About the Institute of Youth Ministry

Princeton Theological Seminary established the Institute for Youth Ministry in 1995 as an international center offering specialized training in youth ministry for church leaders. The Institute for Youth Ministry's program emphasizes theological education for people in ministry with youth.

Committed to integrating theory and practice, The Institute for Youth Ministry collaborates with seminaries, church leaders, congregations, communities, and adolescents to promote the strategic importance and practice of ministry with young people from early adolescence through college age. Although the work of the Institute is international and ecumenical in its scope, it maintains a particular interest in youth ministry in mainline denominations.

Princeton Theological Seminary carries out the mission of the Institute for Youth Ministry by initiating and integrating research related to the church's mission with young people, offering doctoral and master's degree programs, and offering an extensive program of leadership development.

IYM Staff

Dayle Gillespie Rounds, Director
Dayle’s first experiences as a youth leader were in her college years when she served as a volunteer and intern in her home church in California. Ordained in 1991 as a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Dayle has served as an associate pastor for youth and families in churches in North Carolina and New Jersey. She completed her M.Div. and Th.M. at Princeton Theological Seminary. Dayle has worked with the Institute for Youth Ministry since 1998. Email Dayle

Pat Heran, Assistant for Institute for Youth Ministry Pat has served with the Institute for Youth Ministry since 2001. She came to us from the corporate world, where she worked for 14 years. Pat is an active member of her church where she has served as a Stephen's Ministry leader for over a decade. Email Pat

Chanon Ross, Coordinator for the Connections Project Chanon Ross has worked in youth and young adult ministry in various capacities for the last ten years. He has lived in the Pacific Northwest, Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast. He loves exploring more effective ways of doing youth ministry with people from all backgrounds and denominations. He has an MTS from Duke Divinity School and he is completing a Ph.D. in theology at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Email Chanon

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