Curriculum Vitae

Education

Master of Divinity (Hybrid), Duke Divinity School, August 2023 - May 2025, 3.625 GPA

Bachelor of Science, Public Health, Specialization in Sociology, The Ohio State University, August 2015 - May 2019, Magna Cum Laude

Publications

Books

·  Wilson, Ray'Chel. Holistic Money Mindset: Mental Preparation for Abundance. USA: IngramSpark, 2021.

·  Wilson, Ray'Chel. Personal Finance Crash Course: What They Didn't Teach you in School. USA: IngramSpark, 2022.

·  Wilson, Ray'Chel. The Money Moves Workbook: Reaching your Wealth Goals in 12 Months or Less. USA: IngramSpark, 2022.

Chapters

·  Wilson, Ray'Chel. "'I'm An Investor?'" In Money Talk$: Uncut Convos with Financial Experts on How to Grow Leverage and Protect Your Assets 3, 1st ed., 3:109–12. Carbondale, Colorado: Pierucci, 2023.

Columns and Guest Blogging

·  Finance & Religion Lead Writer & Editor, The Cleveland Observer, 2023-present

Abstracts under review and publications in progress

·  “From Scripture to Strategy: Bridging Theology and Stewardship Science for Organizational Growth” (Oral presentation abstract under review, American Scientific Affiliation 2025 Annual Meeting: “Science & Technology as Worship: Recapturing the Joy of Discovery”)

·  Lewis, M., Peeler, M., Spence, A., Pollock, L., Wilson, R. (2025). The effects of extreme and prolonged heat on rural North Carolina communities. (Draft). The Ormond Center, Duke Divinity School.

Applied Research Projects

Environmental & Climate Justice Student Agent, Ormond Center

• Title: "Heat Resilience in Faith Communities: Assessing Parametric Insurance Models and Community-Based Strategies in the Carolinas" (March 2025)
• Details: Conducted community-engaged research on extreme heat impacts and mitigation strategies in North and South Carolina. Collaborated with Duke Energy, the Nicholas Institute, and local faith communities to assess the feasibility of parametric insurance models triggered by high temperatures. Developed and implemented community-based strategies to mitigate heat exposure, with a focus on vulnerable populations. Findings contributed to a published work in partnership with The Ormond Center at Duke and The Nicholas School of the Environment.

Environmental & Climate Justice Student Agent, Ormond Center

• Title: "Heat Resilience in Faith Communities: Assessing Parametric Insurance Models and Community-Based Strategies in the Carolinas" (May 2025)
• Details: Conducted community-engaged research on extreme heat impacts and mitigation strategies in North and South Carolina. Collaborated with Duke Energy, the Nicholas Institute, and local faith communities to assess the feasibility of parametric insurance models triggered by high temperatures. Developed and implemented community-based strategies to mitigate heat exposure, with a focus on vulnerable populations. Findings contributed to a published work: "The effects of extreme and prolonged heat on rural North Carolina communities" in partnership with The Ormond Center at Duke Divinity School and The Nicholas School of the Environment.

Research Interests

·  Stewardship practices & behavioral economics tactics for economic development

·  Social capital building throughout interfaith communities

·  Financial wellness & spiritual wellness as social determinants of health 

·  Artificial intelligence applications in workforce development in marginalized communities

Professional Experience

CEO & Director of Strategy, Raise the Bar Investments & ForOurLastNames, 2020-present

Director of Development, KIPP Tulsa Public Charter Schools, 2022-2024

Office Assistant, Office of the President – Commencement & Special Events, The Ohio State University, 2017-2018

Legislative Page, Ohio House of Representatives, 2017-2018

Teaching Experience / Assistantships

Founding Personal Finance Curriculum Designer & Teacher, KIPP Tulsa Public Charter Schools, 2019-2022

Site Coordinator & Lead Teacher, Lead the Way Learning Academy, 2017-2019

Lectures / Presentations

"Stewardship & Debt Reduction Pt. 2," Hood Theological Seminary, July 10, 2023.

