Union Theological Seminary 2023 Impact Report by Union Seminary

UNION

IMPACT 2023 Where Faith and Scholarship Meet to Reimagine the Work of Justice

UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK

Union Theological Seminary in the city of New York (UTS), founded in 1836 in New York City, is a globally recognized seminary and graduate school of theology where faith and scholarship meet to reimagine the work of justice. A beacon for social justice and progressive change, Union Theological Seminary is led by a diverse group of theologians and activist leaders. Drawing on Christian traditions and the insights of other faiths, the institution is focused on educating leaders who can address critical issues like racial equity, criminal justice reform, income inequality, and protecting the environment. Union is led by the Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, the 16th president and the first woman to head the 187-year-old Seminary.

UTS BOARD OF TRUSTEES Serene Jones (President) Clifford Hudson (Chair) Rhonda Joy McLean (Vice Chair) James F. Blue Geoffrey Brown Blake Franklin Amy Gopp Mark D. Hostetter Nancy Steeger Jennings Ginny Johnston David A. Klassen Caroline Laguerre-Brown Timothy Light

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Joan Magnetti David M. McAlpin Robin R. Meyers Craig J. Miller Edward D. Pardoe Susan L. Sgarlat Madison T. Shockley II Stan J. Sloan Winnie Varghese Raphael G. Warnock Ruth A. Wooden Jason G. Wright

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A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

SHAPING 21st CENTURY RELIGIOUS SCHOLARSHIP

I N N OVAT I O N I N T H E O L O G I CA L E D U CAT I O N

R E C R U I T I N G, R E TA I N I N G & S U P P O RT I N G S T U D E N T S

C U LT I VAT I N G I N T E N T I O N A L C O M M U N I T Y

REIMAGINING FAITH IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE

E N S U R I N G U N I O N ’ S F U T U R E : C A M P U S R E N E WA L & C L I M AT E R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y

E N S U R I N G U N I O N ’ S F U T U R E : D E V E L O P M E N T & A LU M R E L AT I O N S

E N S U R I N G U N I O N ’ S F U T U R E : F I N A N C I A L S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

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UTS ALUMS IN ACTION

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C h a r t i n g t h e Pat h f o r U n i o n Theological Seminary’s Long-Term Success

t is an honor to serve as the Chairman of our Board of Trustees at Union Theological Seminary. In my 5+ years of service on the Union Board, we have witnessed much physical improvement of Union, the evolution of Union’s professional programs, and our Board’s fully engaged support of the growing success of Union’s President, Serene Jones. As part of our mission to advance our 187-year legacy of faith and social justice, and in alignment with the efforts of President Jones, our Board of Trustees increasingly focuses on efforts toward: n Physically refurbishing the Union NYC campus, n Evolving Union’s academic program content to meet the needs of a broadening and evolving spiritual community, n Monitoring and strengthening our financial performance and capital structure, n All to maintain the long-term viability and success of Union, at a time when we see societal and institutional trends that sadly place many peer institutions at a declining likelihood of survival. Our Board meets three times a year to engage in program and financial oversight of Union. All members engage more fully between those three board meetings through our Executive Committee and various functional committees. Our Board is actively engaged in this functional oversight of Union’s affairs, and fully supportive with their individual expertise and personal financial support. With the development over the last several years, including the: n complete renovation of our student housing at Hastings Hall, n ongoing physical rehabilitation of the campus, n completion of 100 Claremont Hall with new housing for our faculty, n expansion of our online offerings, n sustenance of our student population, and growth of our degree offerings, the basis for optimism regarding Union’s path forward is broad and concrete. That path is not without its challenges, but with Union’s strong leadership and increasing base of support, our Board of Trustees remains fully engaged in its oversight and optimistic about Union’s future. Our 187-year legacy of vigorous spiritual education and preparation of leaders with a focus on social justice lives on! n Sincerely,

Clifford Hudson B OA R D

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TO WA R D S A M O R E V I B R A N T , I N C LU S I V E , A N D S U S TA I N A B L E U N I O N T H E O LO G I CA L S E M I N A R Y

am pleased to share with you the 2023 Impact Report for Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. It’s a first for us. While we are constantly communicating with our many stakeholders, we do not have a tradition of creating a single, comprehensive, public-facing annual update. As a step towards improving our work and pursuing best practices in theological education, we have created this report! Great thanks go to the many people at Union who worked on this report and to those who appear in it. I hope you enjoy what you find in these pages – the stories are phenomenal but even more, the people that comprise Union are just downright amazing to behold!

people who seek the fruits of theological study and formation. We know, as do you, that the education we offer here – justiceseeking, love-embracing, world-transforming, faith-inspiring – has never been so urgently needed.

As you will see in the pages ahead, Union is filled with vitality and vision as it continues to uphold its historic mission while also forging ahead, reaching toward ever-expanding horizons for the practice of theological education. This year’s Impact Report is organized around our present Strategic Plan, the central goal of which is to support and strengthen the Union of today so that 50 years from now, students will still be walking through our doors, zooming onto our screens, and joining the work of the Seminary via whatever new forms of communication and education await us in the future.

n Shaping 21st Century Religious Scholarship

I am happy to say that Union has been making great strides towards creating foundations for that lively future. You will read about our extensive campus renovations, our new degree programs, our emerging platforms for public education, our incredible fundraising successes, and most importantly, the brilliance and passion of the students who continue to show up, seeking the unique education we offer. In a world where the horizons of many seminaries are constricting, Union is thriving as it reaches further and further out to communities and

On behalf of the whole Union community – which reaches far and wide – I am happy to say thank you for your witness and your faithful labor in our broken and struggling yet resilient world. We remain committed to you and to keeping Union a place Where Faith and Scholarship Meet to Reimagine the Work of Justice. May it do so for many generations to come!

Ahead, we share the incredible work of our amazing faculty, staff, students, and alums, all pulling together in the same exciting direction. We also share the incredible leadership journeys of some of our alums. We have organized the report around the central pillars of Union’s Strategic Plan which I share here with you.

n Innovation in Theological Education n Recruiting, Retaining, and Supporting Students n Cultivating Intentional Community n Reimagining Faith in the Public Square n Ensuring Union’s Future: Cultivating Partnerships n Ensuring Union’s Future: Campus Renewal & Climate

Responsibility n Ensuring Union’s Future: Development & Alum Relations n Ensuring Union’s Future: Financial Sustainability

I hope you enjoy reading this inaugural issue of Union’s 2023 Impact Report! n

Sincerely,

Serene Jones P R E S I D E N T J O H N S T O N D E M O C R AC Y

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“Ahead, we share the incredible work of our amazing faculty, staff, students, and alums, all pulling together in the same exciting direction.”

SHAPING 21st century

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religious scholarship

SHAPING 21st CENTURY RELIGIOUS SCHOLARSHIP

Shaping 21st Century Religious Scholarship By Amplifying Diverse Voices

TS has a rich history of inviting visiting professors who expand the breadth of the seminary’s teachings and contribute enormously to religious scholarship. UTS currently welcomes three visiting professors – Dr. Jorge Juan Rodríguez V, Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad, and Karenna Gore, all of whom previously attended UTS. Each of them provides unique insight into areas of scholarship that often go overlooked and illustrates the importance of diversity in religious thought. Dr. Rodríguez – a son of two Puerto Rican migrants – grew up in a small affordable housing community in Connecticut. Examining the intersections of faith and social justice was inevitable, as he grew up in a family where dreams, prayers, and caring for the least of these were always central. As Dr. Rodríguez put it, “My scholarship works at the intersections of religion and social movements. I look at how activists – both conservative and liberal – engage religious logics, frameworks, understandings, and rituals to expand or pursue their own social movements.” From Dr. Rodríguez’s perspective, this analysis is crucial to understanding society – and to create meaningful progress. He explained, “You can’t understand social problems or social possibilities unless you understand the religious roots that got us here.” Every part of culture – from military policies to our fascination with superheroes – is grounded in religion. For example, Dr. Rodríguez wrote his dissertation about the New York Young Lords, a group of Puerto Ricans who sought dramatic social change starting in the 1960s. As part of their movement, they occupied churches to encourage religious institutions to better support the community. Dr. Rodríguez interviewed members who were alive for the occupations and worked with those community elders to create public history projects detailing how the movement shaped the church and the community at large.

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Dr. Rodríguez is also exploring the littlediscussed history of religion and fatness. Additionally, Dr. Rodríguez continues to dive into Latinx religious activism and 20thCentury social movements. Meanwhile, Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad brings her unparalleled knowledge of Buddhism and Black studies to UTS students. Since 2006, Dr. Vesely-Flad has practiced vipassana in the Insight tradition. Her scholarship focuses on elevating Black voices within Buddhism and applying the principles of Buddhism to Black liberation. For example, Dr. Vesely-Flad teaches a course on Buddhism, race, gender, and sexuality, which explores the experiences of Buddhists of color and examines complex topics such as female ordination in faith communities. According to Dr. Vesely-Flad, “We look really deeply into questions of power and the consolidation of power in Buddhist communities and organizations in the United States.” Dr. Vesely-Flad also teaches a course on the Dharma of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde. Dr. Vesely-Flad noted, “It’s a course in which black queer writers are centered in the interpretation of a Buddhist doctrine and practices.” That course dovetails into her recent book, Black Buddhists and the Black Radical Tradition, in which she interviewed forty Black Buddhist teachers and long-term practitioners about their interpretations of Dharma. Looking forward, Dr. Vesely-Flad plans to explore “how race and caste are understood in their differing contexts, and how Black Buddhists can learn from anti-caste activists in India and the Diaspora.” Karenna Gore has devoted her career to addressing the climate crisis and elevating scholarship around earth ethics. While a student at UTS, Karenna Gore was “opened up to the many connections between the global environmental crisis and the liberation traditions that are so strong

