Meet our incoming Program and Engagement Manager: Brent Walsh

Dear Friends,

BHFH is excited to announce that we have hired a new, full-time Program and Engagement Manager: Brent Walsh. Brent will join our staff at the end of this month.

Here is more about Brent, from him:

When Brent Walsh was born, his parents joyfully welcomed their third daughter, Brenda, into the world. Growing up as a pastor’s kid in the fishbowl of a small Midwestern Baptist church, Brent learned early on how to keep a room full of kids entertained with flannelgraph Bible stories and high-energy Sunday School songs. This fostered a love of storytelling, which would prove invaluable throughout his life.

Raised in a conservative Christian family, Brent struggled with the friction between his faith and his lesbian identity. After several failed conversion attempts and some serious soul-searching, Brent realized that his sexuality and faith could actually coexist beautifully. This revelation allowed him to affirm his identity as a transgender man at the age of 32 and embark on a new road paved with authenticity.

Most of Brent’s adult life has been spent crisscrossing the country’s highways as an over-the-road truck driver, giving him thirty years of experience in reading maps and collecting trucker stories. In 2010, he took a detour from driving when his passion for storytelling and writing led him to become the first transgender student at Earlham School of Religion, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 2013. Brent is now a certified life coach specializing in relationships and life transitions, and he has contributed to various publications, workshops, and conferences, sharing his experiences as a transgender person of faith.

In his new role as Program and Engagement Manager at Beacon Hill Friends House, Brent looks forward to fostering community engagement and supporting BHFH’s mission. He thrives in environments that require collaboration, communication, and creativity, always bringing his unique blend of humor and empathy to every project.

Brent’s life mission? To spread radical, inclusive love wherever he goes, making sure everyone he meets feels seen, heard, and loved. His approachable nature and genuine curiosity about people allow him to connect with individuals from all walks of life, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment. So, whether he’s creating a new program or navigating the quirks of communal living, Brent will try to fill every moment with joy, growth, and a touch of playful spontaneity.

Our team also includes Associate Director Vickie Wu, Facility Manager Ben Hasan, and Executive Director Jen Newman. Two program Fellows, Lahari Indraganti and Glenna McKitterick, are wrapping up their fellowships.