Nathan Sheets

About Me

I am a native to Richmond, but with my family I returned after nearly two decades away in December o 2023. In March of 2024 I became Earlham’s Director of Annual Giving, a position where I oversee a comprehensive strategy to raise essential funds to support student access and opportunity at Earlham. I currently serve as faculty liaison for SEAC (Staff Engagement and Advisory Committee).

Previous to coming back to Richmond, I served as Executive Director of The Center in Hollywood; a regional-leading non-profit organization addressing homelessness in greater-Los Angeles. At The Center I worked alongside fellow community members (both housed and unhoused) to develop innovative programs focused on low-barrier entry and harm-reduction strategies for the unhoused community. Much of what gave/gives the work meaning for me and others was/is the devotion to providing ‘radical hospitality’ through a range of groups and engagement opportunities wherein people were not only able to tend to immediate needs (e.g. having a mailing address, using the restroom), but also offered community connections which follow(ed) them into (and throughout) their recovery and/or in housing.

During that time I also served on the founding board of Hollywood 4WRD, a regional-collaborative coalition advocating for sustainable solutions to addressing the region’s homelessness crisis, and specifically for the regions most-vulnerable unhoused community members.

Currently, I serve on Richmond’s mayoral-appointed Board of Zoning Appeals, Regional Homelessness Taskforce, and Richmond’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee. I have mentored with Community In Schools, and led a poetry & writing group at Morrison-Reeves Library; a group similar to one I led for more than 10 years in L.A.’s public libraries. I enjoy cooking especially for my partner and best friend Rebecca, and our two children; Nico, and Johanna. I live and die with Cincinnati sports teams, and try to find time to walk our dog Dexter while I attempt to identify new bird species both in our backyard, but in whatever retention pond I stumble upon throughout Wayne County.

Education

M.A., Santa Clara University

B.S., Ball State University

I am interested in the evolution of faith communities, and their roles in society with current changing social need(s). Specifically, much of my study and interest has involved identifying exemplars of religious/faith communities whose historically-inward focused congregations have been evolving to utilize ‘sanctuary’ spaces for at-risk community needs. These congregations have served as models for others grappling with dwindling membership, and negative perceptions, with (simultaneous) increased need(s) for affordable housing development, day care availability, and safe space for at-risk community groups. The connection to a refreshed translation of sacred text and social teachings in light of American contemporary life intersects with this particular interest as well.