Miseon Choi is a Ph.D. student in Practical Theology focusing on Religious Education at Claremont School of Theology. She studied Christian Education at Hanshin University in South Korea and completed her Master of Divinity at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. She currently serves at Saegil Christian Church in Burbank as the Children's Minister.
Kamilah Hall Sharp is a Ph.D. student in Biblical Interpretation-Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University. Her scholarship focuses on womanist biblical interpretation. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Business Economics from Florida A&M University, a Master of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary, and a Juris Doctor from Indiana University-Bloomington. Kamilah currently serves as a Co-Pastor at The Gathering, a new Disciples of Christ church plant in Dallas, Texas, where she co-pastors with two other womanist pastors.
Rev. Laura Jean Torgerson is a Ph.D. student in Interdisciplinary Studies in Biblical Interpretation and Sociology of Culture at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. Her research on biblical interpretation among Nicaraguan Pentecostals grows out of her time as a Global Ministries (DoC/ UCC) missionary in Managua, where she worked in theological education. She is currently Director of Education and Mission for Disciples Seminary Foundation in Northern California. She is a member of Mills Grove Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oakland, CA.
Rev. Angela Wendy Tankersley is a certified counselor of the Clinebell Institute, theologian and scholar of spiritual care, spiritual formation and women studies. She is a second-year Ph.D. student of Practical theology, spiritual formation/education and women studies at Claremont School of Theology. She serves as chairwoman of youth and children ministry at Upland First Christian Church. As an activist, she also provides a ministry of care and counseling, justice work and community assistance for immigrants, including Indonesian members of Upland FCC as well as those living in the wider community.
Teresa Crist is a doctoral student at the University of Denver/Iliff School of Theology Joint Doctoral Program in Religion, focusing on Religion and Social Change. Her dissertation focuses on Decolonizing Interfaith Interaction. This project explores more deeply through qualitative research the challenges that interfaith practitioners face in attempting to achieve their goals of true relationship and understanding in societies that privilege and empower some religions over others. She is a lifelong member of Disciples and is currently a member of Webster Groves Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri. She also serves on the Executive Board of the Council on Christian Unity, which works to advocate and provide resources for ecumenical and interfaith work in the wider church.
Lydia Hernández Marcial is a PhD candidate in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. She is an ordained minister from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Puerto Rico and a member of University Church Chicago.
Jessica Knippel is a second year Ph.D. student at Claremont Graduate School working on a degree in Women and Religion with a certificate in gender studies and an emphasis in media studies. Her current research projects include ex-evangelical community formation via social media. She is connected to the Disciples Seminary Foundation, previous fellowshipped with Mission Hills Christian Church and is currently connected to Burbank Christian Church.
Leah K. Laird is completing the final stages of her PhD in Religion specializing in Hebrew Bible at Claremont School of Theology. She is the Director of Initiatives at Disciples Seminary Foundation (DSF) and is the DSF student representative on the PSWR Board of Trustees. Her home church is the First Christian Church of Pomona.
Yara González-Justiniano, originally from Puerto Rico, is a Ph.D. Candidate in Practical Theology at Boston University with a concentration in Church and Society. Her work mainly focuses on ecclesial practices, hope, liberation theologies, and decolonization. She is also Under Care with the Christian Church Disciples of Christ and a member of Hope Central Church in Jamaica Plain, MA.
Tipisone Tuiolemotu is a first-year Ph.D. student at the Graduate Theological Union studying in the Sacred Text and Interpretations Department. His focus is on the Hebrew Bible and Postcolonial Studies. He is a member of the First Samoan Congregational Christian Church of Alameda/Oakland and is currently on the ordination track under the care of the Northern California and Nevada Conference.
Eunice Villaneda is a Ph.D. student at the Claremont School of Theology. Her research revolves around the Valentinians, an ancient Christian sect integral for the formation of Orthodox Christianity. She is an active member of Iglesia de Sun Valley Discípulos de Cristo (Disciples of Christ) and is committed to working towards togetherness in an increasingly fragmented world.