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at UTS.” After graduating in 2013, she accepted a position as the Director of the Union Forum at UTS. In 2014, she helped organize “Religions for the Earth,” a major convening of more than 200 spiritual and religious leaders during Climate Week 2014 that aimed to galvanize faith-based action on climate change. It was a landmark success. From there, the Center for Earth Ethics was born, which Gore has led ever since. In her work, Gore seeks to elevate three core components of earth ethics: First, expanding the circle of moral concern to include poor and marginalized people, future generations, and other-than-human life. Second, examining the root causes of the climate crisis, not just the effects. And third, looking holistically at our value system to create a world that is in line with our true values. In line with these messages, the CEE has created unique courses on many topics – including plant wisdom, Indigenous voices within ecology, colonization, spirituality, and looking beyond GDP. The CEE also offers training to faith leaders on addressing the climate crisis. Beyond her contributions to scholarship, Gore also spoke at length about the CEE’s role in elevating the earth ethics scholarship of others. Crucially, for Gore, “scholarship” shouldn’t be limited to traditional academic accolades. People who live closely with nature – including many Indigenous communities – and grassroots organizers “have every bit the same amount of authority to speak to earth ethics as those with academic credentials.” As such, for Gore, contributing to 21stcentury religious scholarship also means expanding the bounds of “scholarship.” All three of UTS’ visiting professors elevate diverse perspectives and topics – and enormously contribute to 21st-Century religious scholarship. n

“You can’t understand social problems or social possibilities unless you understand the religious roots that got us here.”

fr o m l e ft t o r i g h t : DR. RI M A V E S E LY -F L A D DR. J ORGE J UA N RODRÍ GUE Z V K A RE NNA GORE

“Union is an adventurous place, theologically and socially.”

f ro m le f t t o righ t : R E V. D R . C L Á U D I O C A R VA L H A E S R E V. D R . J O H N T H ATA M A N I L D R . J U L I A K E LT O L I L L I S

SHAPING 21st CENTURY RELIGIOUS SCHOLARSHIP

B u i l d i n g A B e tt e r T o m o r r o w Through Scholarship

TS is proud to be home to an array of faculty members who are producing rich scholarship on different faith communities and charting the course for a better tomorrow. The Rev. Dr. Cláudio Carvalhaes, the Rev. Dr. John Thatamanil, and Dr. Julia Kelto Lillis are three examples of such professors. Dr. Carvalhaes is a UTS alumnus and the Professor of Worship at UTS. Born and raised in Brazil in a religious household, he has long seen the church as “a place where the whole world is combined… where the community gathers and helps and supports each other.” That experience set the stage for Dr. Carvalhaes’ religious scholarship. He has explored all sorts of faith groups and deeply examined the connections between religion and community in different cultures. For example, in his first book, he analyzed how the Eucharist teaches us to open the gates to people of all races, ethnicities, languages, sexualities, and more. Dr. Carvalhaes has also published multiple books on prayer based on his experience traveling all over the world to pray with various faith communities. A few years ago, he decided to focus his work on the climate crisis. Since then, he has produced an enormous amount of scholarship drawing connections between the planet, justice, and faith. He has also written a play titled When Wajcha Meets Pachamama, which was recently accepted to the New York Theater Festival. The play aims to approach the climate crisis with a sense of humor and a spirit of hope for the future. In the production, Wajcha – a clown – embarks on a journey to cure the sick planet. The play will be at the New York Theater Festival in October and at UTS’ campus in February 2024.

Meanwhile, Dr. Thatamanil, Professor of Theology and World Religions, centers his work on a core question: How can Christian communities come to see religious diversity as a promise rather than as a problem? He explained that, throughout history, Christian communities have overtly excluded other groups – or accepted the existence of other traditions, but remained unwilling to explore them. In Dr. Thatamanil’s eyes, in the quest for truth, one must be open to other perspectives. It’s not enough to just accept people; diversity must be considered a strength. Dr. Thatamanil has produced an abundance of scholarship on this topic. His book, The Immanent Divine, shares and analyzes ways of thinking in both Christianity and Hinduism. Meanwhile, his book, Circling the Elephant, teaches readers that the best way to find the truth of the infinite is to move away from religious isolationism and learn from other faith traditions. And his forthcoming book, Desiring Truth, posits that people must “have an intense desire for the truth to get there.” Otherwise, “they will be hijacked by wanting to believe what is comfortable for us to believe, or wanting to be reaffirmed in the biases they already hold.” Dr. Thatamanil also serves as the Director of the Insight Project: Theology & the Natural World. The project aims to add more scientific literacy to theological discussions and further UTS’ commitment to ecojustice. Through the Insight Project, Dr. Thatamanil invites theological experts to UTS to provide valuable expertise on a variety of topics. For example, he recently brought in the world’s leading thinkers in animal theology to share their scholarship with students.

She focuses primarily on early Christian texts and gender and sexuality. As she explained, “Learning about that history, especially distant ancient cultures’ alternative ways to see things, reframes our world and exposes limitations on our imagination that don’t have to be there. Listening to the past gives us a new understanding of what’s happening in the present and helps us imagine new possibilities for the future.” For example, her recent book, Virgin Territory, explores the myriad of ways in which early Christians and their neighbors defined virginity and how those interpretations changed over time – for better or for worse. Looking ahead, Dr. Lillis will continue to tackle questions about gender’s function in human societies and the ways early Christians found themselves able or unable to imagine genderlessness, or being fully human without gender. She also plans to dig more deeply into disability studies, health humanities, and the history of slavery. According to Dr. Lillis, UTS is helping with religious scholarship by transforming itself in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many scholars with chronic illnesses, long-term COVID-19, and disabilities have been denied access to traditional scholarship opportunities. UTS is leading the way by helping “open new paths and reshape how scholarship can be done, and by whom, in the twentyfirst century.” Dr. Lillis put it well: “Union is an adventurous place, theologically and socially.” As such, UTS provides a fertile ground for faculty members to contribute to 21st-century religious scholarship in new and exciting ways. n

Dr. Julia Kelto Lillis serves as Assistant Professor of Early Church History at UTS.

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INNOVATION IN THEO

LOGICAL EDUCATION

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“Buddhism brings a whole series of practices that deeply settle the heart and mind – and expand them in powerful ways.”

f r om l eft to rig h t: T H E R E V. K O S E N G R E G S N Y D E R , O S H O PEACE TWESIGYE ANDREW HER ANNA SARDAR

INNOVATION IN THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION

P u r s u i n g I n n o v at i o n i n T h e o l o g i c a l E d u c at i o n : O u r B u d d h i s m P r o g r a m

hanks to years of careful cultivation and intentional investment, Union Theological Seminary is home to a vibrant, one-of-a-kind Buddhism program. The Thich Nhat Hanh Program for Engaged Buddhism (BIE) teaches students how to understand social justice through Buddhism, engage each other in faith without causing harm, and use Buddhist principles to address the world’s most pressing issues. It all started years ago with the leadership of the Rev. Kosen Greg Snyder, Osho. By happenstance, the Rev. Snyder and UTS President the Rev. Dr. Serene Jones were both selected to embark on a trip with fellow U.S. religious leaders to meet with theologians in Iran. On that excursion, they explored the possibility of developing a rigorous Buddhism program in New York City. After much discussion, they decided to move forward – and Rev. Snyder got to work. He had a unique vision: He aspired to start a program in which anybody could take part – from very serious lay practitioners to ordained Buddhists. He also aimed to put social justice at the center of every single lesson. And hence, UTS’ BIE program was born. Over the years, it has grown significantly. Students and faculty attribute that growth to several unique attributes. First and foremost: The community.

The program encourages deep critical thought, difficult conversations, interfaith engagement, and close interpersonal relationships. As a result, students create deep bonds that allow them to grow in unprecedented ways. Peace Twesigye, Director of Buddhist Studies and the BIE program, noted, “Cultivation of the community is so central to learning together.” She explained that UTS is so unique because there’s no fear of diving into difficult topics and getting messy. Students learn how to communicate effectively and respect and embrace other people’s perspectives. Nobuko Hori, a student in the program, stated, “It’s a unique sort of learning and growth container, with my peers asking really challenging questions… It forms a person who is much better equipped to respond to the very real crises of our world.” Emma Markham, another student, highlighted the many opportunities to “learn what it means to be in community together.” Both Hori and Markham also spoke fondly of the Buddhist Student Collective – a group of students and alums who provide mutual support and spiritual friendship to one another, elevate the community, and support the growth of the BIE program. In addition to the community, the BIE program provides an array of unique learning opportunities in the classroom and beyond. For example, UTS offers an Introduction to Meditation course that teaches students an array of meditation

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practices. Students can then use these techniques for themselves and in a potential career as chaplains. Because it has been so well-received, many nonBuddhist students also elect to take the class. UTS also runs a “Dharma and Justice” series, which explores Buddhist concepts in the context of pertinent social issues. Previous topics included accountability in Black and Asian Buddhist communities, racial oppression through a Buddhist lens, and grief in social justice movements. Furthermore, this year, UTS held a landmark event with renowned peace activist Sister Chan Khong – the only event she’s ever led publicly outside of the monastery in the United States. Rev. Snyder and Peace Twesigye have been instrumental in the cultivation of this astounding work. As Markham put it, “The leadership of Kosen and Peace was unparalleled… I couldn’t in my wildest dreams have imagined being led by people like them.” She added that the BIE initiative “feels like a Buddhism program. It’s not just an academic program about Buddhism.” Looking into the future, UTS is committed to the growth of its BIE program, as it aligns perfectly with the Seminary’s mission. As the Rev. Snyder astutely put it, “Buddhism brings a whole series of practices that deeply settle the heart and mind – and expand them in powerful ways.” That’s precisely what’s needed to advance social justice. n

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JEN CASE MASJ ‘25

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KAZI JOSHUA MASJ ‘25

DR. ELIZABETH RIOS MASJ ‘25

JUDAH LOPEZ MASJ ‘26

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INNOVATION IN THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION

Uplifting Social Justice in T h e o l o g i c a l E d u c at i o n : O u r M a s t e r o f Arts in Social Justice Program

hroughout its rich history, Union Theological Seminary has consistently stretched the traditional bounds of theological education and created new, innovative schools of thought. UTS’ new Master of Arts in Social Justice (MASJ) program, which officially launched in 2022, builds on this legacy.

The Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Rios is one of these students. She’s an Afro-Latina raised in New York who now lives in Florida. Raised in a Pentecostal Latino Church, she has a deep faith background. Before enrolling in the MASJ program, she had already started a network for Black and Brown church planters who aimed to start justice-oriented churches.

It all began with a core question: What’s next for UTS? UTS recognized that the pandemic had upended education as usual. Prospective students craved flexibility and adaptability. New technology also opened new doors to teach in different ways and reach more people. Simultaneously, UTS acknowledged that traditional theological education is declining. People interested in faith want to break outside the box. Importantly, they also want to use faith to create meaningful change in the world. UTS took a look at its offerings and realized that most of the ingredients for a MASJ program already existed. The institution just needed some extra pieces. UTS decided to create a part-time, fully online Master’s program to accommodate students in different locations with all sorts of time commitments – like families to raise and jobs to maintain. Importantly, unlike most Master’s programs in the country, the degree was not designed to be a gateway to a particular career path. It aims to enhance the work of people who are already grounded in their profession. “More than anything, the goal of the program was to create the space for people to think through and to deepen the work that they’re already doing and to think about the ethics behind what’s guiding them,” explained the Rev. Dr. Timothy AdkinsJones, Assistant Professor of Homiletics at UTS. UTS also took another major break from other seminaries: UTS decided to center on social justice rather than religious doctrine. Every single discussion of faith is directly connected to pressing social issues – including race, gender, sexuality, and climate. That’s a revolutionary model. And with that line of thinking, students can apply their Master’s not just in religious settings but in non-profit, diversity and inclusion, and corporate spaces. Thus far, the program has been a resounding success. It immediately attracted an extraordinary range of students of different ages, races, careers, locations, faith backgrounds, and more. Students are already starting to put their education into practice.

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Dr. Rios felt that she needed to be exposed to a greater range of thought to strengthen her faith efforts and decided to enroll in the MASJ program after securing a scholarship. “It’s been transformational,” said Dr. Rios. She took a course on preaching and protest, which helped her understand how faith leaders can use the pulpit to boost civic engagement. She also took a course about the psychology of Christian nationalism, which opened her eyes to the importance of engaging in thoughtful dialogue with people with different viewpoints. Additionally, she learned from prolific scholars the Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, the Rev. Dr. Gary Dorrien, and Dr. Cornel West about faith in the public square, which challenged her thinking in extraordinary ways. Dr. Rios is already applying this education to her work. She recently added a course to her network about preaching and protest. She’s also working with a colleague on a book about planting social justice-oriented churches – and planning to write even more about what she’s learned. Dr. Adkins-Jones put it plainly: The program “creates some beautiful learning, some beautiful discovery, and will hopefully help everyone be better at helping this world become more beautiful and more just.” Union Theological Seminary is a special place to pursue this type of study. “UTS, like no other seminary, has been doing this work of justice since its inception. It’s in our DNA. This is what we breathe. This is how we see the world. This is what we prioritize,” said Dr. Su Yon Pak, Vice President for Academic Affairs & Dean and Associate Professor of Integrative and Field-Based Education. Students also have access to top-notch faculty with unparalleled knowledge in their fields of expertise. And by becoming part of the Union family, students join a network of hundreds of people who are doing incredible things around the world. UTS is excited to continue offering this program – and to continue breaking the boundaries of traditional theological education. n

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RECRUITING, RETAINING

& SUPPORTING STUDENTS

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RECRUITING, RETAINING & SUPPORTING STUDENTS

Ensuring Access to Theological E d u c at i o n T h r o u g h S c h o l a r s h i p s

TS firmly believes that finances should never be a barrier to education. The institution is also deeply conscious that our country is facing a student loan crisis – one that unfairly causes education to come at the expense of people’s livelihoods. As such, the UTS leadership team devotes enormous time, effort, and resources towards raising funding for and providing scholarships. Vanessa Hutchinson, Vice President of Admissions and Financial Aid, is at the forefront of this effort. She came to UTS with years of experience in higher education. From the beginning, it was apparent to her that UTS was special. UTS displayed a “moral courage” by offering a public voice on the issues most pertinent to our time – from racial issues to immigration to the environment. Additionally, it struck Hutchinson that UTS’ leadership team was so responsive to the needs of students. “At Union there’s a very strong sense of community… It’s very clear when I look at my colleagues on the staff and faculty that there is a great deal of personal investment in the students.” She added, “We are an institution that puts students at the heart of our mission.” That means making scholarship support a priority. UTS gives out about $4 million in financial support every year. Ninety percent of students receive some kind of institutional support. About half of the students receive full-tuition scholarships. Students often mention how instrumental this support is, in some cases calling it “life-changing” and “transformative,” according to Hutchinson. Many have noted that they would have been unable to attend UTS without this support. Or, that they would have been enormously worried about saddling themselves and their family with the extra expense. A’Dorian Murray-Thomas is one of UTS’ many scholarship recipients. She received the William Sloane Coffin Scholarship, which offered her nearly full tuition to the Seminary.

Before deciding to come to UTS, Murray-Thomas had worked in education and politics, primarily in nonprofit spaces. She also had an interest in faith. She was searching for a graduate school that would enable her to pursue all of her interests. She happened upon UTS by chance and was immediately enthused. She reflected, “I never thought that there’d be a place where I could have my academics, my faith, and my public service all intersect in this really beautiful way.” Murray-Thomas speaks highly of her experience at UTS. She highlighted UTS’ esteemed collection of faculty from all backgrounds and geographies, her talented colleagues, and the UTS community. She also spoke of the more “informal” experiences – from running into the Rev. Dr. Serene Jones in the hallway to accidentally joining a Buddhist meditation group – as some of the most thoughtprovoking parts of her time at UTS. Ultimately, UTS provides her with a renewed understanding of how we can “show up to make the world better than the world we inherited.” Now, in her longtime role as CEO of SHE Wins, she calls UTS “the gift I didn’t know I needed.” She explained that UTS fundamentally changed how she approaches her work and allowed her to rethink her strategies as a nonprofit leader. Murray-Thomas credits her scholarship with this profound experience. “It made a huge difference in my life and my family’s life and my ability to be able to come here.” She also noted that it’s a privilege to be able to receive financial support for “the work that has called me.” According to Murray-Thomas, beyond supporting individual students, ensuring access to a UTS education is also instrumental for our world. “There are not enough places like UTS… Places where you can be affirmed in your community and your scholarship and be surrounded by a rich legacy of people who have done that work.” She added, “We’re living in a world that is extremely divided. A lot of it involves conversations around faith, religion, and theology. Now more than ever, we need to have people who are passionate and able to help bridge those divides… They need to do that work, and frankly, UTS is the place.” n

– A’Dorian Murray-Thomas

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A scholarship from UTS “made a huge difference in my life and my family’s life and my ability to be able to come here.” — A ’ D O R I A N M U R R AY - T H O M A S

“Our strong commitment to justice is unmatched by any other seminary.”

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percent of students identify as part of the

14% 5% LGBTQ community

percent of students

22 % 43 identify as non-binary

identify as transgender

percent of students

identify as first-generation

undergrad

grad

percent of students are

total states represented

52 % 35 from the Tri-State area

RECRUITING, RETAINING, & SUPPORTING STUDENTS

S e e k i n g N e w W a y s t o R e c r u i t , R e ta i n , and Support Students

nion Theological Seminary has made remarkable strides toward better recruiting, retaining, and supporting students. From disability services to financial aid to curriculum and beyond, UTS aims to ensure that students can pursue their educational interests as seamlessly as possible. To determine the best path forward, UTS administrators worked directly with students to find out what they needed to succeed, particularly in light of the immense challenges of the pandemic. These personal connections enabled UTS to create changes that precisely addressed student concerns. Vanessa Hutchinson, Vice President of Admissions and Financial Aid, stated, “We’ve done an incredible amount of work on our systems and policies to better support students.” For example, in response to student requests, UTS “made a huge investment in its financial aid systems to make processes less manual and more transparent for students.” Now, students can manage their financial aid more easily and quickly. UTS is also bolstering its services for students with disabilities. Abigail Asgaralli, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, has done significant work on this front. Asgaralli noted, “We can’t talk about how we’re advancing justice, equity, and inclusion on our campus and in our world without recognizing that there is no justice that neglects disability.” One of her primary goals is to ensure students can easily report disabilities and receive appropriate accommodations. As such, UTS has revamped its system for sharing information about potential disabilities, including mental health disabilities. UTS also implemented provisional accommodations – meaning, if a student suspects they have a particular issue, UTS assumes that to be true and provides accommodations until they can get confirmation from a medical professional. As a result, there has been a significant increase in the number of students seeking services. Students who previously were reluctant to report – due to privacy concerns, shame, uncertainty, and fear of a mountain of paperwork – now feel comfortable enough to start a conversation. Beyond administration, UTS is in the midst of a major transformation to accommodate students’ interests and learning needs. For one, particularly following the pandemic, students crave more part-time and online options. It’s also clear that prospective students want more opportunities to make social justice a focal point of their education. Our new Masters of Arts in Social Justice program (MASJ) supports both of these needs by providing part-time, online students the opportunity to engage with faith through a deep social justice lens. Given the success of this program thus far, UTS

