Envisioning Our Brightest Future:
GTU NEXT IN ACTION
James Brenneman, President, Berkeley School of Theology
Linda Dakin-Grimm
Albert Duggan, O.P., President, Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology
Stephen Fowl, President and Dean, Church Divinity School of the Pacific
Heidi Hadsell
Amir Hussain
Paul Johnson, Board Chair
Uriah Y. Kim, President, Graduate Theological Union
John Klentos, Faculty Representative
Adrienne McCormick, Provost, Chief Academic Officer, University of Redlands
Meg Mercury, Student Representative
Scott Mitchell, President, Institute of Buddhist Studies
Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, S.J., Dean, Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University
Julie Petrini, Board Secretary
Raymond Pickett
Mary Jo Potter
LaRae Quy
Gaurav Rastogi, Board Treasurer
Kathleen Rosson, Board Vice Chair
David Vásquez-Levy, President, Pacific School of Religion
Inside this Report
Colleen Windham-Hughes, Rector, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary of California Lutheran University 01 02 04 06 07 08 10 12
Letter from the President
Educating Future Leaders: Scholars Shaping Faith, Thought, and Transformation
Faculty Excellence: Leading with Vision, Scholarship, and Impact
Leadership in Governance: Guiding GTU’s Vision Forward
Advancing Scholarship and Public Dialogue: Expanding Conversations that Shape our World
Honoring Legacy & Philanthropy: Lives that Illuminate Our Shared Mission
FY 2024-25 Operating Revenue & Expenses
Thank You for Supporting the GTU’s Future
What makes the Graduate Theological Union so special?
THE GTU IS EMBARKING on one of the most exciting chapters in the institution’s six-decade history, one that is fueled by a spirit of reimagining existing structures and time-honored academic traditions. With our new strategic plan, dubbed GTU Next, we are fully leveraging the incredible assets that make us so unique, such as our stunning Bay Area location, deep scholarly relationships with UC Berkeley, and world-class theological library.
We have introduced a deliberately smaller PhD program to attract top students by providing full tuition scholarships and a substantial stipend along with compelling opportunities to participate in innovative research collaboratives. Our MA program has also been revamped to offer an array of new concentrations, three learning modalities, an accelerated 18 month completion schedule, and the possibility of producing a traditional research thesis or a portfolio aligned with a student’s vocational commitments and goals. At the same time, we are developing new opportunities to participate in our one-of-a-kind learning community through tiered access to library resources and materials, as well as other novel partnerships that will benefit students and institutions throughout the broader realm of theological education.
We are meeting this pivotal moment with a renewed sense of purpose and clarity. By 2030 the GTU will be supported by a financially sustainable model and recognized as one of the world’s premier institutions for producing religious, theological, and spiritual scholars and leaders who foster flourishing pluralistic communities. Reimagining how the GTU will evolve and flourish for the next sixty years will only be possible with the help of our most steadfast donors and friends. We cannot do this without you and are forever grateful for your support.
Uriah Y. Kim, PhD President Professor of Biblical Studies PhD, GTU ’04
Educating Future Leaders:
SCHOLARS SHAPING FAITH, THOUGHT, AND TRANSFORMATION
The GTU Presidential Scholarship
empowers exceptional doctoral students whose work bridges deep spiritual inquiry and real-world impact—future leaders who embody the GTU’s mission of transformation through interreligious study.
Each year, thanks to the generosity of GTU donors, the Presidential Scholarship Program provides select doctoral students with full tuition for five yea rs. These scholars embody the spirit of GTU Next—innovative thinkers whose research expands the frontiers of theology, ethics, and spiritual practice.
Jensen Martin (Religion and Practice) explores the meditative deity Yogananda Narasimha, blending historical research and personal pilgrimage to illuminate Yoga’s devotional roots across South Asia.
CJ Swenson (Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion) investigates the mystical theology of Emanuel Swedenborg, reimagining the boundaries between mind, space, and spirit to advance an “ecology of consciousness.”
