Marcus Buckley
Vice President of Development
Dr. Marcus Buckley serves as the Vice President of Development for Christian Union. A graduate of Stetson University, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and North Greenville University, Dr. Buckley spent nearly 30 years pastoring growing churches in Florida and South Carolina. His ministry has always focused on taking the unchanging truths of Scripture and teaching them in such a way that they can be understood and applied by anyone. He has also served as a police chaplain for over 28 years, has contributed to a number of publications on theology and Christian living, and is the author of two best-selling Christian novels. His wife, Lea Ann,has previously served as a Christian Union ministry fellow at Cornell University and as the manager of the Christian Union Mott Center on Cornell’s campus, and currently serves as a cornerstone partner coordinator on the development team. They have three grown children.
Woody O’Cain
Director of Development
Woody began serving as the Director of Development of Christian Union in March 2025. He has served numerous higher education institutions over his 35-year career, initially in the areas of admissions, financial aid, marketing, and enrollment. The latter part of his career has been in the areas of development and alumni and parent engagement.
Woody served Furman University as Director of Admissions for a decade in enrollment. During his tenure there, O’Cain’s work elevated Furman’s national reputation as an academically competitive and diverse liberal arts institution. He also served on the board of the Southern Association of College Admissions Counselors and has been a popular keynote presenter and panelist for schools around the country on all topics related to the college selection process.
Most recently he has served in alumni and development roles at Stetson University in DeLand, FL before returning to his home state of SC to serve as Director of Development at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law.
Woody and his wife of 34 years, Patty, have two daughters: Ashley O’Cain Templeton, who is the Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Georgia, and Allie, who is a vet tech at an area veterinary hospital in South Carolina. In his free time, Woody enjoys any activity outside, from landscaping to fishing, along with many woodworking projects.
Patty Fillman
Patty provides crucial administrative support to the development team. She graduated from Mansfield University with a degree in Early Childhood Education and has worked a variety of secretarial and managerial jobs while fulfilling her primary responsibility of raising her children.
Patty has three wonderful, grown children: Adam, Rachel, and Hannah. Between them, she and her husband, Jim, have four children and three grandchildren.
LeaAnn Buckley
Cornerstone Partner Coordinator
Susan Brown
Cornerstone Partner Coordinator
Contact the Christian Union development staff by email using: Firstname.Lastname@ChristianUnion.org