Messenger Announces Retirement, Laing to Join Union’s Education Team

Story by V. Michelle Bernard with reporting by Debra Anderson

Jacqueline Messenger, associate director for secondary education at the Columbia Union Conference, has announced her plans to retire this summer. At their meeting Thursday, the Columbia Union Conference Executive Committee voted to have Steve Laing, vice president for Education at the Potomac Conference, fill the role starting this summer.

“Steve is an innovative, experienced, spiritual, secondary leader with a distinguished history of success and a focus on student success and discipleship,” says Donovan Ross, vice president for Education at the Columbia Union. “We look forward to working with him in this new capacity as we continue to lead students to a lifelong encounter with Christ.”

Laing has served in his current role at the Potomac Conference since 2018 and has more than 30 years of experience in education. He holds two bachelor’s degrees—in Business Administration and History, as well as a master’s degree in School Administration from the former Atlantic Union College (Mass.). Before stepping into administration, he taught history for many years, instilling a love for learning in his students.

Messenger has worked in her current role since 2016, and in Adventist education for more than 30 years. “Jacqueline has dedicated her life to advancing Adventist education.  It has been a privilege and honor to have worked alongside her these past nine years,” says Donovan Ross, vice president for Education at the Columbia Union Conference. 

The Visitor staff will share a longer story about Messenger closer to her retirement.