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is planning to further expand its offerings to accommodate students in different physical locations with all types of schedules and commitments. There’s also a strong desire from students for more interfaith learning. As a result, UTS is formulating more courses and programs for different faith traditions. For example, UTS is growing its Buddhism and Islam programs. Moreover, students want the flexibility to pursue the topics they’re most interested in – while still meeting their degree requirements. In that vein, UTS strives to create courses that meet the requirements for various degrees. UTS is also changing how it connects with students before they even start courses. Previously, students would be accepted to UTS in early or late Spring, and they wouldn’t receive much communication until courses began in late Summer. Now, UTS has multiple touchpoints with admitted students throughout the Summer to start building a sense of community. Nicole Mirando, former Associate Dean at Union Theological Seminary, noted, “It keeps that excitement factor as they prepare to actually come here in the Fall.” Looking ahead, UTS will continue to look for ways to provide students with the best possible experiences. “Students on our campus have never been just a number or an ID card… Folks knock on my door all day long. We’re small enough that I know something about almost every single student who walks our halls or enrolls in a course,” said Assistant Dean Asgaralli. “When someone’s telling me this ‘isn’t working,’ or ‘this is working,’ then I can build on it.” “Our strong commitment to justice is unmatched by any other seminary,” concluded former Associate Dean Mirando. As UTS moves forward, it will continue to grow this legacy. n

Ethnicity

Percent

International

10%

White

54%

Black/African American

17%

Asian

Hispanic/Latino

Two or more races

Race and Ethnicity Unknown

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C u lt i v at i n g I n t e n t i o n a l C o m m u n i t y : Justice, Equity, and Inclusion

ince its creation, UTS has aimed to make social justice a centerpiece of its work. But the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and the tragic death of George Floyd catalyzed honest reflection and conversation about how UTS was falling short of its goals – and how it could align external and internal values so that UTS could strive towards its collective vision of being the just place all its stakeholders desired it to be. At the time, the concept of DEI – diversity, equity, and inclusion – was making waves across the country. But UTS recognized that the title of “DEI” was insufficient to achieve a world in which all communities could thrive. JEI – or justice, equity, and inclusion – was a much better fit. The Rev. Dr. Timothy Adkins-Jones, Assistant Professor of Homiletics at UTS, explained it well: “Justice, equity, and inclusion means that we recognize that diversity in and of itself does not ensure a safe place. It doesn’t ensure justice, and it doesn’t ensure the making up of ground. Importantly, JEI also means making sure that harm has been repaired, proper assistance has been given, and that certain powers and privileges have been given up such that everyone in the community can feel at home.” To advance these goals – and to ensure that all UTS community members had a seat at the table – UTS created a JEI committee of faculty, staff, and students. UTS also hired an external consultant to assess the Seminary’s strengths and shortcomings and chart a path forward. The consultant conducted surveys and offered extensive listening sessions to faculty, staff, and students. Now, JEI is part of every single faculty meeting and decision point. That has manifested in all corners of the campus. For example, UTS has made significant investments in disability services. The Seminary has also created a pantry for anyone to access free food. Additionally, UTS has made significant commitments to reduce its carbon footprint and protect our planet. UTS has also hosted more events designed to create a profound impact beyond the internal community. Eric Busby, who worked at UTS’ Center for Community Engagement and Social Justice (CCESJ), highlighted one particularly illuminating recent event titled, “The State of the Black Church: Reconciling Communities and Reimagining Inclusion.” During this one-day symposium, Black faith leaders, activists, churchgoers, and others met to explore how to bridge the gap between the Black Church and LGBTQ+ communities.

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And that’s just a snapshot of the work so far. Importantly, UTS students often lead these changes and programs. Karmen Michael Smith, former Director of the CCESJ explained that UTS has “built a reputation of letting the listening lead us… We don’t tell students what the injustice is. Our students tell us.” As UTS looks to the future, the institution is keenly aware that it cannot put its JEI goals on “auto-pilot,” as the Rev. Fred Davie, the interim director of the CCESJ put it. “Institutions tend to retreat or resort to their former nature unless the effort of ongoing renewal, regeneration, and reform are present. Union has a commitment to maintaining this consciousness.” Busby echoed this sentiment, “I think what sets Union apart is that we’re not just trying to put a bandaid on a problem, but actually trying to heal a wound… There’s actually a hope of creating a new place and not just learning to exist in a way that is publicly satisfying.” They furthered, “Where other institutions are looking for performative growth, we are looking for institutional healing.” Over the next months, Rev. Davie will help ensure that JEI remains “present and infused,” in every aspect of the institution. A new director will then continue this work for the long term. Ultimately, as Rev. Davie astutely stated, “JEI is not seen as an add-on at UTS. It’s actually who UTS is.” n

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“Justice, equity, and inclusion means that we recognize that diversity in and of itself does not ensure a safe place.”

PHOTOS ARE FROM 2023 C O N V O C AT I O N

Chapel services enable us “to celebrate our own faith traditions, and to celebrate new things that come from the whole community.”

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B u i l d i n g I n t e r r e l i g i o u s C o n n e ct i o n s Through Chapel Services

hat makes a chapel service? At most faith institutions, this question would have a rigid answer. But not at UTS. According to Dr. Sandra Teresa Soledad Montes Vela, Dean of Chapel at UTS, a chapel service “can be absolutely anything.” It just needs three elements: First, people feel like they belong. They can see their own characteristics – their race, sexual orientation, gender identification, and more – reflected in the chapel community. Second, people feel welcomed. They are invited into the community with enthusiasm. And third, people leave with a sense of hope. As a result, chapel services at UTS are like no other. Dr. Montes and a chapel team of students facilitate a wide array of unique programs at James Chapel. For example, they hosted an AAPI-focused service that included Tai Chi, poetry, and metta meditation. They also hosted a service for dance and karaoke, which featured music from different languages and faith perspectives. Other programs have focused on topics as diverse as eco-justice, Ramadan, Buddhism, coffee, arts and crafts, and games. Marisa Hulstine, who started on the chapel team in the Fall of 2022, spoke fondly of a chapel service she led with a fellow student about purity culture in the evangelical church. Hulstine wrote her Master’s Thesis on the topic and wanted to share her work beyond academia.

f r om l e f t t o rig h t: DR. SANDRA MONTES K AT H Y L I N LAURA NORTON MARISA HULSTINE

For the chapel service, she and her colleague opted to create a peaceful space with cushions, candles, and flowers for people to feel at ease. They invited a UTS chaplain to lead a meditation and ground the participants. Then, Hulstine and her colleague both shared their own experiences in the evangelical church. After discussion, they asked participants to

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consider what they wished the church could be, and share their visions for the future. Importantly, UTS students are at the heart of chapel services. Unlike virtually every other faith institution, students create and lead the services. The chapel team takes care to proactively reach out to student groups and encourage them to lead a program. Dr. Montes noted, “I want James Chapel to be a lab for them to just experiment and to try out things before they go out into the world. That way, they can get better at preaching, singing, speaking in front of people, or creating rituals. That’s the beautiful thing about UTS: Students really support each other.” Hulstine reflected on how her chapel experience has enabled her to cultivate her own leadership style within the social justice movement. She’s never identified as a particularly outspoken voice but rather prefers to express her opinions through writing and creativity. She explained, the chapel team has “allowed me to really see the place for creativity in social justice work. It’s something that I really needed to see so I could feel like I could contribute – and that there would be a place for the work that I do.” The chapel service team also aims to make all services as welcoming and inclusive as possible. For example, the chapel team aspires to incorporate interfaith components into all chapel services. When planning programs, they always challenge each other to consider “What is the interreligious element?” If there isn’t one, they discuss potential changes. Additionally, the team strives to consider and accommodate different disabilities to ensure all people can take part in services. Ultimately, chapel services enable us “to celebrate our own faith traditions and to celebrate new things that come from the whole community,” as Dr. Montes put it. That’s the spirit of UTS – to embrace both our own identities and the identities of other people. n

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“UTS is proud to have a loud, outspoken voice on the most urgent issues facing our world today – and is helping fundamentally reimagine faith in the public square.”

t op r i ght : DON ABRAM, FOUNDER OF PRIDE I N T H E P E W S , S P E A K I N G AT U N I O N ’ S “ S TAT E O F T H E B L A C K CHURCH” EVENT

b ot t om : R E V. A D R I E N E T H O R N E , S E N . R E V. D R . W A R N O C K , AND PRESIDENT SERENE JONES AT R E U N I O N 2 0 2 3

REIMAGINING FAITH IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE

Advancing Social Justice Beyond the Classroom

t its founding 187 years ago, Union Theological Seminary made a commitment to use faith to pursue social justice. Today, that commitment remains at the heart of UTS. The seminary aims to uplift the poor and marginalized and create a better future for all people.

Moreover, UTS vehemently pushes for action to address our climate crisis and seeks to inspire faith leaders to be champions of this movement.

As such, UTS is proud to have a loud, outspoken voice on the most urgent issues facing our world today – and is helping fundamentally to reimagine faith in the public square.

For instance, UTS led an event titled, “Faith, Contemplation and the Land.” In the discussion, the Rev. Dr. John Thatamanil and poet and essayist Tim Lilburn explored why humans have become so inattentive to and disconnected from the planet. They also pondered how contemplative thought might help rebuild this connection.

For one, UTS is at the forefront of the movement to advance LGBTQ+ rights. This year, President Serene Jones wrote an op-ed in Newsweek condemning policymakers for using the Bible to justify hateful antitransgender legislation. She wrote, “I am horrified by the continued use of Christianity and the Bible to viciously attack the transgender community… Nearly every page of the Bible tells us that we must love and care for one another, not degrade and harm each other.”

Weeks later, Rev. Dr. Thatamanil and Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Africana Studies at Yale University Divinity School the Rev. Dr. Willie Jennings convened for a virtual conversation titled, “Why the Body is the Land and the Land is the Body: Thoughts and Conversation.” In the discussion, they questioned why very little attention has been given to the troublingly intimate relation between racial reasoning and the denial and destruction of place-centered identity.

President Jones also spoke with the Associated Press on this topic. She referred to this use of the Bible as an “abomination.” She further explained that the policymakers leading this crusade “are threatening the lives and well-being of so many people around the U.S. and the world.”

