Noll commented, and we look forward to seeing her frequently on the other side of the ocean."

Her duties as Executive Director will be to further the work of Uganda Partners organization, which was founded at the New Wineskins conference in 2000. Uganda Partners to date has sponsored 60 "Scholars and Friends" and has raised about $250,000 towards projects at the University.

The University itself was founded in 1997 using the facilities of the Bishop Tucker Theological College, the Anglican Church of Uganda's oldest seminary. It has grown from 120 theological students in 1997 to almost 1500 students in 2001, taking courses in theology, business, education, social work, communications, and law. It has even added a second campus in Kabale in western Uganda.

"We have a great opportunity to influence a new generation of leaders in Africa for Christ and the Gospel," Dr. Noll said. But we need mission partners to do so. I look forward to a long a fruitful relationship between our churches and countries in the years to come."

Mrs. Stanton resides in Dallas with her husband, Bishop James Stanton. They have two grown children and one grandchild.