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Hopes & Prayers for OCF: Meet Our Board, Tom Hodson
Tom Hodson wasn’t raised Orthodox. He came to the faith later in life, well after his own children were already growing up in the Church. So when his son and daughter headed off to college, Tom found himself learning about Orthodox Christian Fellowship the way most parents do: secondhand, through stories brought home from campus.
One story has stayed with him longer than the rest. The Orthodox priest who led the OCF chapter at his daughter’s college prayed with her, walked with her, and helped her hold onto her faith through four years of exams, roommates, and everything else college throws at a young person. Years later, that same priest stood in the church the day she got married.
“It was heart-warming to hear the stories,” Tom says, “and then see some of those critical relationships extend past their graduation, and continue on to this day. The Orthodox priest who led the chapter at my daughter’s school was at her wedding!”
A Career Built on Bringing Order to Complexity
Tom brings 27 years of consulting leadership to the boardroom table. He recently retired as a Principal in Deloitte’s Strategy and Analytics practice, where he served as the Global Lead Client Service Partner for the U.S. Department of State. Before that, he led one of Deloitte’s largest commercial accounts, managing a global team that delivered more than 50 consulting programs across a dozen countries. Earlier still, he spent seven years on Capitol Hill, first as a Legislative Assistant in the House of Representatives, then as a Legislative Director in the U.S. Senate, advising on budget, tax, and regulatory policy.
He holds an MBA from Emory University and a Master’s in Public Communication from American University. Now retired, Tom describes himself simply: “Orthodox Christian, husband, father… passionate about the church, golf, writing, giving back, and taking long walks on the beach.”
A Father’s View, A Vice Chair’s Purpose
It’s his role as a father and uncle, more than any title on his resume, that shapes how Tom thinks about OCF’s work. He watched his own children and their cousins pass through college, and so many of them brought home a story of how OCF made an impact: a Real Break trip, a priest who leaned in, a shared ride to church, a faith that took deeper root because someone was there for it. Today, Tom brings that same perspective to his role as Vice Chair of the OCF Board.
“My hopes and prayers for OCF aren’t complicated, but will require the work of the Holy Spirit and many others to come to fruition,” Tom says. “I hope we can extend our reach to every college student in need. Most of those will be existing Orthodox believers, but many will also be seekers. In either case, having a safe, loving place for them to land on campus is critical.”
Tom Hodson, Vice Chair, OCF Board
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