Vanderbilt Divinity School

Vanderbilt Divinity School An interdenominational, ecumenical theological school located in the heart of Nashville, TN.
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Meet recent graduate and Double Dore, Graeme Dennis, who received his M.Div. with a concentration in Chaplaincy. Graeme’...
06/01/2026

Meet recent graduate and Double Dore, Graeme Dennis, who received his M.Div. with a concentration in Chaplaincy.

Graeme’s Senior Project, “Spiritual and Ethical Formation as a Means of Claiming Moral Agency,” connects with his interests in the intersections of spiritual experience and everyday life.

“My coursework in liturgical theology with Professor Bruce Morrill and advocacy in death penalty and carceral justice issues with Professor Graham Reside have been highlights of my time here,” he shared.

After graduation, he will continue Clinical Pastoral Education in chaplaincy settings and is considering further graduate study in Practical Theology.

Say hello to our next recent graduate, Johncollins Oghenekevwe Okpako. Johncollins is from the South, precisely Warri, D...
05/28/2026

Say hello to our next recent graduate, Johncollins Oghenekevwe Okpako. Johncollins is from the South, precisely Warri, Delta State in Nigeria and a native of Urhobo ethnic group. In addition to his M.Div. with a concentration in Chaplaincy, he also obtained 1st unit of the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at VUMC.

He said that his most memorable and meaningful experience during his time in VDS was his field education placement at Ascension St Thomas Hospital and Clinical Pastoral Education at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC).

“I appreciate those moments especially visitation of patients. The encounters taught me about humanity and the fragility of life," he shared. "Also, within these experiences I grew in compassion and empathy towards the vulnerable. Suffering became real and tangible in those moments. Prior to my hospital experiences, suffering was seen as abstract to me. But now, it shaped my understanding of life and how I approach people undergoing pain, suffering, and injustice. VDS made this experience worthwhile, and I appreciate VDS for the rich experiences I had in those moments which will forever be part of my storytelling."

Johncollins’ thesis is "The Challenges of Transference and Countertransference in Healthcare Chaplaincy.”

Joining the graduating Class of 2026 is Rea Green! Rea graduated with an M.Div. with a capstone entitled “Didn’t See tha...
05/27/2026

Joining the graduating Class of 2026 is Rea Green! Rea graduated with an M.Div. with a capstone entitled “Didn’t See that Coming: How an Anti-Ableist Mindset Opens the Doors to Inclusive and Expansive Worship Practices.”

“When I first came to VDS, I knew I would receive a great education and phenomenal experiences. What I didn’t know was how lucky I would be to be surrounded by such a wonderful community of people. I have learned so much while at VDS, but I can safely say the best gift I have been given is the group of friends that I have made along the way,” Rea shared.

Rea will soon be commissioned as a provisional elder in the United Methodist Church and will be serving in Birmingham with a focus on accessibility and justice within church spaces.

This Memorial Day, we heard from student and Chaplain (Captain) William D***s, whose daily work involves nurturing the l...
05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we heard from student and Chaplain (Captain) William D***s, whose daily work involves nurturing the living, caring for the wounded, and honoring the fallen.

He is a student in Vanderbilt Divinity School’s Doctor of Ministry in Integrative Chaplaincy program and an active-duty Army chaplain in the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) at Arlington National Cemetery, the oldest active-duty infantry regiment in the country.

Read more about Chaplain (Captain) D***s and the Integrative Chaplaincy program divinity.vanderbilt.edu/integrative-chaplaincy-and-the-work-of-grief/.

Joining the Divinity School’s alumni family is David Ryan Williams, who recently received his D.Min. in Integrative Chap...
05/23/2026

Joining the Divinity School’s alumni family is David Ryan Williams, who recently received his D.Min. in Integrative Chaplaincy.

This is what he says about his experience as a Navy Chaplain and D.Min. student:

“This degree, and my associated doctoral project represents a culmination of my summative thoughts on the chaplaincy profession and the unique — and truly sacred — calling it is to companion my fellow humans along their life journey, and assist them in their own discovery and alignment with sacred.

