Executive Director

The Rev. Wayne Lavender, Ph.D., is a United Methodist pastor currently serving as the

executive director of the Foundation 4 Orphans and faculty member in the political science

department at Quinnipiac University. He earned his Ph.D. from George Mason’s School of

Public Policy in 2010, an MA. and M.Div. from the Pacific School of Religion and his BA. from

Drew University. The winner of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award in 2004 for his ministry

at the New Milford UMC in New Milford, CT, Wayne has worked and taught at universities in

Iraq and Mozambique. He is the author of eight books, including Pure Religion, released in

2020, and Dante Redux, published in 2022. Wayne lives close to nature with his wife Maureen at

the conference and retreat center for the Foundation 4 Orphans in Hamden, Connecticut.