Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) Awards Doctoral Fellowships to 17 Scholars of Color

The Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) selects 17 scholars of color to receive support for their PhD or ThD program in religion, theological studies, or biblical studies.

Students will either receive the Fellowship for Doctoral Students of African Descent or the Fellowship for Latino/a, Asian and First Nations Doctoral Students. Each Fellow will be awarded a living stipend up to $30,000 to help further their studies beyond the coursework stage.

“This class of Fellows represents a broad range of research by, for, and with BIPOC communities beyond the academy. From biblical studies to ethics, this class reflects a future of theological education that is engaged in transforming academic and societal structures,” said FTE Senior Director of Learning Design Dr. Patrick B. Reyes. “We are proud to support these Fellows and look forward to providing more opportunities and resources within theological education for the next generation to broaden FTE’s and scholars’ impact across the academy.”

As part of the fellowship award, Fellows will have the opportunity to attend FTE’s 2022 Forum for Theological Educators in Denver, CO, prior to the annual meetings of the American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature. In addition, Fellows receive access to virtual resources and a mentor to help further their professional development, vocational exploration, and networking opportunities.

FTE welcomes the following recipients into the 2022 class of Doctoral Fellows:

 

Fellowship for Doctoral Students of African Descent

  • Kimberly Akano, Princeton University, American Religious History
  • Whitney R-E Baisden-Bond, Chicago Theological Seminary, Practical Theology
  • Leslie Bowling-Dyer, Graduate Theological Union, Anthropology of Religion and Sociology of Religion and Black Church Studies
  • Angel Bernice Clark, Boston University, Practical Theology
  • DeAnna M. Daniels, Rice University, African American Religion
  • Diandra M. Darby, Emory University, Practical Theology
  • Samaria Divine , University of Georgia, Hebrew Bible
  • Aaron Dorsey, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Hebrew Bible
  • Amina S. McIntyre, Vanderbilt University, Religion, Psychology, and Culture
  • Jeania Ree Violet Moore, Yale University, Theology and Religious Studies
  • Quincy James Rineheart, Chicago Theological Seminary, African American Religious History
  • Byron D. Wratee, Boston College, Systematic Theology

Fellowship for Latino/a, Asian and First Nations Doctoral Students:

  • Chauncey Diego Francisco Handy, Princeton Theological Seminary, Old Testament/Hebrew Bible
  • Kimberlee A. Medicine Horn Jackson, NAIITS, Theology
  • Rosy Kandathil, Emory University, Hebrew Bible
  • Lai Tsz-him, Drew University, Religion and Society
  • Michael L. Sekuras Muñoz, Vanderbilt University, Hebrew Bible

Since 1999, FTE has awarded more than 585 fellowships to students of color and has maintained a 98 percent retention rate among its Doctoral Fellows. In addition to its fellowships for dissertation stage doctoral students, FTE provides professional development opportunities for PhD and ThD students in the first two years of their studies. FTE developed these doctoral initiatives to help accelerate the completion of doctoral degrees among students of color and to foster diversity in the academy across North America.