New Disciples Scholars
Welcome new Disciples Scholars (L to R): Luke Soderstrom (MA), Victoria Wick (MDiv), and Rachel Abdoler (PhD). Luke Soderstrom is MDiv graduate of Western Theological Seminary who serves part-time as an assistant to HELM President Chris Dorsey. He was just joining a Disciples congregation in Michigan when he began his MA studies last year; this year he is a new Disciples House Scholar. He is interested in pursuing PhD work in theology. Victoria Wick, a member of the Christian Temple in Baltimore, is a 2015 graduate of St. John’s College in Annapolis who had been working full-time in student services there. Her background, vocational discernment, and the appeal of an atmosphere of ideas, conversation, and engagement propelled her toward DDH and the Divinity School. Rachel Abdoler, who completed her MDiv as a Disciples House Scholar and with a commitment to interfaith engagement, enters the PhD program in the History of Christianity to pursue a fascinating project on medieval Christian communities in majority Muslim contexts whose little-translated texts were written in Arabic.
DDH welcomes the return of two MDiv Scholars after a year away on full-time internships: Devon Crawford, who interned with the national office of the NAACP in Baltimore as it responded to these consequential times, and Virginia White, who furthered her understanding of nonprofit organizations and theological reflection while working with Week of Compassion, the Disciples disaster relief and humanitarian assistance program fund, and with the Oakland Peace Center. DDH also welcomes six additional new residents who are beginning MA and MDiv studies at the Divinity School, and the return of former resident Uk Ryel, who is pursuing his PhD at CTS.