“I plan to continue to incorporate this effort and future engagement in this area into my work as a US Navy Chaplain across the various domains of my ministry. In particular, I hope to use what I have learned to influence junior chaplains to offer them a practical and meaningful model of chaplaincy for their own ministry.

"VDS has offered me such a rich and diverse platform for collaboration and innovation as I've developed my current thinking in this area. I could not have asked for a more supportive and energetic cadre of educators to help me launch my academic pursuits! I am truly grateful!!”

Congratulations, Ryan!

What does it mean to lead with a liberated spirit in a fearful and divided world?This is one of the questions asked in o...
05/22/2026

What does it mean to lead with a liberated spirit in a fearful and divided world?

This is one of the questions asked in our latest Lifelong Learning course, The Social Role of Religion: Leadership and Moral Imagination for our Times.

Professor Forrest Harris invites faith leaders, laypersons, and community builders to explore the soul of religious leadership as a liberating practice rooted in moral courage, hope, and justice in this four-session course. Learn more about this course and see more offerings at divinity.vanderbilt.edu/academics/vds-lifelong-learning-program/.

Say hello to A’Leeyah Ponder, our next 2026 graduate!A’Leeyah completed the Master of Divinity with a double concentrati...
05/19/2026

Say hello to A’Leeyah Ponder, our next 2026 graduate!

A’Leeyah completed the Master of Divinity with a double concentration in Black Religion and Culture Studies and Religion and the Arts. She is also a recipient of certificates from the Kelly Miller Smith Institute on Black Church Studies and Religion in the Arts and Contemporary Culture.

“The most meaningful and memorable experience I had at VDS was mounting my art exhibit in fulfillment of the RACC Certificate in the Reading Room at the Divinity School. It was a gift to have my family, friends, colleagues, faculty, and staff support me in my theological meaning making practice(s) of creative expression through visual art and creative writing. VDS is a magical place and aided me in clarifying my voice, vision, and vocation as a creative Womanist,” she shared.

A’Leeyah’s capstone is titled “Purify Me: Sexing the Body, Mind, and Soul,” and is a Womanist theo-ethical survey and analytical approach to curating [spiritual, mental and physical] wellness resources for Black girls and women seeking to reclaim their sexual selves.

Congratulations to Isabel Billings Draper, this year’s Founder’s Medalist for the Divinity School.At Vanderbilt, their f...
05/15/2026

Congratulations to Isabel Billings Draper, this year’s Founder’s Medalist for the Divinity School.

At Vanderbilt, their focus has been ministry and theological thought in the field of prison and carceral studies. A course at the Tennessee Prison for Women on theodicy—the question of how God can exist when there is evil in the world—helped shape Draper’s career path. Their field education was at Dismas House in Nashville, a nonprofit that helps men coming out of prison reintegrate into society.

Since 1877, the university has awarded a medal to the student graduating with top honors from each of the university’s schools and colleges.

Read more about Draper and all the winners https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2026/05/07/vanderbilt-university-honors-class-of-2026-founders-medalists/

Meet another Class of 2026 graduate, Grey Kenna!Grey graduated with an M.Div. and concentrations in Chaplaincy and Relig...
05/13/2026

Meet another Class of 2026 graduate, Grey Kenna!

Grey graduated with an M.Div. and concentrations in Chaplaincy and Religion and the Arts in Contemporary Culture. Her thesis, “Presence in Thin Places: Tending the Common Ground Between Hospital Chaplaincy and Photographic Practice,” explores the shared ethics of presence and attention in the respective practices of spiritual care and photography.

“My time in divinity school has helped me understand the emotional weight of my work as a photographer in a new light, the power we hold to dignify people and moments with our attention. I think divinity school has taught me how to read life like a sacred text — how there is meaning in all kinds of unlikely places, always something to be learned,” she said.

After graduation she will be pursuing photography full-time, focusing on commissioned wedding and portrait work alongside personal projects.

05/12/2026

Many voices. Many callings. One shared commitment. This is the ministry of Vanderbilt Divinity School. 💛🖤

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