The Rev. Dr. Cheryl Louise Cook-Posley accepted her call to ministerial preparation in 2004 and was licensed in 2009. In 2014, Cheryl was ordained to the Christian ministry at her home church, Ebenezer Baptist Church Richmond, VA. (American Baptist Churches, USA). Cheryl is married to Mr. A. Pierre Posley, her beloved, best friend and partner in ministry for over 10 years. They reside in Ashburn, VA.
Rev. Cheryl Cook-Posley earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with a minor in vocal music performance from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, a Master of Public Administration degree [magna cum laude] with an emphasis in Policy and Leadership from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, in Richmond, VA. She went on to earn a Master of Divinity from Howard University’s School of Divinity in Washington, DC [magna cum laude] where she was the recipient of the Vernon Johns Preaching Prize, bestowed upon the student whose preaching exemplifies the prophetic passion of Rev. Vernon Johns and his commitment to social justice. In 2013, Cheryl earned the Doctorate in Ministry degree [magna cum laude] with a focus on Urban Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Currently, Cheryl is a 3rd year student at the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., where she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Instructional Design and Technology with an emphasis on Human Performance Improvement.
Professionally: Rev. Cook-Posley has over Thirty years of experience providing support to and advocating for vulnerable people and communities. She is a national expert in children youth and Families, crisis populations and performance improvement. On September 18, 2023, she was appointed as the National Director for Movement Building for the Children’s Defense Fund in Washington, DC. Previously, Cheryl served as Chief Impact Officer for United Community in Alexandria, VA, Sr. Director for Workforce Development and Education Department at Central Union Mission, and as Senior Director with the US State Department in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs-Policy and Evaluation Office in Washington DC. In these executive leadership roles, Cheryl assists in laying the groundwork for systemic changes that promote racial and economic justice, equity and inclusion and create opportunities from womb to wealth through global diplomacy, evaluation, community-based power building and organizing for America’s most vulnerable, particularly Black and Brown children, youth and families in poverty.
In 2010, Cheryl founded Hamlets of Hope, a non-profit for faith communities focused on Transformational Social Justice and Servant Ministry. Its mission is to cultivate “a ministry doing mindset” among the faithful, where head, heart, and hand converge to move people from the pulpit and the pew to the pavement to serve, evangelize and disciple beyond the stained-glass walls of the church. She is a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Mclean, Virginia where her pastor is The Rev. Dr. Robert F. Cheeks.
Above all, Cheryl is a child of God, and a Matthew 25 & 28 disciple, committed to Living, Proclaiming, Serving, Being and Living the Word to “the Least, the Lost, the Lonely, the Left-out, and those Locked out ” in order to create The Beloved-Shalom Community for all people throughout the world.