Lauren Ellison (Sacred Texts and Their Interpretation) studies early Christian heresiology, examining how ancient ideas of orthodoxy and heresy—especially regarding women—inform more inclusive understandings of belonging today.
Rabbi Margie Jacobs (Theology and Ethics) delves into Jewish mysticism and embodiment, drawing from the Zohar and Hasidic traditions to make mystical wisdom accessible as a source of healing and divine connection.
Together, these scholars exemplify how transformative research at the GTU connects ancient wisdom to the challenges and hopes of our contemporary world.
Innovating Theological Education:
Reimagining the MA and PhD for a Changing World
At the GTU, learning is both personal and transformative. The Master of Arts empowers students to turn passion into purpose through a flexible, interd isciplinary curriculum rooted in academic excellence and interreligious engagement.
Students tailor their path through more than ten concentrations—from Interreligious Chaplaincy and Psychedelics and Religion to Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, or Christian Studies—or design a unique focus through the new Self-Designed concentration. A customized capstone project, whether a Research Thesis or Practical Portfolio, allows each student to translate scholarship into impact. With flexible in-person, online, and hybrid options , the MA program offers accessibility without compromise.
Meanwhile, the GTU’s redesigned PhD program centers on faculty-led research collaboratives—dynamic, interdisciplinary groups exploring questions that bridge theology, ethics, scriptures, history, and the sciences. Students work alongside world-class scholars within fully funded cohorts to generate new knowledge across fie lds such as Human and Planetary Flourishing, Emerging Science and Theology, and Gender and Theology.
Together, these programs embody the GTU’s vision for the future of theological education: rigorous, relevant, and rooted in collaboration that transforms both students and the world they serve.
We are meeting this pivotal moment in the GTU’s history with a renewed sense of purpose and clarity to ensure our one-of-akind learning community continues thriving for the next 60 years.
URIAH KIM GTU President
Faculty Excellence:
LEADING WITH VISION, SCHOLARSHIP, AND IMPACT
Across disciplines and traditions, GTU faculty are shaping the future of theological education through bold leadership, transformative teaching, and groundbreaking research.
Dr. Christopher Ocker Named Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs
The GTU proudly announces the formal appointment of Dr. Christopher Ocker as Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs. A respected scholar and longtime member of the GTU community, Dr. Ocker brings deep knowledge of the institution’s rich academic traditions and a visionary approach to graduate education.
“Dean Ocker is an excellent colleague who is passionate about making the GTU the very best it can be,” said President Uriah Y. Kim. “We are fortunate to have his leadership at this pivotal moment in our history.”
Since joining the GTU in 1991, Dr. Ocker has helped cultivate a vibrant academic culture grounded in collaboration and interreligious inquiry—hallmarks of the GTU’s enduring mission.
Dr. Kamal Abu-Shamsieh Launches Fellowship with the Clinton Foundation
Through a new partnership between the GTU’s Interreligious Chaplaincy Program and the Clinton Foundation, Dr. Kamal Abu-Shamsieh is leading a groundbreaking fellowship addressing addiction and the overdose crisis.
Beginning Fall 2025, fellows are engaging in coursework and community projects exploring the spiritual dimensions of recovery, supported by a $2,000 grant from the Foundation. The program brings together GTU students and local faith leaders in collaborative learning and public engagement.
This initiative reflects the GTU’s commitment to applying interreligious education to urgent global and local challenges—empowering students to translate compassion into action.
Dr. Sam Shonkoff Awarded Tenure and Promoted to Associate Professor
The GTU celebrates the tenure and promotion of Dr. Sam Shonkoff, Taube Family Associate Professor of Jewish Studies, whose scholarship bridges modern Jewish thought, hermeneutics, and interreligious dialogue.
“Dr. Shonkoff’s research touches on those elements of Jewish intellectual life that have most deeply influenced the development of global theology,” said Dean Christopher Ocker. “His work contributes fundamentally to the mission and purpose of the GTU.”
