Meet Leanna – New LUM Staff Member
Leanna Giltmier, Finance Director
Leanna Giltmier is the new Finance Director of Lafayette Urban Ministry (reporting to the LUM executive director). She grew up in Decatur, Illinois and currently lives in West Lafayette with her husband, Brett. Lianna has two children who are in college. Megan is enrolled at Michigan State, and Nick at Purdue. Her stepson, Andrew, is a first-year resident at University of California – San Francisco in Fresno, CA.
Leanna earned a BS from the University of Illinois. She has served with West Lafayette Band Boosters, March-a-Thon as president & founder (2017-22), and MOPS International (2004-2015).
When reflecting on her excitement and pride in joining the LUM team, Leanna stated that, “LUM puts hands and feet to one of my favorite verses (Micah 6:8) in the Bible,
‘Love mercy, do justice, and walk humbly with your God.’
I love that LUM is known for bringing the faith community together to serve the vulnerable with dignity. I am grateful to be part of it alongside great people.”
Leanna is a lifelong learner. She enjoys working with passionate individuals who work as a team to make processes more efficient and make strategic and operational decisions with good data. Leanna shared that she is “excited to put that all this into practice with the great staff members at LUM.”
Leanna has volunteered with the LUM Immigration Clinic and the LUM Food Pantries. She worked in financial management for a large corporation earlier in her career. For the past several years, Leanna has focused on raising her family and volunteering in the community. Leanna stated that, “The chance to put these experiences together to serve our community through LUM is a gift that I do not take for granted.” For enjoyment, Leanna loves reading, exploring US national parks, and is an avid sports fan, especially college basketball and tennis.
LUM is fortunate to have someone with Leanna’s experience and passion join the LUM staff. Please join us in welcoming her.
Leanna is inspired by the Blessings of Hope by Jan Richardson,
So may we know the hope that is not just for someday but for this day — here, now, in this moment that opens to us:
Blessings of Hope by Jan Richardson
hope not made of wishes but of substance,
hope made of sinew and muscle and bone,
hope that has breath and a beating heart,
hope that will not keep quiet and be polite,
hope that knows how to holler when it is called for,
hope that knows how to sing when there seems little cause,
hope that raises us from the dead
— not someday but this day, every day, again and again and again.