Congratulations to Victoria "Tori" Wick (2017)  and Michael Thomas, who became engaged last summer and are planning a wedding for October 2026. 

Congratulations to Robert Wilson-Black (1991), who has begun work as Director of Religion at the Chautauqua Institute. He has also served as Sojourners’ CEO, the President and CEO of The Faith & Politics Institute, and co-founder and founding board chair of the National Museum of American Religion.

On February 9, Russell Johnson, Assistant Instructional Professor and Associate Director of the Undergraduate Religious Studies Program at the Divinity School, spoke about heroes and villains. He addressed the theme in movies such as Mission Impossible, Wreck-It Ralph, and Titanic, drawing on mimetic theory and the psychology of conflict. Johnson's book on this topic, Beyond Civility in Social Conflict, was published in January by Cambridge University Press.

Congratulations to Stephanie McLemore (1992), who has been named the next Vice President for Advancement at Lexington Theological Seminary. She currently serves as Chaplain at Denison University in Ohio and has two decades of higher education leadership experience, most notably at Disciples-related Lynchburg University. She will begin her work at LTS in spring 2026.

MDiv student Allison Nash (far right) launched the All My Neighbors Book Club to foster a love of reading and connection around books containing diverse voices. As a former school librarian, she was aware that book bans often served to mute certain voices and perspectives. She was able to start the club with the help of a Young Adult Leadership Grant from the National Benevolent Association Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). “Reading is such a source of empathy; if you are able to connect with a character in a story, you feel like they’re your friend, and it’s harder to hate someone if you know someone,” she says. “I felt like having all this knowledge, I wanted to be able to have the opportunity to discuss stories specifically focused on diverse voices with people.” Read the full story here.

On January 12, April Lewton (2004) Vice President of Development and Marketing at the National Benevolent Association and DDH alumna and trustee, spoke for a Monday Forum. Using an autobiographical lens, she explored the power of equity and the importance of a sense of belonging and inclusion for building community. She offered case studies and shared guest reflections from her NBA colleague, Bere Gil Soto. Alums Garry Sparks (2001), Yvonne Gilmore (2001), Kristel Clayville (2001), and Morganne Talley (2022) were present and joined with students in discussion.

Profound thanks to Aaron Smith (2007) and Laura Jennison Reed (2009) for their leadership as co-presidents of the Alumni/ae Council from 2022-25 (shown here presenting Marshall Dunn (1965) with the Distinguished Alumnus award at General Assembly in July). And a grateful welcome to Andrew Packman (2009) and Katherine Raley Alexander (2008) who are serving as the new president and vice president.

Joan Bell-Haynes (1995, trustee) will join the leadership team for The Proclamation Project to support the cohort groups and lead some long-term planning.

Allie Lundblad (2012) contributed "Care is Contextual" and "Invisible Mask: An interview with Dr. AHyun Lee" to Aware, a publication of Garrett Seminary, where Allie is a PhD student in Pastoral Theology and a fellow in public theology. 

Cynthia Lindner (1978, trustee) reflected on the "open space" of the Divinity School lobby in an essay for the 100th anniversary of Swift Hall, The Space Always Wins. "While the particular methods, topics, traditions, and practices may shift with time and the tides, the very bones of our building—and the spirits of our ancestors who inhabited it before us—insist that we hold open space for the continual recognition and renegotiation of the limits and possibilities for the scholarship and practice of religion."