Education
Linda was born in Ohio and raised in Kansas. She moved to Goshen in 1992 to attend Goshen College, graduating with a degree in English in 1996. Since that time she has lived in and around Elkhart County, leaving briefly to obtain her Master of Library Science degree at Indiana University’s School of Information and Library Science in Bloomington. She has made Goshen her home since 2004.
Career
Linda began working at the Fourth Freedom Forum in 1998. The Forum provides common-sense policy recommendations to governments and international organizations as solutions for resolving conflict and promoting international cooperation. For the past fourteen years, she has served as the Chief Operating Officer. She is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and has experience in organizational development, nonprofit management, and academic research. She values dialogue and compassion in problem-solving, an understanding that has been shaped by her experiences at the Fourth Freedom Forum.
Career
Linda began working at the Fourth Freedom Forum in 1998. The Forum provides common-sense policy recommendations to governments and international organizations as solutions for resolving conflict and promoting international cooperation. For the past fourteen years, she has served as the Chief Operating Officer. She is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and has experience in organizational development, nonprofit management, and academic research. She values dialogue and compassion in problem-solving, an understanding that has been shaped by her experiences at the Fourth Freedom Forum.
Family
Linda’s parents are Dave and Fern (Yoder) Gerber, who taught her to value service to others, education, hard work, and fun. In 2006 she married Michael Stellingwerf and they live on the south side of Goshen with their dog, Charles, and cat, Doyle. Michael is the son of John and Diane (Holmes) Stellingwerf. He grew up in Goshen’s Colonial Farms neighborhood, attending Goshen Middle School and Bethany Christian High School. He has fond memories of his time spent in North Goshen on Steury Avenue where his Dutch immigrant great-grandparents and grandparents lived for many years as celery farmers. Michael works as the Greencroft Community Liaison for Surf Internet where he provides internet service and home computing support to residents of the Goshen Greencroft campus.
Volunteering and Associations
Linda has volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Elkhart County. She has also helped with recycling at the Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale for six years. She has served on boards of directors for the Global Center on Cooperative Security (United Kingdom), the Peace Action Education Fund (Washington, D.C.), the Indiana Peace Action Network, and the Cara-Jean Baldwin One Room School House Inc. of Elkhart County. She has been a member of the Society for Human Resources Management, the Special Libraries Association, and the American Libraries Association. In 2009 Linda was a recipient of a Michiana Forty Under 40 award.
Volunteering and Associations
Linda has volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Elkhart County. She has also helped with recycling at the Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale for six years. She has served on boards of directors for the Global Center on Cooperative Security (United Kingdom), the Peace Action Education Fund (Washington, D.C.), the Indiana Peace Action Network, and the Cara-Jean Baldwin One Room School House Inc. of Elkhart County. She has been a member of the Society for Human Resources Management, the Special Libraries Association, and the American Libraries Association. In 2009 Linda was a recipient of a Michiana Forty Under 40 award.