Betsy Cahill is a wife and mother, a writer, and civic volunteer with deep experience in biblical studies, historic preservation, and secondary education. Co-author (with Joseph Papp) of Shakespeare Alive! (Bantam Books, 1988), she also contributed a chapter to Empty Churches (Oxford University Press, 2018) and has written for both Commonweal and America magazines for many years. Early in her career, before stepping away to raise four children, she worked at the Public Theater and then the New York Public Library, where she was director of public affairs. Having earned degrees in Classics (Harvard) and English Literature (Oxford), in 2010 she achieved a long-time dream when she graduated from Yale Divinity School with an M.A. in Hebrew Bible. Using her knowledge of biblical languages, she has taught classes and lectured on spirituality and Scripture. For the past fourteen years she has sent out “Keeping Advent” and “Songs for Lent,” a series of a daily reflections (free by subscription) during the two penitential seasons of the church year. She has served on numerous non-profit and independent school boards. After 30 years away from her hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, Betsy returned there with her family in 2010. Recognizing the power of place to nurture community, safeguard identity, and expand opportunity, she chaired the Board of the Preservation Society of Charleston for 8 years and currently serves as Vice Chair of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This spring she will complete training as a Spiritual Director through Fordham University. As a board member of Cristo Rey Charleston, she is deeply engaged in starting the newest school in this nationwide network of innovative high schools for students of limited economic resources, but unlimited dreams.