Brenda Freije, J.D., M.Div. has a passion for working with communities and organizations to solve complex challenges. In August, she joined the IUPUI American Studies PhD program where she has the opportunity to dive deeply into the complex problem of sustainable development. Health and Hospital Corporation is sponsoring Brenda’s research. Brenda is particularly interested in public-private partnerships, implementing change, and how norms and values intersect with economics and policymaking in shaping culture and wellbeing. Before joining the PhD program, Brenda served for 25 years in leadership roles as a lawyer, nonprofit executive, pastor, and community builder. She began her career with Baker & Daniels (now Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath), where she practiced law for eleven years before returning to school to study theology at Christian Theological Seminary (CTS), serve as a pastor in the United Methodist Church, and work with local nonprofit organizations. After eight years of community and nonprofit work, she returned to CTS to serve on the executive leadership team, where she was a Vice President and General Counsel. She now consults and provides legal counsel to nonprofits through Charitable Allies/Allies4Good, is active on a variety of nonprofit boards, and coaches leaders in transition as they discern how they want to make a difference in the world.