Furthermore, as our nation aims for women’s fundamental freedoms, UTS continues to champion women’s rights. Earlier this year, President Jones penned an op-ed in The Hill slamming the Southern Baptists Convention’s decision to expel churches with female pastors. She wrote, “Ultimately, the SBC can’t affirm the worth of women in one breath and exclude them from leadership in the next. It’s simply impossible to have it both ways. If the church wants to share God’s overwhelming message of love, then the inequality needs to end.”

UTS also hosts a number of events to support the LGBTQ+ community. For example, this year, UTS led “The State of the Black Church: Reconciling Communities and Reimagining Inclusion.” During this first-of-its-kind symposium, Black faith leaders, churchgoers, activists, and academics convened to explore and unlock strategies to strengthen the relationship between the Black Church and the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, UTS works to expose systemic racism and chart a more equitable future. For instance, UTS’ Buddhism program has hosted conversations on how racism infiltrates Buddhist communities. One such discussion focused on solidarity and accountability in Black and Asian Buddhist Sanghas. Another discussion explored caste and racial oppression through a Buddhist lens. Furthermore, UTS hosted an evening with UTS alum Senator Raphael Warnock that touched on his life and his experiences with racism. In his remarks, he reflected on our nation’s history of racism, our progress toward equity, and how far we still have to go.

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Additionally, in an op-ed in Religion News Service, President Jones called out lawmakers for unfairly imposing their own far-right, anti-choice views on the public. This year, UTS also hosted an event titled, “Virgin Territory: Configuring Female Virginity in Early Christianity.” In the discussion, Dr. Julia Kelto Lillis spoke with prominent panelists about her new book, which explores early Christian thinkers’ diverse definitions of virginity and how interpretations of virginity have changed over time. By reimagining the use of faith in the public square, we can change the world for the better. UTS is dedicated to that mission. n

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The “public square is where we’ll find resolution to crises.”

fr o m l e ft t o r i g h t : DR. CORNEL WEST R E V. D R . S E R E N E J O N E S R E V. D R . G A R Y D O R R I E N

REIMAGINING FAITH IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE

R e imaginin g Fai t h in t h e P u b l ic Squar e: U n dersta n din g Re l ig i o n & U .S . Cris es

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t’s a revival of an old hit.” That’s how the Rev. Dr. Gary Dorrien described one of UTS’ landmark 2023 courses: “Reimagining Faith in the Public Square: Religion & the US Crisis.” The course, which was taught by himself, Dr. Cornel West, and President Serene Jones, harkens back to 2009. Back then, the trio examined faith in the public square in the context of the 2007-2008 financial crisis. This time around, they knew they faced a new landscape. They recognized that we aren’t facing just one central crisis; our world is facing multiple compounding crises – ranging from attacks on democracy to climate calamities to extreme racial violence to monstrous campaigns against LGBTQ+ people. So the trio adjusted the course to address this conglomeration of issues. For example, they added an entire section on ecojustice. Additionally, mirroring the growing religious diversity of the United States and UTS, they made the course more religiously pluralistic by adding scholarship from Buddhist and Jewish thinkers. They also dove deeply into structural racism and racial violence. There’s no question: The course was like no other. Dr. West described it as “life-changing.” Students of all different ages, races, and gender identities signed up to participate. For each class, students were assigned a set of readings and asked to write a reflection. Then, during the class – which would typically open with a musical piece – students and faculty would discuss.

President Jones explained, “The course touches on such a wide range of topics and issues and social movements that it really does allow you to see the interconnections between them – and to have a very different story about the history of our nation and the compounding levels of oppression. It also gives you a sense of the longevity of the struggle against these systems.” President Jones spoke particularly fondly about the level of engagement between all members of the classroom. “It shows you how much you can hold disparate things together in conversation. There is a sort of abiding respect and love for the conversation. That’s the tissue that holds it all together, and doesn’t make it seem chaotic, but rather a part of a woven hole.” Rev. Dr. Dorrien also highlighted the student reflections, noting that they “were so profuse, detailed, engaging, suggestive, and probing.” In addition to exploring the crises facing our country, students engaged in illuminating discussions about “what the future could possibly be,” as Dr. West put it. Dr. DoVeanna Fulton – Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Norfolk State University – is one UTS student who participated in the course. She decided to come to Union after working in academia for decades and raising a family. She felt compelled to pursue an education in faith and spiritual engagement. Dr. Fulton was initially drawn to the class because it was taught by three powerhouses of theological education. As she noted, it’s incredibly rare to find such a high caliber of faith leaders teaching in the same room. While in the

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course, Dr. Fulton was impressed with UTS’ diversity, the rigorous discussion, the remarkable contributions of the Teaching Assistants, and the leadership of the instructors. She stated, “For me, the course seemed to ask two questions: How do we reimagine what faith (i.e. spiritual belief/practice) looks like in the public square; and how do we reimagine having faith and confidence in the public square?” Ultimately, she concluded that the “public square is where we’ll find resolution to crises.” As such, she is considering starting a studio for transformational empathy to “engage individuals and their social justice work as a way of creating empathy.” Crucially, all three instructors noted that the course builds a community of people who are all doing difficult social justice work. It’s difficult, arduous, heart-breaking work, so it’s important to have this community for support and inspiration. Dr. West summarized the course well: “It’s a very bleak moment. But it’s very important to be able to see what role religion can play in bringing out the best of who we are – integrity, honesty, decency, community, generosity – and the ways in which religion has contributed to greed, hatred, resentment, oppression, domination. subjugation, and so forth.” That message is at the core of UTS’ mission: To recognize where damage has been done and build a better tomorrow. n

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“Faith communities have an obligation to call out how we’ve missed the mark on caring for the environment and then to provide direction and inspiration on how we can correct our ways.”

c e nt er: left to ig h t: WILLIAM PEABODY KARENNA GORE F R E D D AV I E S U Y O N PA K SERENE JONES

E N S U R I N G U N I O N ’ S F U T U R E : C A M P U S R E N E W A L & C L I M AT E R E S P O N S I B I LT Y

C r e at i n g a n E n v i r o n m e n ta lly F r i e n d ly , S u s ta i n a b l e Ca m p u s

riven by a myriad of factors, Union Theological Seminary’s campus is amid a dramatic revitalization. For one, the planet is facing a climate crisis – one that requires swift and significant action from every institution. Simultaneously, UTS’ campus needs significant upgrades to properly accommodate all community members – and reduce overall costs.

Theological Seminary, stated, “Most faith communities acknowledge the creation as being a divine gift. We should nurture it and take care of it, and we haven’t done that… So faith communities have an obligation to call out how we’ve missed the mark on caring for the environment and then to provide direction and inspiration on how we can correct our ways.”

As such, UTS is embarking on a major journey to ensure every corner of the campus is as environmentally friendly and cost-effective as possible.

As such, environmental sustainability is at the heart of UTS’ campus development. A few years ago, UTS completed a major review of the campus and its many maintenance issues. It was clear that the UTS campus would need a significant overhaul. UTS leaders developed a plan to address the issues and began to execute it. Then, in 2022, William Peabody joined the UTS team as Chief Operating Officer to complete the charge to revitalize the campus, reduce costs, curtail emissions, and critically, set UTS up to thrive for the long haul.

The current, aggressive climate plan at UTS was catalyzed by students and strongly supported by Karenna Gore, founder and executive director of the Center for Earth Ethics (CEE) and visiting professor of Practice of Earth Ethics at UTS. Starting in 2019, students from the EcoJustice Caucus and beyond – resourced by the CEE and Gore – began advocating for UTS to declare a climate emergency and take proactive steps to address it. In December of 2020, students formally submitted a resolution to UTS’ Board of Trustees with these demands. The Board approved the resolution, and in February 2021, UTS officially declared a climate emergency and announced its intention to form a 10-year Climate Mobilization Action Plan (CMAP). UTS knew that the plan would be stronger if it included the voices of members from all parts of the UTS community. So students, the administration, and community experts worked collaboratively and democratically to develop CMAP. “There was an equal playing field, and everybody had a voice at the table,” said Liam Myers, co-chair of the Eco-Justice Caucus. The final plan was incredibly comprehensive. It included three key areas: 1) Education and community programming; 2) Facilities and sustainability; and 3) Ecojustice, engagement, and resilience. In sum, the plan aims to reduce UTS’ carbon emissions to zero, make climate change a core piece of UTS’ education, and critically engage the full ramifications of the climate crisis at UTS and beyond. CMAP aligns strongly with UTS’ core social justice values. Marisa Hulstine, co-chair of the Eco-Justice Caucus, noted that faith leaders have an “ethical responsibility” to the planet that corresponds to “Jesus’ ministry of caring for the most marginalized people, and that’s who is affected most by the climate crisis.” The Rev. Fred Davie, a strong advocate for CMAP and Senior Strategic Advisor to the President at Union

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“When you look at it from a thousand-foot elevation, it’s about being stewards of the facilities and the institution,” said Peabody. “We want to ensure UTS is in the best shape it can be for the next 100 years… Nothing is a short-term situation here.” According to Peabody, that means capitalizing on every possible opportunity to make operations more efficient, higher quality, and less costly. Already, due to a series of changes and collaboration with partners, 100 percent of UTS’ electricity now comes from a green power source. Additionally, Hastings Hall, a residential building, has been renovated with more efficient heating and cooling systems – reducing costs and emissions. UTS also wrapped up construction on Claremont Hall, a new building that will provide housing and other spaces for the UTS community and apartments for other New Yorkers. The entire building is LEED-certified – a designation given to healthy, highly efficient, and costsaving green buildings. According to Rev. Davie, thanks to the renovations, students “have a school that they can be proud of in its environmental sensitivity and sustainability and efforts toward being a LEED-campus. We’re creating a campus that is more up to date and equipped to meet students’ residential and academic needs – from improved residential living to improved classrooms to improved technology.” Moving forward, UTS will continue to build a campus that meets the needs of the community and the planet. n

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ENSURING UNION’S FUTURE: DEVELOPMENT AND ALUM RELATIONS

Ensuring Union’s Future: D e v e l o p m e n t A N D A l u m R e l at i o n s

he Development and Alum Relations focus is a core plank of UTS’ plan to financially sustain its future. The plan aims to generate funds to support UTS operations and continue to improve the student experience. Maura Smith, Vice President of Development and Alum Relations at UTS, is leading the charge. According to Smith, the first step – which is already underway – is to connect with UTS community members, including previous donors, alums, people who have engaged in UTS programming, and more. Crucially, there are many potential ways that prospective donors can support UTS. Smith said, “What we try to do is marry what the donor wants to accomplish with the vision of the Board and the President. There are multiple doors for people to walk through at UTS.” For example, a donor might be interested in supporting student scholarships, funding research for professors, helping recruit the best faculty, or ensuring the beauty and longevity of UTS buildings and grounds. In all of these cases and more, prospective donors can work with UTS to identify potential ways to match their vision with the school’s need for support. While donors can support in a myriad of ways, our top priority is generating revenue for scholarships. UTS firmly believes that no potential student should be excluded from pursuing their educational passions due to financial need. As a result, the vast majority of current UTS students receive scholarship support. At Union, we seek to ensure that scholars find a home here at UTS and that money is not a barrier to admittance.

