The Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) announced today that Executive Director Barbara Sella will retire on August 31, 2026. Associate Director David Earleywine will succeed her as Executive Director. The WCC has also hired Ryan Keisling as a new Associate Director.

Sella has faithfully served the WCC since 2002, serving as the WCC’s executive director for the past four years. During her time, she helped advance the WCC’s mission to coordinate various interdiocesan activities and collectively represent the five Roman Catholic dioceses of Wisconsin on a statewide level, including advocating for public policy positions that reflect the teachings and values of the Catholic Church.

David Earleywine has served as Associate Director at the WCC since 2022 and has been responsible for education and religious liberty issues. He holds a law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Earleywine serves on the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Religious Practices Advisory Committee and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Advisory Committee on Catholic Education Policy. As Executive Director, Earleywine will also assume the role of Chair of the Board of Directors of the Church Unemployment Pay Program, Inc.

On September 1, Ryan Keisling will join the WCC as Associate Director, having previously studied at St. John Vianney Seminary, where he double majored in Philosophy and Catholic Studies. He later was a SALT missionary at Camp Gray and then Coordinator of Youth Ministries at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Baraboo.

Archbishop Jeffrey Grob, Archbishop of Milwaukee and President of the WCC Board, said, “The bishops are deeply grateful for Barbara’s service to the Church and they welcome David and Ryan to their new positions at the WCC. Their excellent training in law and Catholic Studies will serve the Church well in the coming years. Together with Associate Director Tia Izzia, they will work to advance human dignity and the common good at the State Capitol.”