CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER 2025-26 ENROLLMENT NOW OPEN - APPLY HERE
CDC TEAM
LEADERSHIP
Rev. Lora Gravatt, MDiv - Pastor for Discipleship
Rev. Lora Gravatt holds a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Christian Education. As a visionary leader, Pastor Lora is passionate about establishing a partnering relationship between the church and the home in order to raise the next generation to know and love Jesus, as well as to equip parents to be the primary faith-shaper of their children. Having served in church ministry for the past 25 years, Pastor Lora now in her 15th year at Columbia serves as Pastor for Discipleship and is responsible for leading all ministries related to children through adults including the supervision of the Child Development Center Director Team. Pastor Lora is a champion of the reimagining of how the church and weekday preschool centers collaborate to minister to young families as part of the overall Whole Life Discipleship of families.
Dr. Doyna Illmer, Ph.D. - Senior Director
Dr. Doyna Illmer holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a specialization in Early Childhood. Dr. Doyna has extensive experience at all levels of the early childhood education (ECE) field, including being the Director of the Early Childhood Education Teacher Training Program at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, a leading research university in Chile. Her bilingualism, international background, and vast experience working with children, and teachers at different stages of their career put her in a unique position to support best practices at Columbia. Among other things, Dr. Doyna provides strategic planning for the CDC, community outreach and ECE advocacy, parent counselling, inclusion support, as well as on-site professional development to our teachers. Dr. Doyna has been at the CDC since 2016.
SPECIALISTS
Anna Hornbuckle - Office Manager
ahornbuckle@columbiabaptist.org
Dianne Lenert - Operations Assistant
Michelle Lindsey - Enrollment Specialist
COLUMBIA CHURCH
Looking for a church but not sure where to turn? We want to help you find a home. Columbia is dedicated to helping everyday people grow in Christ and become whole-life disciples. Join us on Sunday mornings or reach out to us today!
103 W. Columbia Street
Falls Church, VA 22046
Sundays in-person & online 9:30 & 11:15AM
Call us today: 703-534-5700