Yolanda Bethea

Minister, pastoral-care practitioner, chaplain, author, mediator, and reconciliation strategist whose ministry centers on restoration, grief support, spiritual formation, conflict transformation, and the healing of relationships. Brings more than three decades of executive leadership experience into ministry settings, offering a steady, compassionate, and structured presence during crisis, transition, loss, conflict, and organizational change. Committed to biblically grounded teaching, emotionally safe dialogue, servant leadership, and helping individuals, families, congregations, and communities move toward wholeness.

Executive Director, Division of Parole and Probation - Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services

(2024-10)

Provide ethical and strategic leadership for approximately 1,092 employees, a $131.5 million annual budget, and services affecting approximately 44,000 individuals, their families, and communities. Bring a ministry-informed commitment to human dignity, restoration, servant leadership, justice, responsibility, and hope into complex public systems.

• Led workforce stabilization and trauma-responsive organizational support following the Division's first line-of-duty death; strengthened safety, training, communication, partnerships, accountability, and staff care.

Associate Minister - New Psalmist Baptist Church - Baltimore, Maryland

Support the preaching, teaching, pastoral-care, congregational, and leadership ministries of the church.

• Develop biblically grounded sermons, devotionals, prayers, workshops, and teaching resources addressing faith, grief, reconciliation, spiritual resilience, leadership, worship, and Christian formation.
• Provide compassionate spiritual support to individuals and families navigating bereavement, relational conflict, transition, crisis, and other significant life experiences.

Chaplain - Columbia Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated

(2024-01)

Provide spiritual leadership and pastoral presence for a chapter of approximately 400 members through prayer, devotionals, encouragement, crisis support, and care during illness, bereavement, and transition.

• Prepare biweekly devotionals, spiritually grounded programs, and Omega Omega tributes and eulogies honoring deceased members.
• Support chapter unity, emotional well-being, and values-centered service through a ministry of presence, confidentiality, compassion, and prayer.

Leader, Barnabas Grief Support Ministry - New Psalmist Baptist Church - Baltimore, Maryland

(2020-01 - 2024-12)

Led a congregational grief-support ministry formed during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide spiritual care, education, connection, and continuing support to bereaved individuals and families.

• Developed grief-support programming, facilitated group experiences, coordinated retreats and annual memorial services, and equipped volunteers to offer compassionate, biblically grounded care.
• Created structured opportunities for lament, remembrance, fellowship, spiritual growth, and healthy adaptation following loss.

Founder and Director - I-Bridge Solutions, LLC

Provide restorative mediation, professional development, coaching, and spiritually aligned strategies that help families, ministries, nonprofits, and workplaces repair communication, rebuild trust, and navigate conflict.

• Design and facilitate reconciliation-centered workshops, family and organizational mediation, leadership development, and structured dialogue using the ReBuild™ and B.R.I.D.G.E.™ frameworks.

Vice President - Transforming Lives Community Development Corporation

(2017-09 - 2024-09)

Supported community-based leadership, service, organizational development, and initiatives designed to strengthen individuals, families, and neighborhoods.

Federal and State Community-Corrections Executive - CSOSA and Maryland DPSCS

(2003-01)

Held senior federal and state leadership roles in community supervision, pretrial services, corrections, reentry, policy, training, administration, and organizational change.

• Developed leaders, facilitated difficult conversations, supported employees and communities through crisis, and built partnerships across government, faith, nonprofit, and community organizations.

Associate Chaplain - Bon Secours Hospital

(2007-01 - 2010-12)

Provided spiritual and emotional support to patients, families, and staff across diverse faith traditions and during illness, hospitalization, crisis, grief, and end-of-life experiences.

• Collaborated with interdisciplinary healthcare teams and practiced attentive presence, spiritual assessment, prayer, crisis support, and respect for individual beliefs and values.

Doctor of Ministry - Ministry - United Theological Seminary

Master's Degree - Spiritual and Pastoral Care - Loyola University Maryland

Bachelor's Degree - Sociology - Mercer University

Associate Degree - Criminal Justice