"Stewardship & Debt Reduction Pt. 1," Hood Theological Seminary, May 8, 2023.

"Business 101: For Creatives," The Altas School, Spark Summit, September 17, 2022.

"Implicit Bias: Harvard Implicit Bias Implications on Education," KIPP Tulsa Public Charter Schools, November 4, 2021.

Certifications

·  Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®, National Financial Educators Council)

·  Church Administration Specialization -  Theology & Time Management, Strategic Management for Churches, Human Resource Stewardship for Churches (Duke Online)

·  Workflow Specialist Certificate (Asana)

·  Data Analytics, Professional Certificate (Duke Learning Innovation & Lifetime Education)

·  Behavioral Economics & Behavioral Science, Executive Education Certificate (Duke Center for International Development)

·  Religious Fundraising, Executive Certificate (Indiana University Indianapolis via Lake Institute on Faith & Giving)

·  Business Analytics Science, Certificate (Oklahoma State University)

·  Black Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, Certificate (Babson University)

·  Women's Entrepreneurship, Certificate (Bank of America Institute for Women's Entrepreneurship at Cornell)

·  Elementary Education, 1-8 & Biological Sciences, 9-12 (Oklahoma State Department of Education)

·  Various other certifications in ethics, project management, financial therapy, diversity, and compliance

Service to Profession

Professional Service

·  UNA Eastern Oklahoma Chapter - Treasurer

·  National Financial Educators Council - Founding State Board Member

·  Savvy Ladies - Jr. Board Member & Client Development Committee Co-Chair

·  Technology Council Member, Tulsa Regional Chamber, Economic Development, 2024-2025

University Level

·  Black Seminarians Union of Duke Divinity School – Hybrid Liaison

Community

·  Metropolitan Baptist Church - Board of Trustees Member

·  Urban Leaders Fellowship - Resident Mentor

·  Teach for America Greater Tulsa Alumni Board – Engagement Committee Chair

·  Black Alumni Association, Notre Dame Academy - Founding Board Member

·  "Why Us?" Anti-Human Trafficking Campaign - Founding Board Member

Honors and Awards

SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year - Oklahoma (U.S. Small Business Association)

Diverse Business Champion (Tulsa Regional Chamber)

NextGen Under 30 Awardee (Under 30 Foundation)

Professional Achievement Award – Hall of Fame (Notre Dame Academy)

Leading Financial Wellness Advocate (National Financial Educators Council)

"20 Under 2" Novice Teacher Honoree (Teaching & Leading Initiative of Oklahoma)

Social-Impact Leadership Award (The Black Family Magazine)

External Funding / Fellowships / Grants

POLARIS Young Adult Leadership Fellows (Princeton Theological Seminary)

Invested Faith Fellows Class 15 (Invested Faith) 

Ministry Exploration and Mentoring Grant (Forum for Theological Exploration)

The Thomas H. Lake Scholarship (Lake Institute on Faith & Giving for Fundraising Certificate)

At-Large Leadership Scholarship (Cooperative Baptist Fellowship)

Fellow & Research Lead (Urban Leaders Fellowship)

Inaugural Career Academy Executive Leadership Fellowship (Urban Leaders Fellowship)

DO GOOD X Award (Forum for Theological Exploration)

Graduate Merit Scholarship (Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Education Advancement Foundation, Inc.)

Merit Scholarship (Duke Divinity School; maximum scholarship for M.Div. Hybrid)

Mentoring

Alumni Mentor, The Ohio State University, 2017-2019

Tutoring

MATH 1116 Excursions in Math, The Ohio State University, 2016-2017

Internships

Washington Academic Internship Program, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University, Summer 2018

Skills

Technical: Fundraising strategy development, grant writing, data analysis, program evaluation

Computer: CRM, Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint), Google Suite, Canva, data analytics

Language: English; 70 WPM

Memberships / Affiliations

Christian Community Development Association

Leadership for Educational Equity

The American Scientific Affiliation

Interfaith America

Teach for America Greater Tulsa, AmeriCorps

National Society of Leadership & Success