A beloved teacher and author of Embodied Theology: Reading Buber Reading Hasidism (under review), Dr. Shonkoff continues to inspire students to explore how interpretation, embodiment, and divinity shape spiritual understanding across traditions.
Alumni in Action
At the Graduate Theological Union, our alumni are shaping the world in profound and diverse ways. From uncovering hidden histories and redefining sacred texts to connecting communities through faith and justice, GTU graduates carry forward the school’s commitment to rigorous scholarship, interreligious understanding, and social impact. Their work demonstrates that transformative ideas thrive when rooted in dialogue, creativity, and a deep sense of moral and spiritual responsibility. In this section, we highlight three alumni whose scholarship and leadership exemplify the GTU’s mission in action.
Jennifer Rycenga (PhD ’92): Abolitionists and Interdisciplinary Vision
Jennifer Rycenga, author of Schooling the Nation: The Success of the Canterbury Female Academy (2025), explores marginalized histories of Black women and white abolitionist allies. Reflecting on her GTU exper ience, she describes Holy Hill as “a refuge for the mind, a wellspring of intellectual and creative possibility,” where interdisciplinary and ecumenical learning shaped her scholarship. Her work blends history, feminist theory, and musicology, showing the enduring power of collaboration and curiosity. Rycenga’s studies of Prudence Crandall and related networks illuminate moments of feminist and racial solidarity, while her engagement with nature and art reflects a lifelong search for the sacred in everyday life.
Harry Singleton III (PhD ’98): Liberation Theology in Public Life
Harry Singleton III, Lilly Director of Faith Based Education at the International African American Museum, applies liberation theology to connect communities through faith and justice. Inspired by his upbringing in South Carolina and the teachings of James H. Cone, Singleton draws on his GTU education to highlight the divine in lived experience. At the IAAM, he fosters collaboration across religious traditions, using public scholarship to advance social transformation. His work exemplifies how theological insight, ro oted in justice and pedagogy, can shape both minds and communities beyond the academy.
Natalie Boskin (MA ’25): Queer Scholarship and Living Texts
Natalie Boskin, Faculty Fellow at SVARA (a traditionally radical Yeshiva), integrates historical criticism and queer frameworks to reimagine Jewish sacred texts. They describe historical criticism as “an important truth-telling technology of our generation,” allowing students to engage with the humanity, power, and politics embedded in Torah and Talmud. By centering queer perspectives, Boskin cultivates a learning environment that empowers students while fostering dynamic, life-giving scholarship. Their work demonstrates the transformative potential of education rooted in truth, accountability, and spiritual imagination.
Leadership in Governance:
GUIDING GTU’S VISION FORWARD
With gratitude for the past and a bold eye to the future, the GTU celebrates a new chapter of inspired leadership across its Board and Executive Team.
The Graduate Theological Union is pleased to announce Paul G. Johnson as the new Chair of the Board of Trustees, succeeding William D. Glenn, whose five years of leadership helped shape a dynamic era of institutional growth and interreligious engagement.
A retired attorney, educator, and U.S. Navy veteran, Johnson brings a distinguished record of service and a deep commitment to the GTU’s mission. “The GTU is a vital institution, uniquely positioned to foster transformative conversations across religious and cultural boundaries,” said Johnson. “I am honored to follow in the footsteps of Bill Glenn and to help advance the institution’s bold new vision for the future.”
President Uriah Y. Kim affirmed Johnson’s appointment, noting his “integrity, experience, and deep commitment to our mission.”
As the GTU enters this next phase, its Executive Team and institutional leaders—guided by collaboration, transparency, and shared purpose—continue to advance the GTU Next strategic plan. Together with the Board, they are shaping a resilient and innovative future, ensuring the GTU remains a catalyst for interreligious learning, justice, and transformation.
