faculty bios

The bulk of our retreats, trainings, and workshops are led by Jerome & Kellie, founders of The Vining Center. We also include adjunct teachers from time to time, drawn from other contemplative perspectives.

Kellie Daley

Kellie Daley is a spiritual director and teacher in the mystic contemplative tradition. An avid practitioner of the Enneagram and Centering Prayer, she has a masters degree from Columbia International University and continued her studies at The Second Breath Center, the Transforming Center, and The Phoenix Center for Spiritual Direction. She currently runs a property management business and has extensive experience in local church ministry as well as home-schooling three children. She graduated Portland Seminary in 2025 with a D.Min. in Leadership and Spiritual Formation.

“I love to walk with men and women seeking spiritual growth and personal empowerment, and I provide spiritual direction, group spiritual direction, centering prayer groups, and Enneagram typing. My passions are gender equality, the mystical journey, good wine, running, yoga, and my grandson…not necessarily in that order. Together with my husband Jerome, I make my home in the mountains of North Carolina.”

Jerome Daley

Jerome has been serving faith leaders as an executive coach and spiritual director since 2005. Prior to that, he served on pastoral staff in Chapel Hill, NC for 10 years. Trained at Columbia International University, The Institute for Life Coach Training, The Center for Coaching Excellence, The Kinward Center, The Transforming Center, and The Phoenix Center for Spiritual Direction, Jerome is an avid book writer and Professional Certified Coach, offering formational teaching, soul coaching, retreat & sabbatical coaching, and Enneagram typing. He holds a D.Min. in Leadership and Spiritual Formation from Portland Seminary and loves reading, writing, good wine, and all things outdoors. You can see his books here.

“I love to help men and women come to know themselves, deepen their intimacy with God, and become the truest version of themselves so they can extend a healing influence in the world. I have a particular passion to support leaders on sabbatical, those seeking the transformative perspectives of Enneagram typing, and those working through faith deconstruction & reconstruction.”