Beth A. Birmingham

Adjunct Faculty, Organizational Leadership


Beth Birmingham is an Affiliate Professor in Eastern’s College of Business and Leadership and Tearfund USA’s Chief Facilitator for The Christian Alliance for Inclusive Development.  Until 2016, Beth served full time at Eastern University for more than 20 years, as an associate dean and professor and designed and facilitated Eastern University’s global Master’s and PhD programs for Christian relief and development leaders and has retained relationships with its alumni. From 2006 to 2008 she was a visiting professor in Cape Town, South Africa.  Beth served for 6 years on the board of the Accord Network, the trade association for US Christian relief and development. She has consulted for, researched, and evaluated tens of organizations and programs in the sector across 30 different countries. And she has also served in contract and full-time staff roles of multiple INGOs in the last 15 years.   

She is a founder and initiative lead for The Christian Alliance for Inclusive Development, a network championing change for women in global development, and a founding member of the Wheaton College Consortium on Gender and Development.   Beth co-authored, with World Relief colleague and friend Eeva Sallinen Simard, Creating Cultures of Belonging: Cultivating Organizations Where Women and Men Thrive (IVP, October 2022).

Beth holds a PhD in leadership and change from Antioch University, an MBA in Economic Development from Eastern University, and a BS in Marketing from West Chester University.  She completed the GenderPro Program at The George Washington University in 2021.

Education
  • PhD in Leadership and Change, Antioch University
  • MBA in International Economic Development, Eastern University
  • BS in Marketing, West Chester University
Selected Research Reports/Publications
  • Accord Network: Stronger Together: Leadership Perceptions of a Faith-Based NGO Network (2016). Qualitative study of 18 senior leaders' perceptions of the value and future challenges facing the Accord Network.
  • Leadership Pressure Points in the Disaster Relief Game (2012-2014). Mixed method of study of leadership profiles and context for first and second response teams in disaster relief NGOs.
Selected Publications
  • Birmingham, B., S. Todd (eds) (2010). Shared Strength: Exploring Cross-Cultural Christian Partnerships. Colorado Springs, CO: Compassion International.
  • Birmingham, B., S. LeQuire (2010). Green hereos re-examined: An evaluation of environmental role models. In B.W. Redekop (ed.), Leadership for Environmental Sustainability, Routledge Press.