The GTU is a vital institution, uniquely positioned to foster transformative conversations across religious and cultural boundaries.
PAUL JOHNSON
Advancing Scholarship and Public Dialogue:
EXPANDING CONVERSATIONS THAT SHAPE OUR WORLD
From groundbreaking lectures to innovative partnerships, the GTU continues to lead vital interreligious and interdisciplinary dialogue at the intersection of faith, scholarship, and society.
Inaugural Robert N. Bellah Lecture
On April 9, 2025, the GTU launched the Robert N. Bellah Lecture on Religion and Public Life with an address by Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington, titled Following Our North Star in Tumultuous Times. Established in partnership with the Bellah Legacy Group and the Bellah family, the annual lecture honors Bellah’s enduring influence on religion and society. Through this series, the GTU sustains Bellah’s vision of faith as a force for reflection, justice, and civic renewal in public life.
Psychedelics and Spirituality: Scholarship in the Spotlight
A standing-room audience gathered at the GTU and online for a panel on Psychedelics and Spirituality, moderated by Dr. Sam Shonkoff, featuring Michael Pollan, Rabbi Zac Kamenetz, and others exploring the intersections of mysticism, consciousness, and religious life. Featured in The Jewish News of Northern California, the event reflected GTU’s leadership in exploring how ancient wisdom and contemporary research inform one another.
Safeguarding Knowledge: Digitizing the GTU Library
Through an innovative partnership with the Internet Archive, the GTU is digitizing its rare and essential theological collections—more than 30,000 volumes to date— ensuring access for scholars around the world. The project, led by Colyn Wohlmut and the GTU Library team, exemplifies stewardship in action: pre serving history while embracing the digital future. Supported by the Internet Archive, the Richard Lounsbury Foundation, and the American Theological Librarians Association, this initiative secures the GTU’s legacy of global accessibility and scholarly excellence.
Honoring Legacy & Philanthropy:
LIVES THAT ILLUMINATE OUR SHARED MISSION
Tad Taube: A Legacy of Vision and Generosity
The GTU community celebrates the life and legacy of Tad Taube (1931–2025), a visionary philanthropist whose enduring commitment to education and interreligious understanding transformed the Graduate Theological Union. Through his leadership and the work of Taube Philanthropies, he helped establish the GTU’s Taube Family Chair in Jewish Studies and strengthened both the Richard S. Dinner Center for Jewish Studies and the Interreligious Chaplaincy Program.
Tad’s support also extended to innovation in scholarship and learning, including backing the creation of the most recent GTUx Original, After Orthodoxy. This project, led by noted scholar Naomi Seidman, examines the journeys of individuals who have left insular religious communities and navigated new paths in scholarship, religion, activism, and art. By fostering platforms like After Orthodoxy, Tad’s generosity continues to illuminate the intersections of heritage, identity, and transformation—reflecting the very values he championed throughout his life.
Lanier Graham: The Sacred in Every Gesture
The GTU remembers Lanier Graham (1940–2024), distinguished curator and benefactor of the Sacred World Art Collection. His transformative gift—the foundation of the Sacred Art Gallery and Education Classroom (SAGE)—embodies his belief in the power of art to bridge faith traditions and awaken spiritual imagination.
Lanier’s legacy reminds us that beauty and devotion are intertwined. His life’s work continues to inspire students and scholars to encounter the sacred through creativity, contemplation, and care for the world’s spiritual heritage.
Dr. David Biale: Scholar, Mentor, Visionary
We also honor Dr. David Biale (1949–2024), eminent scholar of Jewish history and former Director of the GTU’s Richard S. Dinner Center for Jewish Studies. Dr. Biale’s leadership established one of the world’s most innovative Jewish Studies programs. His scholarship, mentorship, and courage remain a lasting testament to the spirit of inquiry that defines the GTU.
