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New executive leader brings extensive experience in funeral service education, institutional leadership, and strategic program development.
March 4, 2026, Parker, CO. – Funeral Women Lead announces the appointment of Erin M. Wilson, CFSP, MS, as its Senior Director of Education & Program Strategy. Wilson brings a strong background in funeral service education, executive leadership, and institutional strategy to the role, where she will guide the development of scalable education initiatives and structured leadership pathways designed to elevate women across the funeral and deathcare profession.
A licensed funeral director and embalmer, Wilson began her funeral service career as a student at Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, the institution she would later lead as president, becoming the first female president in its 85-year history. Her professional journey reflects a deep commitment to academic excellence, workforce readiness, and leadership development within funeral service.
Throughout her career, Wilson has led accreditation initiatives, strengthened academic foundations, improved student success outcomes, and built cultures of accountability and organizational growth. Her leadership experience spans faculty development, enrollment strategy, regulatory compliance, and fiscal oversight. She holds a Master of Science in Human Relations and Business, a master’s-level Certification in Executive Leadership, and is a Certified Funeral Service Professional (CFSP).
“Education changes trajectories,” said Wilson. “I’ve seen firsthand how structured development builds both competence and confidence — and that combination gives women the voice to lead. Funeral service is evolving, and through Funeral Women Lead, I’m committed to building programs that elevate women and strengthen their influence across the profession.”
Funeral Women Lead was founded in 2025 by Lisa Baue and is dedicated to creating next-era women’s leadership in the funeral and deathcare profession. The organization is a robust and multilayered nonprofit offering education, community support, mentoring, coaching opportunities, and leadership development programming for women across all stages of their careers.
“Funeral Women Lead exists to build the infrastructure for women’s leadership in this profession,” Baue said. “Erin brings not only a deep understanding of funeral service education, but also the strategic discipline to scale programs in a meaningful and measurable way. Her experience at the intersection of governance, academics, and workforce development will help us expand access, elevate standards, and strengthen outcomes for the women we serve.”
As Senior Director of Education & Program Strategy, Wilson will focus on building sustainable educational frameworks, expanding access to training and mentorship, and aligning programming with the evolving needs of today’s funeral professionals. Her appointment marks a significant step forward as Funeral Women Lead continues to grow its national impact.
About Funeral Women Lead
Funeral Women Lead is a 501(c)(3) organization that believes women are key to the future and sustainability of the funeral and deathcare profession. It pursues its mission to unleash greatness in the women of the funeral and deathcare professions through outreach, coaching and mentoring, a leadership academy, wellness initiatives, and scholarships for professional development. Bringing together leaders, sponsors, researchers, and supporters, Funeral Women Lead champions women as essential architects of next-era leadership in funeral service. To learn more about the organization and Wilson, visit www.funeralwomenlead.org.