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In addition to scholarships, UTS also prioritizes muchneeded infrastructure improvements and renovations to make the campus more accessible for people with disabilities. In addition, UTS must consistently upgrade our aging facilities in order to improve function, offer space for community engagement, and look as good as we are. Fortunately, annual giving has been steadily rising over the last few years. According to Smith, “UTS alums, and a growing cadre of other supporters, recognize that times like these call for Union. The assault on democracy here at home and the rise in political and religious conflicts across the globe demand that all of those associated with UTS step up, speak out, and stand strong. Union’s annual fundraising efforts, year after year, provide the foundation that’s needed to continue that long, powerful and respected legacy of leadership.” The Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, president of Union Theological Seminary, echoed this sentiment: “Every corner of campus life – from the classroom to the faculty to operations to our physical plant to the kinds of students we attract – is expanding and shifting as we stay awake to the shifting landscape of spirituality, religious practices, and the work of justice in the United States and globally. Our strategic plan is designed to help us stay vigilant in responding to those changes, so that we can be responsive and committed to new ways of thinking, teaching, learning and leading.” n

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1,687,828 ANNUAL GIVING FY23

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$548,313 $895,521

n Alums n Friends

$243,994

n Foundations,

Corporations, Other

the data on this page is reporting on data from the annual fund only

Supporting UTS means supporting a massive effort to “make the world a more healing, hopeful, and justice-oriented place.” — R E V . M A D I S O N S H O C K L E Y I I

ENSURING UNION’S FUTURE: DEVELOPMENT AND ALUM RELATIONS

Ensuring Our Future: Rev. Madison Shockley II’s Support for Union Theological Seminary

he Rev. Madison Shockley II is an esteemed member of the UTS community. As both an alum and a Board member, he has contributed significantly to the vitality and longevity of the seminary. Rev. Shockley’s story with UTS begins back in the 1980s. After being raised in a religious household and pastoring in his community, he felt compelled to dive deeper into theological education. For him, Union Theological Seminary was the clear choice. The prolific Dr. James H. Cone was teaching at the institution at the time, and Rev. Shockley knew he wanted to explore his rich teachings on Black liberation theology. Once on campus, Rev. Shockley sought to learn as much as he could. In addition to Black liberation theology, he immersed himself in teachings on reproductive justice, marginalized communities, poverty, and other social justice issues. As he put it, it was a “mind-blowing time.” From UTS, he went on to apply his social justice lessons both in the pulpit and in political discourse. After all, as he learned at Union, “You have the Bible in one hand and the New York Times in the other.” As such, he wrote and spoke passionately about progressive faith in the context of current events. For nearly two decades, Rev. Shockley has served as Pastor of the Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad, CA. Years ago, a member of the church with a significant fortune decided to establish a family foundation to distribute the wealth. Rev. Shockley was invited to serve on the board and help give out grants. Then, the founder of the foundation passed away. Each board member distributed part of the remaining funds to their preferred nonprofits doing impactful work.

the tools to make a difference in the world, and he hoped to ensure that UTS could continue to impart this wisdom to the next generation of faith leaders. After making the gift, Rev. Shockley was invited to serve on the UTS Board. Again, he felt compelled to serve the seminary and accepted the offer. Since then, he has encouraged his congregation to support UTS through an annual offering. He often reminds his members of UTS’ esteemed legacy and all of its unparalleled community members – from Dr. Cone to Dr. Cornel West. He also helps congregants “understand the impact of UTS on the world in which they live, not just the church in which they worship.” Rev. Shockley noted that he would encourage fellow alum colleagues to institute similar special offerings for UTS at their own churches. With just a small appeal to the community, UTS alums can raise significant revenue for their alma mater and support the passions and pursuits of future students. According to Rev. Shockley, supporting UTS is more important now than ever. Traditional Christianity is contracting like never before. UTS has all the potential to shape and elevate a new progressive faith paradigm. As such, UTS is acting with “flexibility, dexterity, creativity, and initiative” to address and capitalize on this reality. Rev. Shockley pointed out, for example, that UTS offers a Master of Divinity in Islamic studies and Buddhism – quite a remarkable expansion given UTS’ Christian roots. Ultimately, supporting UTS means supporting a massive effort to “make the world a more healing, hopeful, and justice-oriented place.” n

For Rev. Shockley, it was a life-long dream to make a significant contribution to Union Theological Seminary. The seminary had provided him with all

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Ensuring Our Future: A Tribute to Dr. Delores Williams

lums The Rev. David Parsons ’01 and Dr. Judith Diers ‘90 exchanged their wedding vows at James Chapel. Fast forward to today, and they’re offering a UTS scholarship in honor of UTS’ beloved professor Dr. Delores Williams – an author, teacher, and revolutionary trailblazer of Womanist Theology.

Dr. Diers reflected: “She brought a Womanist lens that required me to dig even deeper to understand the way in which not only my whiteness, but also my feminism, actively suppressed the humanity of women of color. While I was never her student, I followed her scholarship carefully.”

Rev. Parsons and Dr. Diers had different journeys to UTS, but both were immeasurably influenced by the profound legacy of Dr. Williams.

Dr. Diers received her Ph.D. from Princeton’s School of Public Policy. Since graduating, Dr. Diers has been a researcher at the Population Council, an executive at UNICEF, a grantmaker at Ford Foundation, and Vice President of the LEGO Foundation. Throughout her career, she has supported adolescent girls around the world, increasingly reflecting on and critiquing an international development frame that seeks to “help” girls rather than recognizing and supporting them in their power.

Rev. Parsons had performed as an opera singer in New York for more than 15 years. Then, the AIDS crisis struck – and his brother was one of its victims. Suddenly, the Rev. Parsons realized that he would be more fulfilled in a pastoral position. So he decided to come to UTS. There, he took a class with Dr. Williams. According to him, she taught profoundly about the importance of people exploring and understanding faith in their own contexts. In the first paper she assigned, she asked him to consider “Who do you say God is? How do you know, and what difference does it make in your life?” Rev. Parsons also spent significant time learning from Dr. Williams outside the classroom. He recalled that when he asked a question, she encouraged him to come to office hours. He didn’t just come to one session – he ended up attending office hours once per week for months. From UTS, Rev. Parson started serving at St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel Lutheran Church in Brooklyn. He has also helped his denomination advance its stance on LGBTQ+ issues. Dr. Judith Diers, meanwhile, grew up in a household where faith was the foundation for social justice. Her father preached on the weekend and used the pulpit to speak for social causes he was passionate about. Similarly, Dr. Diers knew that she wanted to use her faith for good. After college, Diers was offered a Rockefeller scholarship to study at any seminary in the country. For her, the decision was easy. UTS was “a place where I could ask any questions and not be constrained to fit into any denominational mold.” Dr. Williams completed her doctorate the year Dr. Diers received her Master of Arts degree. According to Diers, Dr. William’s scholarship brought a critical intersectional link between Feminist and Black Theology at Union.

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After Dr. Williams passed away, Rev. Parsons and Dr. Diers decided to give back to UTS and create a scholarship in honor of her legacy. Rev. Parsons noted, “It’s difficult to sustain a nondenominational progressive seminary. The graduates don’t get out and get rich. We are called into places and spaces that are rewarding in a number of ways, but may not allow for the accumulation of significant wealth.” He continued, “UTS’ place in the landscape of theological education is historically important, and I would hope for the Seminary to continue to do that work – to be that kind of voice furthering the many theological innovations that have developed out of its classrooms.” Dr. Diers explained, “David and I support UTS because it is a unique space where a student can be pushed, embraced, challenged, and loved.” In addition to this scholarship, UTS is also honoring Dr. Williams in another important way: The Class of 2019 commissioned a portrait of Dr. Williams. In October 2023, the Seminary hosted an event to bless the portrait and permanently place it in a prominent academic hallway. Speaking on the legacy of Dr. Williams, Dr. Diers explained, “It is my hope that the world will center on the lives of the young Delores Williamses all around the world – that we will listen, support, and advocate. If the world responds to her and her vision, then we will be on the road to achieve greater justice for us all.” n

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“We support UTS because it is a unique space to be pushed, embraced, challenged and loved.” — DR. JUDY DIERS ‘90 A N D R E V. D AV I D P A R S O N S ` 0 1

a b o ve r: STUDENTS FROM BLACK T R I F E C TA ( B L A C K W O M E N , FIERCE, AND BLACK CAUCUSES)

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ENSURING UNION’S FUTURE: FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