Just three months before his passing, David delivered his final public lecture, a deeply personal talk entitled “We Await Eternity as It Approaches” at our CJS conference on Life and Death. Reflecting on his still-unfolding experience with cancer, he offered profoundly honest and intimate meditations on mortality—remarks that embodied the spirit, Menschlichkeit, and moral courage that animated all of his life and work. A recording of this lecture is preserved, allowing his voice and wisdom to continue inspiring the GTU community.
The Skylight Society:
ILLUMINATING THE FUTURE
Honoring those whose legacy gifts sustain the GTU’s mission— today and for generations to come.
The Skylight Society celebrates those who have chosen to support the GTU through bequests and planned gifts, ensuring that interreligious education continues to flourish. Their foresight sustains the institution’s commitment to scholarship, compassion, and dialogue far into the future.
Among them is Marisha Zeffer (MA ’81), whose life has been a tapestry of creativity, service, and faith. From her early years in the New York theater world to decades running a family deli and working in chaplaincy, Marisha’s journey reflects a lifelong devotion to transformation. “For me,” she says, “it’s about helping the GTU realize what they’re up to. It’s bigger than my little world.”
Other members of the Skylight Society—including Rabbi Stephen Pearce, Carla De Sola, and Riess and Tara Potterveld —share this vision. Through their gifts and testimonies, they embody the values at the heart of the GTU: dialogue across difference, the integration of art and theology, and the enduring pursuit of wisdom.
Together, they ensure that the GTU remains a beacon of hope, learning, and spiritual encounter for the generations to come.
You, too, can join this circle of light. Consider including the Graduate Theological Union in your estate plans and become part of the Skylight Society— helping to preserve a legacy of learning, faith, and compassion that will inspire generations.
If you would like to learn more about becoming a member of the Skylight Society, contact Jen Ruppert at jruppert@gtu.edu.
Marisha Zeffer
Carla De Sola
Riess & Tara Potterveld
GTU’s Operating Revenue & Expenses
FY 2024–2025
Like many higher education institutions, the GTU is experiencing significant transformations that present both challenges and opportunities. Gifts to the GTU’s Annual Fund and Student Scholarship Fund enable us to continue supporting students, faculty, and other community members in our efforts to build a more just, compassionate, and sustainable future.
Take a closer look at our financial landscape: TUITION GROSS
OPERATING REVENUE FY 2024-2025
We are working hard to achieve financial sustainability by reducing our reliance on endowment spending, developing new revenue streams, and attracting more students to our MA program. Help us achieve our financial goals by making a gift to the Annual Fund or Scholarship Fund today.
SCHOLARSHIPS
RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT
GENERAL OPERATIONS
INSTRUCTION
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
LIBRARY
STUDENT SERVICES
OPERATING EXPENSES FY 2024-2025
EXPENDITURES
The Rev. Dr. James Brenneman
Mr. William B. Byrnes
Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Cavanagh
Paul and Jan Chaffee
Mr. Blaise Cirelli, Ph.D.
Ms. Mary Virginia Clemency
Dr. Domini C. Collins
Mrs. Susan Cony
Ms. Patricia A. Cosgrove
Rev. Dr. K. Mooney Cox and Capt. John Cox
Rev. Dr. Cornelia I. R. Cyss-Carter
Dr. and Mrs. James D. Daugherty
Ravi Deepak
Mr. John Doe
Dr. Laura M. Dunn
Dr. Mark Duntley and Rev. Melinda Smith
Mrs. Michelle L. Enciso
Dr. Diandra Erickson
Dr. and Mrs. Eldon G. Ernst
Dr. Ron H. Feldman
Florian Filtzinger
Mr. Mark D. Fischer, MA ‘02
Rev. Dr. Charles S. Foss
Mr. Stephen Friberg
Ms. Elizabeth S. Gordon, Ph.D.
Dr. Deidre N. Green
Dr. Yudit K. Greenberg
Mr. Victor Haburchak, M.Div.
