1517 Media
Laura Gifford currently serves as Editor-in-chief and Acquisitions Editor at Fortress Press under 1517 Media, a position held since June 2022. Previously, Laura held various roles within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, including Candidacy and Leadership Manager for Regions 1 & 2 and Oregon Synod Coordinator of Candidacy and Synodically Authorized Ministry. Laura's early career experience encompasses roles as an Author and Research Historian, a Scholar in Residence at George Fox University, and multiple adjunct instructor positions across several colleges. Educational achievements include a Master of Arts in Ministry from Portland Seminary and a Ph.D. in American History from UCLA.
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1517 Media
For more than 200 years 1517 Media has been committed to helping Christian communities and individuals encounter a loving, gracious God and grow in faith, understanding, and response. We create resources for Christian worship and faith formation, for academic study and professional development, and for individual edification and spiritual growth. We have always embraced the media of the day to meet people where they are, in their lives and in their communities. 1517 Media has five publishing imprints: AUGSBURG FORTRESS, serves Lutheran churches with resources that support worship and music, faith formation, and congregational life. FORTRESS PRESS, publisher of scholarship that matters for the academy, for the classroom, and for the church across the categories of theology, biblical studies, history, religion, and ministry. SPARKHOUSE, develops resources that engage and inspire children, youth, and adults in Christian communities. BEAMING BOOKS, publisher of high-quality children’s books that help kids thrive emotionally, socially, and spiritually. BROADLEAF BOOKS, publisher of books on religion, culture, social justice, spirituality, and personal growth that inspire transformation in readers and their communities to foster a more open, just, and compassionate world.