Forging A Path For Financial Sustainability

n recent years, seminaries across the country have faced a unique set of financial challenges. Due to demographic and cultural changes, interest in traditional religious education has declined – resulting in lower enrollment numbers. COVID-19 upended education as usual, forcing institutions to devote resources to adjusting and adapting. Consequently, a myriad of seminaries have closed. Union Theological Seminary has been far from immune to these challenges. But it has overcome obstacle after obstacle and remains strong as one of the last few independent seminaries in the country. According to UTS president Rev. Dr. Serene Jones and Chief Financial Officer Nina Wong, UTS’ financial sustainability strategy rests on three pillars: Reduce costs, increase revenue, and increase fundraising. UTS is making enormous strides on all of these fronts. For one, UTS is thinking creatively about how to collaborate with partners to share resources and reduce overall costs. For example, UTS now shares a Human Resources Director with the nearby Jewish Theological Seminary. Additionally, UTS trades spaces with the Manhattan School of Music (MSM). For instance, UTS hosted its recent commencement ceremony at MSM. Additionally, UTS gave Columbia University its rich collection of theological texts. In exchange, Columbia’s top-notch team cares for the collection and allows UTS students to access the entire university library. UTS is very proud of its 187-year legacy of advancing faith and social justice. However, this long tenure has also meant that the UTS campus – despite great care and maintenance – has been in a state of disrepair. With a goal of long-term sustainability, UTS made the challenging choice to sell its air rights to Claremont Hall. The sale, although a difficult decision, was necessary to preserve the UTS legacy and ensure that it would continue its rich tradition of advancing faith and social justice over the next 100 years. As Union’s housing for faculty on campus required hefty maintenance costs – and renovations would have been very costly – UTS decided to use some proceeds from the sale of the air rights to purchase housing for faculty at Claremont Hall. This purchase significantly reduces UTS’ operating costs – and bolsters the financial sustainability of the institution. In alignment with its social justice mission, UTS ensured that some of the proceeds from the sale went to supporting and uplifting the local community. As part of its 2018 community investment initiative, UTS’s Center for Community Engagement and Social Justice (CCESJ) partnered with Lendlease and L+M to contribute $1.1 million to the

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Morningside Heights Community where UTS is located. This investment included $700,000 for the impactful work of P.A.L.A.N.T.E. towards their legal work and space needs, as they expand their displacement prevention programs. Additionally, UTS contributed $400,000 to the Morningside Heights Community Fund at the New York Community Trust, dedicated to supporting social services, projects, and programs in the Morningside Heights community. Moreover, to attract students, UTS is expanding existing programs and developing new ones. For example, UTS has recognized that many mid-career professionals are interested in theological education, but don’t have the time or ability to travel to campus for full-time coursework. Consequently, UTS has expanded its part-time and hybrid options – and designed courses so students can “gain knowledge and inspiration and then bring it back to work life immediately,” according to Wong. For example, the new Masters of Arts in Social Justice (MASJ) program is fully online and part-time and enables graduates to apply its lessons to a wide range of social justiceoriented professions. In response to a growing interest in interreligious engagement, UTS is also expanding programs devoted to multiple faith traditions. For instance, UTS now has offerings in Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and more. On the fundraising front, UTS is working to secure more financial support for scholarships, faculty, campus development, and beyond. Notably, there’s been a positive shift in philanthropic support for theological education among donors and funders who may have traditionally stayed away from religious organizations. They’re recognizing the critical moral and ethical role that UTS plays in our nation’s public life. Wong explained that UTS should be proud of its success thus far. “We compete with larger, better endowed seminaries, and yet we still attract the best and brightest among seminary applicants.” She added, “We offer something that is valuable beyond finances.” UTS has top-notch faculty, an unparalleled history, a record of excellence, and an abiding commitment to social justice. President Jones speaks with enthusiasm for the future of UTS. “Every corner of campus life – from the classroom to the faculty to operations to our physical plant to the kinds of students we attract – is expanding and shifting as we stay awake to the changing landscape of spirituality, religious practices, and the work of justice in the United States and globally. Our strategic plan is designed to stay awake and track those changes so we can be responsive and committed to new ways of thinking and teaching and learning.” n

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“Every corner of our campus is expanding and shifting as we stay awake to the changing landscape of spirituality, religious practices, and the work of justice in the United States and globally”.

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Cultivating Partnerships for

his year, UTS received generous funding from the Lilly Foundation’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. The 5-year, $5 million grant will transform UTS’ internal operations, unlock new partnership opportunities and expand existing ones, and enable theological schools and faith-based organizations to forge technology-driven innovation. As David Gastwirth – Vice President of Online Education and Learning Innovation at UTS – explained, this grant will “allow UTS to realize its potential as a hub for collaboration… UTS has a unique opportunity to look at ways of working with other institutions to drive down costs and increase the quality of experiences.” The first component of the grant is the Campus Service Alliance of Northern Manhattan (CSANM). UTS will work with nearby institutions – Manhattan School of Music, The Jewish Theological Seminary, International House, and the Riverside Church – to identify ways to share physical space and resources, technology, and procurement. CSANM has already achieved financial savings for institutions in the area of energy, and new relationships are underway to support event production/AV support and enhancement of hybrid technology. Shared programming contracting, and procurement arrangements in areas ranging from employee training to student engagement are in the works. Dr. James Gandre, President of Manhattan School of Music, explained, “The more that we can share, the more we can save money and raise the level of the service that we provide to constituents.” He said that such partnerships aren’t just helpful, but “critical.” Without them, these groups simply wouldn’t have the capacity to keep pace with larger institutions. Dr. Shuly Rubin Schwartz, Chancellor of The Jewish Theological Seminary, stated, “There is goodwill and a desire among all of us to collaborate… It’s clear that we can be stronger together.” The second component of the grant is the Academic and Student Experience Collaborative (ASEC). UTS, New York Theological Seminary (NYTS), and Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School (CRCDS) are collaborating to provide enhanced student support in areas that include career services and professional development, wellness, and accessibility services. In the first year of the grant, three new staff members serving

the group of institutions have been hired and new resources, such as TimelyCare 24/7 Counseling Services, have been implemented. Gastwirth noted that the alliance will help provide the “comprehensive array of support services that we know graduate students need to thrive and succeed while they are in school, as well as when they go off into their professional lives.” The Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Walrond, president of NYTS, stated, “Partnerships built on strong relationships, both past and current, have the potential to create some new and exciting opportunities in our city… This partnership will allow theological education to be more accessible and more inclusive to individuals in our city, our state, and our world. It can expand the depth and breadth of our students’ experience as they matriculate.” For example, as Rev. Dr. Walrond explained, NYTS was recently able to relocate its administrative office space to UTS. This move allows NYTS students to have access to a campus for the first time in over 50 years. It also ensures that NYTS students have a well-rounded experience with all of the support and support services that they need. The third and final component of the grant is the Technology, Innovation, and Digital Engagement Lab (TIDEL). Gastwirth explained, “With the proliferation of technology, theology schools and faith organizations are rethinking what role technology can or should play in how they go about serving their mission. But in many cases, they’re so small that they can’t afford the technologies that would help deliver better worship experiences and engage more community members. Or they’re not using appropriate tools because they don’t necessarily have the right expertise.” TIDEL will help fill these gaps by providing a space for faith-based groups and organizations to come together to think creatively and collectively about technology, human-centered design, and innovation. TIDEL partners include Union Theological Seminary (UTS), Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School (CRCDS), New York Theological Seminary (NYTS), the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice, and the RISE Together Mentorship Network (RISE).

Long-Term SuccesS Gastwirth stated, “There’s a real opportunity to bring these diverse theology schools and religious organizations together to think thoughtfully and strategically about what challenges they’re looking to address and the opportunities for technology to play a role.” “Our country has responded to change differently over the past few years. It’s been difficult for many organizations – including faith groups – to keep up. Fortunately, with TIDEL, faith groups will have an exciting opportunity to maximize the power of technology as an investment in their organization’s mission,” said the Rev. Dr. Angela D. Sims, President of the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. TIDEL recently launched its first offering, the TIDEL Leadership Fellows Program. The 18-month paid fellowship will bring teams of two from seminaries, congregations, and faith-based organizations to develop technology-based solutions for their groups and organizations. The program’s curriculum will emphasize design thinking as an innovative approach. UTS President Serene Jones shared, “The guiding image that anchors our grant proposal comes from the Gospel of Mark 2: 1-6. Here we find the story of a group of friends that want Jesus to heal their companion but they cannot get through to see Jesus because crowds have blocked the way. Left with few alternatives, they come up with the ingenious idea of climbing onto the roof and cutting a hole in it so they can lower down their friend to be healed, and they can see Jesus.” “Cultivating ministerial imagination requires fresh insight and ingenuity plus the tools and training needed to accomplish new tasks and address new needs. It also takes, most importantly, a group of friends – enthusiastic, motivated collaborators – who are willing to combine their energies and share their tools in order to accomplish remarkable feats. We are excited to partner with our amazing colleagues on ASEC, CSANM, and TIDEL,” said UTS President Jones.

“Cultivating ministerial imagination requires fresh insight and ingenuity plus the tools and training needed to accomplish new tasks and address new needs. It also takes, most importantly, a group of friends – enthusiastic, motivated collaborators – who are willing to combine their energies and share their tools in order to accomplish remarkable feats.”

All in all, the Lilly grant initiatives will help put UTS and its partners on the path to a more sustainable, successful future. n

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UNION Alums in Action: Improving Access to Affordable Housing

ason Riffe wanted to find a career he was passionate about. He had recently completed his education at Morehouse College and was searching for his next steps. After much contemplation, he decided to further explore how faith underpins society and guides how humans live and interact. After all, as Riffe put it, “By understanding people’s religious beliefs, you can understand society.” Riffe only applied to one seminary to pursue his education: UTS. For Riffe, it was a simple decision: Many of the community leaders he admired were alums of the institution. From the moment Riffe stepped on campus, he began to chart a unique path through seminary. He knew he wanted to study both Christian social ethics and human rights issues. So, thanks to UTS’ partnership with Columbia University, he opted to take many of his courses at Columbia’s esteemed School of International and Public Affairs. That enabled him to develop an in-depth, one-of-a-kind understanding of the intersections of faith and policy. While at UTS, Riffe also served as a fellow at the United Nations and worked on human rights issues, especially challenges affecting women in less developed countries. Additionally, he completed his final semester while living and working in Haiti. Throughout his coursework, Riffe was inspired by many esteemed faculty members. He spoke highly of Dr. James H. Cone’s unrivaled lessons on poverty, Dr. Cornel West’s prolific classroom discussions, and the Rev. Dr. Gary Dorrien’s unparalleled insight into rich theological texts. Riffe particularly appreciated UTS for giving him “the opportunity to find a way to integrate my education into career and life.” Thanks to UTS’ flexibility with his class schedule and geographic location, Riffe was able to shape his career early and be prepared to engage in social work right away.

