meet our trainers/consultants

Charlotte McCorquodale, Ph.D.

Originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana, Dr. Charlotte McCorquodale completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at McNeese State University in 1985, with a major in psychology and a minor in sociology. In 1988, she completed her Master’s degree in religious education from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. In 2001, she received her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the School of Human Resource Education and Workforce Development at Louisiana State University. The title of her dissertation is "The Emergence of Lay Ecclesial Youth Ministry as a Profession in the Roman Catholic Church." She holds national certificates in youth ministry, e-learning design, and online education. Her recognitions include receiving the 2002 National Youth Ministry Award from the NFCYM for contributions nationally to the field of Catholic Youth Ministry. Her professional career in Catholic youth ministry has spanned three decades serving in parish, school, diocesan and university ministry settings for the past 30 years. In May 2000, she co-founded Ministry Training Source, an organization committed to the education and formation of ministry leaders by providing customized ministry formation solutions. She is currently president of the Board of Directors for Ministry Training Source. Presently, Dr. McCorquodale serves as an international educator, researcher, and consultant for the fields of lay ecclesial ministry, youth ministry, and e-learning. She served as a lay consultant to the USCCB Committee for Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth from 2007 to 2010.  Some past and current and past consulting clients include:

• Minnesota Catholic Education Association (MCEA) and the six Roman Catholic Dioceses within Minnesota (Duluth, St. Cloud, Winona, Crookston, New Ulm, and St. Paul): Served as a certification consultant assisting in the development and implementation of a certification process for youth ministry leaders.
• National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry: Serves as a research consultant in the development of national studies on youth ministry leaders and diocesan directors of youth ministry.
• St. John’s University and Liturgical Press, Collegeville MN: Served as a lay ministry consultant in the development of a national symposium on lay ecclesial ministry and conducting a research study on lay ministry formation programs.
• Broken Bay Institute, Diocese of Broken Bay, NSW Australia: Served as a e-learning consultant in the design of a customized learning management system and as author/instructor for youth ministry courses.
• The Dioceses of Baton Rouge, LA and Wheeling-Charleston: Serves as a lay ecclesial ministry consultant assisting the dioceses in assessing lay ecclesial ministry and planning for continued development.

Leigh E Sterten, M.T.S., M.S.A.S.

Leigh Sterten earned her B.A. in Religious Studies at California State University, Long Beach and a Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) at the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley. She earned a second Master’s degree, in administrative studies, at Missouri State University in 2002. Her degree paper is entitled "Issues Experienced by Women in Church Ministry: A Qualitative Examination of Communication Phenomena." Leigh also has a Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies and a Certificate for Ministry Leadership for the 21st Century. Leigh’s professional career in youth ministry began in 1988, when she was hired as a parish confirmation coordinator at St. Dominic Savio in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Since that time, she has worked as a parish youth ministry coordinator in the Archdiocese of San Francisco and in the diocesan offices of Los Angeles and Springfield-Cape Girardeau, the latter of which she served as director of youth ministry for nearly seventeen years. Leigh has presented at numerous events for both youth and adults at diocesan, national, and international settings. At the national level, Leigh was active for five years with the Rural Concerns Subcommittee of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM), serving as chair of the committee four of those years. While serving as chair, she facilitated the writing of "Youth Ministry in Rural and Small Town Settings: A Planning Resource." Leigh chaired the NFCYM’s Publishing Management Committee for several years, beginning in 1998. She is co-author of "National Study of Youth and Religion: Analysis of the Population of Catholic Teenagers and Their Parents," published by the NFYCM in 2004, as well as several other research reports. Leigh has been the copy editor for the Youth Ministry Resource Manual and the Living and Loving our Catholic Faith series since 2002, also published by the NFCYM. Leigh currently serves on the NFCYM's board of directors as an at-large member, representing the collaborating member organizations of the NFCYM. From 2000-2008, Leigh served on the faculty of the St. Meinrad School of Theology's Youth Liturgical Leadership Conference, held each summer. She currently serves as treasurer of the board of directors for MTS, and co-founded the organization.