Syeeda J. Echols was born in Wichita, Kansas. She attended Lyon College in Batesville, Arkanasas, where she was a member of the women’s basketball team and the Nichols Program, studying abroad in Paris and Amsterdam. While in college, she deepened her relationship with Christ through baptism and being an active member of the young adult ministry in her church. The fellowship and teaching provided her the support and knowledge of God she needed to embark on an adventure of a lifetime. Syeeda earned a Bachelors of Business Administration in International Business and Spanish then moved to New York as a Teach for America/ Americorps member. She taught second grade and attended Fordham University and earned her Masters in Childhood Education and Special Education before moving abroad.

During her time in Veneuzuela, Syeeda led several in-house professional developments, one of those was “Increasing Joy in the Classroom”. She also co-presented, “Re-examining the Approach to ESL Reading Instruction with LEAP” at the Venezuelan Association of North American Schools (VANAS) Conferece. While in Guatemala, Syeeda trained elementary teachers in ESL reading and math instruction.

After several years abroad, Syeeda returned home to pursue a Bachelors in Religion & Philosophy (Christian Spiritual Formation emphasis) from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas before entering graduate school at Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary. In addition to being a graduate student, Syeeda served as the Associate Pastor of Spiritual Formation for Greater Bosqueville Baptist Church and a Resident Chaplain for Baylor University. During that particular season, Syeeda held the position of President of the Truett Black Seminarians Association where she provided pastoral care and resource support management for students and their families. In 2019, she became a hospital chaplain at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. In that role, Syeeda facilitated Spiritual Assessment training to medical professionals at the Interprofessional Spiritual Education Curriculum Conference (ISPEC) and The Queen’s Hospital Ethics Board July Session.

In 2020, Syeeda completed her Masters of Divinity in Ministry Leadership and was ordained to ministry (Texas Baptists). After completing her degree, she returned to Kansas where she began leading DEI and spiritual formation trainings. In 2022, she received the 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Award from The Wichita Business Journal for her work and commitment to DEI training in Christian higher education.

Rev. Syeeda J. Echols is a pastor, preacher, and speaker. She loves traveling and encouraging others with her biblically founded messages on leadership. In her free time, Syeeda enjoys dancing, hiking, and spending time with her family.

She is currently available to speak to audiences on “Model Behavior: Developing a Leadership Style that Sets an Example.”