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Since graduating in 2015, Riffe has become a passionate advocate for affordable, accessible housing. He explained, “My work is expressed by uplifting the poor in the housing sector… Affordable housing is probably the dominant issue we face as a nation.” It affects every part of people’s lives: Health, employment, physical safety, and more. Riffe joined the United Way of Greater Los Angeles (UWGLA), where he uses capital to develop more housing for low-income people. Over the past two and a half years, Riffe has helped move more than $170 million in capital – and fund about 1,100 units of affordable housing. Now, he’s taking on a new role as director of the newly created Community Capital arm of UWGLA. While rewarding, the position comes with its challenges. But Riffe noted, UTS has “given me the energy to commit to my calling… It allows me to persevere and push through.” Riffe also described a clear parallel between UWGLA and UTS: Both encourage self-discovery. That has enormous value: People can explore new pathways, innovate, and fully embrace their calling. When asked what advice Riffe might share with prospective UTS students, he shared, “Use every resource available in the Columbia community and the Union community to educate yourself in the way that sets you best up for success in the future.” Riffe added, “There’s so much encouragement others can give you. And then, at some point, you just have to believe in yourself, and trust whatever guidance you live under – be it spiritual or universal or humanistic – and really just kind of follow your calling.” Ultimately, Riffe reflected, UTS gives “you the space to create your program, find yourself, find your passion and your calling. It really lets you be a free person.” n

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UTS gives “you the space to create your program, find yourself, find your passion and your calling. It really lets you be a free person.”

JASON RIFFE (LEFT) AND COLLEAGUE

“Our faith has to be lived authentically every day. Our faith is cultivated in our actions and not just in our words.”

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UTS Alums in Action: P r o m o t i n g J u s t i c e i n H i g h e r E d u c at i o n

r. Teresa Delgado started questioning traditional religious institutions at a young age. Raised in a conservative Catholic household in a Puerto Rican family, she attended mass each week and received every mandated sacrament. While she felt some calling towards faith, she was also frustrated by inconsistencies she saw in the Catholic Church. She was particularly skeptical of the role of women in the Church and recalls having debates with the pastor about women’s ordination. It was only when she met a Protestant professor at Colgate University – the Rev. Dr. Coleman Brown – that she began to understand and explore the social justice teachings of the Bible. Rev. Dr. Brown helped Dr. Delgado think about faith in action and learn the lessons at the heart of the gospel. At the time, Dr. Delgado had no idea that Rev. Dr. Brown was a UTS graduate. Years after graduating, Dr. Delgado had a crisis of conscience in her career. She was frustrated by an employer who was putting profits over workers’ dignity and livelihood. So she called Rev. Dr. Brown. He suggested that she might need to wrestle with these questions at a seminary and recommended several options. Dr. Delgado chose UTS for its reputation as a progressive, social justice-oriented institution. She noted, “UTS was the hub of liberation theology in the United States. If you wanted a socially progressive theological environment, it was UTS. No other place was doing things like UTS.” It was only later she found out that Rev. Dr. Brown also attended UTS years prior. And so, in the early 1990s, her journey through UTS began. She spoke fondly of the wide array of renowned faculty members. Trailblazing Womanist theologian Dr. Delores Williams guided her doctorate work and opened her eyes to the many roles of women in theology. Dr. Beverly Wildung Harrison provided profound insight into Christian ethics, particularly around sexuality. Professor emeritus Larry Rasmussen gave revolutionary lessons on earth ethics. The list goes on.

Ultimately, UTS taught Dr. Delgado that, “Our faith has to be lived authentically every day. Our faith is cultivated in our actions and not just in our words.” Dr. Delgado completed her Master of Arts degree at Union Theological Seminary in 1993 and her PhD in 2005. As she explained, her education took a bit longer than expected because she had four children during her time at the Seminary. After she graduated, she went on to work in higher education. She served as a professor at Iona College for more than 15 years. Then, in 2022, she felt a calling to move elsewhere. She now serves as Dean of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at St. John’s University, NY. In her new role, she frequently recalls the lessons she learned at UTS. As Dean, she must balance both the needs of the administration and the scholarly pursuits of faculty, all in the service of students. There are often competing priorities. UTS has taught her to constantly consider how her choices will affect all parties and minimize harm. She aims to make bold decisions, treat every person with dignity, acknowledge mistakes, and maintain a sense of humility. Since graduating, Dr. Delgado has also produced an enormous amount of religious scholarship. She has written about Puerto Rican decolonial theology, Augustine and social justice, women in faith, Latino/a contributions to Christian ethics, sexuality, and more. Due to her esteemed work, Dr. Delgado is a recipient of Union’s Unitas Distinguished Alumna Award, the highest honor presented to a living UTS graduate. While she is proud of much of her career work, she noted that she is most proud of the family she built with her late husband, Pascal N. Kabemba. She credits his partnership with strengthening her understanding of theology and its place in the world. She noted, “My greatest accomplishment is yet to come because it will be all about honoring his legacy.” n

This story is dedicated to Pascal N. Kabemba.

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UTS Alums in Action: Serving the UTS Community

r. Su Yon Pak started her journey at Union Theological Seminary in 1994. Since then, she has been an integral member of the UTS community – serving in a variety of instrumental roles at the Seminary. There’s no question: UTS would not be the same without her commitment, passion, and innovation.

Dr. Pak first heard about UTS in the 1980s. She was studying at another seminary for her Master’s degree and learned about UTS through her burgeoning interest in feminist theology, particularly for Asian American women. It was clear to her that UTS “was a place where you could explore things.” So after taking some time off from school, she enrolled in a joint UTS-Teachers’ College, Columbia University program that focused on religion and education. She was immediately impressed by the diversity of her colleagues. Her fellow students came from countries all over the world, allowing her to learn about all different cultures and perspectives. She also spoke of the unparalleled caliber of faculty members. Dr. Mary Boys taught her how to articulate her “own pedagogical and philosophical groundings around what education is.” Dr. Ana María Díaz-Stevens’ courses were “instrumental” in helping Dr. Pak understand the social context of her own immigration experience. Dr. Kosuke Koyama, who wrote extensively about Asian theology, helped her hone her theological questions. Dr. David Suh, a Visiting Luce Professor and Minjung Theologian, helped her reclaim the Korean religious ancestry that sharpened her thinking for her dissertation. Since graduating in 1999, Dr. Pak has continued to serve the UTS community. She has worked as Associate Dean of Student Life, Director of Development, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, and Dean and Associate Professor of Integrative and Field-Based Education. Today, she serves as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean at Union Theological Seminary. When asked why she remained at UTS for decades, Dr. Pak responded quickly: “The students and the possibilities.” She’s inspired by the students because they have a “passion and curiosity to think differently and explore outside of the confines of what people have said religion is.” She also noted,

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“It’s not an accident that new ways of thinking and new fields have been borne out of the UTS experience. It’s in our DNA to provide the space and resources that allow that kind of new thinking to happen.” In all of Dr. Pak’s work at UTS, she aims to serve the needs of students and our world more broadly. For her, that means expanding course offerings to reflect the changing student population – who are increasingly spiritual outside of religion and Buddhist – and connecting to today’s most pressing social issues. Dr. Pak explained, “The world really needs leaders who understand what it means to engage interreligiously and how that impacts the way we live together.” She sees the importance of contemplative practices as an essential part of interreligious engagement. “I hope to see at UTS a renewed desire for an intentional community of contemplative living that can bridge various religious traditions in the ways we practice our lives and commitments.” As she said in her installation address, “A community that breathes together flourishes together.” Dr. Pak also emphasized the importance of her leadership as a queer, Asian American leader at UTS. In the past few years, there has been a surge of violence against LGBTQ+ and Asian people. It is essential to elevate the voices of these marginalized groups and drown out the words of those who propagate hate. In that vein, UTS has revamped its longtime commitment to Justice, Equity, and Inclusion (JEI) in recent years. Union’s leadership aims to infuse JEI into every aspect of their work. But, as Dr. Pak noted candidly, the path to justice is not straightforward, and there will be mistakes along the way. “We’re working very hard to live out our JEI commitments in our practices. But we could always do better. That is just a fact.” In conclusion, Dr. Pak offered clear advice to future UTS students: “UTS will challenge your core and your foundations… That will be a loss. Mourn through the loss. Try out different expressions of faith. In so doing, you will get clarity about your own stances, your own beliefs, your own theology, and your own path. Do this, not individually, but in community. And in so doing, you will also challenge and change UTS.” n

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“The world really needs leaders who understand what it means to engage interreligiously and how that impacts the way we live together.” — D R . S U Y O N PA K

UNION

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WHY I GIVE

give to Union as an act of faith and an investment in the future. My faith commands me to do everything I can to support humankind and embrace the rich diversity of pathways to a higher state of being. Union’s offerings of inter-religious studies and engagement prepare our students to undertake traditional, nontraditional, and entirely new roles in our world as ministers, chaplains, scholars, social justice warriors, community organizers, peacemakers, comfort givers and much, much more. I believe that we need Union now more than ever, as it is an affirming seminary and the voice of the progressive religious left. I invite others to join me in supporting this venerable institution as we reimagine the work of justice.

Rhonda Joy McLean U T S

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