Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory has announced that Kathi Stearns has resigned as chancellor of the archdiocese. Stearns, 38, leaves her longtime role as one of the senior administrators of the archdiocese to pursue another local career opportunity. Her last day of work will be March 14.

She has served as chancellor since April 24, 2005, and served as vice chancellor for the five years previous to that appointment.

In a letter to Catholic Center employees sent Feb. 16, Archbishop Gregory said, “In my tenure with the archdiocese, she has been someone I could count on and trust as one of my senior advisors.”

Stearns was one of the few laywomen in the United States to serve as chancellor of an archdiocese. During her tenure with the church in North Georgia, she held a series of responsible positions within the Archdiocese of Atlanta, including serving as director of communications and working with the media, as well as spearheading the implementation of the archdiocesan sexual abuse policy. She has also been instrumental in planning and coordinating the Eucharistic Congress each year.

She joined the staff of The Georgia Bulletin in 1993, where she worked as a reporter, photographer, editor and executive editor, earning numerous Catholic journalism awards during her time at the paper.

In 2001, she was asked by Archbishop John F. Donoghue to take on the role of vice-chancellor for special projects. She has covered a wide area of responsibility for the archdiocese for the past six years, overseeing the offices of development, communications, information technology, Catholic Charities, Catholic schools, religious education and family life.

In his letter, Archbishop Gregory said, “She will be missed, and therefore I wish to publicly thank her for her service to the archdiocese and wish her well in her new endeavors. … Please join me in wishing Kathi well and in thanking her for her years of dedicated and tireless service.”

He indicated that he will appoint a new chancellor in the near future, asking Catholics to keep him in their prayers as he seeks a replacement for this key position.