Dr. Iftekhar Hai
Shauna Hannan
Ms. Marie J. Hempen
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Ho
Estie and Mark Hudes
Mr. Wilson Jackson
Mr. Chris Jimmerson
Dr. Robert V. Jones
Mr. Frederick J. Josties
Dr. Judith W. Kay
The Rev. Dr. Alan D. and Mrs. Susan E. Kelchner
Gar and Kolleen Kellom
Shirin Khalatbari
Mr. Donghwi Kim, Ph.D.
Mr. Kurt A. Kirchoff and Mrs. Helen K. Swearingen
Dr. Virginia W. Landgraf
Dr. Bruce H. Lescher and Ms. Clare Ronzani
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ley
Mrs. Mary-Carlton Lull
SKYLIGHT SOCIETY MEMBERS
Sephora Markson
Cindy Mataraso
David McCauley
Dr. Mary E. McGann, RSCJ
Dr. Margaret R. McLean
Nina Menconi
Rev. Dr. Michael J. Miller
Ms. Sarah H. Mohr
Ms. Denise H. Morita
Ms. Janet Napolitano
Denise Nelson
Shelley Nelson
Dr. Paula Nesbitt
Dr. Linda E. Olds
Mr. Robert C. Orr
Ms. Camille Paldi
Dr. Andrew S. Park
David Parker
Rabbi Stephen S. Pearce
Dr. Elizabeth S. Peña
Priscilla E. Petersen
The Rev. Raymond Pickett
The Rev. Nathaniel W. Pierce
Fr. Christopher D. Renz, O.P.
Dr. Julius M. Rogina
Ms. Rachel Lopez Rosenberg
Ms. Paula Rosenthal
Mr. Ismael Ruiz, Ph.D.
Dr. Carroll Saussy and Mr. Frank Molony
Ms. Susan Schaeffer
Dr. Naomi S. Seidman
Ms. Dianne Shiner
Christine C. Smith
Rev. Richard L. Smith
Dr. and Mrs. Peter W. Sullivan
Dr. Sandra J. Sullivan-Dunbar
Raheem W. Suluki
Richard J. Sweeney, Ph.D.
Mr. Homer Teng
Dr. Randi J. and Mr. Jerry Walker
Mr. Marc Andrew Wallman
Dr. Margo Elizabeth Wesley
Ms. Ann Willard and Mr. Bruce Willard
Dr. and Mrs. Shing Chung R. Yuen
Bingbin Zhou
Devin P. Zuber Ph.D.
The GTU’s Skylight Society honors donors who have made a future commitment to us through a bequest or other planned gift. We are deeply grateful to these donors whose legacy will help ensure our mission continues—today and into the future. Membership in the Skylight Society is open to anyone who has or will be providing a planned gift of any amount or type. LEARN MORE
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Dr. Judith A. Berling
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Bertelsen, Jr.
Ms. Mary R. Bischoff
Carla De Sola Eaton
Mr. Jerry P. Haas
Ms. Sheila A. Hard
The Rev. Dr. Alan D. and Mrs. Susan E. Kelchner
Mrs. Alison Kling
Mr. Harold T. Leach, Jr. and Mrs. Judy Leach
Dr. Karen Lebacqz
Drs. Alda M. and Donn F. Morgan
Rabbi Stephen S. Pearce
The Rev. Dr. Riess Potterveld and Tara Potterveld
Mr. and Mrs. Paul L. Richards
Ms. Penelope T. Schoyer
Ms. Rita R. Semel
Mr. Dennis P. Stradford
Mr. and Mrs. Tad Taube
Dr. Terrence W. Tilley
Ms. Marisha E. Zeffer
ABOUT THE GTU
Created in 1962, the GTU is a consortium of interdependent theological schools, centers, and affiliates committed to collaboration with one another. A premier institution of higher learning unlike any other, the GTU brings together students of the world’s diverse religions and wisdom traditions and equips them to become distinguished scholars and community leaders. To learn more, please visit gtu.edu.