LDS Council
We are grateful to the members of the LDS Council who provide leadership in developing Mormon Studies at UVA, participating in its initiatives, and offering counsel on its goals.

Alison Bennett
Co-Assistant Chair
Alison Bennett is a chaplain in residency at UVA Medical Center. She came to Charlottesville in 2021 from the West Coast when her husband accepted a job at UVA, and they’re both very grateful to be a part of the University community. Alison became Co-Assistant Chair of the LDS Council alongside Julee Ellsworth in the Summer of 2024. She’s passionate about supporting the Bushman Chair’s outreach to the broader academy for the greater development of the Mormon Studies field. In her free time, Alison enjoys hiking, reading, and visiting the many Charlottesville farmers markets.

Julee Ellsworth
Co-Assistant Chair
Julee Ellsworth is Co-Assistant Chair for the LDS Council alongside Alison Bennett.

Staci England
Council Member
Staci England is a public school principle in Albemarle County, Virginia. She’s a double Hoo, having received an Ed.S. and an Ed.D. in Educational Administration and Supervision from UVA. As a member of the LDS Council, she enjoys the UVA Mormon Studies Program’s events and activities, particularly the annual Joseph Smith Lecture series. In her free time, she enjoys woodworking, kayaking, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Michael Schill
Council Member
Michael Schill is the Sponsors Professor of Business Administration at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. His research spans corporate finance, investments, and international finance. Michael has been published in major journals such as the Journal of Finance, Review of Financial Studies, and the Journal of Financial Economics. As a member of the LDS Council, he helped facilitate the 2024 Joseph Smith Lecture at UVA Darden’s Roslyn facility in Arlington, Va. In his free time, Michael is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys kayaking and running.