Emilie Townes

The Divinity School’s storied history and reputation for theological education—including advocacy for racial and social justice—were key to Yolanda Pierce’s move to Vanderbilt for the deanship. Read More

Vanderbilt University has honored 33 retiring faculty members for their years of service by bestowing upon them the title of emerita or emeritus faculty. Additionally, four outgoing deans were honored for their service as deans. They were recognized during Vanderbilt’s Commencement ceremony. Read More

Vanderbilt Divinity School and the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries announced a grant of $350,000 from the NEH that is enabling Vanderbilt to partner with Texas A&M and Marquette universities to continue preserving the history of Syriac culture, a medieval dialect once spoken widely by Middle Eastern Christian communities.  Read More

Singers and songwriters Garth Brooks and Stephanie Davis will discuss the continuing importance of a song they co-wrote more than three decades ago when Vanderbilt Divinity School hosts “We Shall Be Free in 2023: Pursuing Unity Through Music” on April 11 at Langford Auditorium. Read More

Yolanda Pierce, dean of the Howard University School of Divinity and a prominent leader on the role of religion in public life, will become dean of Vanderbilt University's Divinity School effective July 1. Read More

Join us for dinner and conversations on womanists’ responses to the need for creative, courageous and socially responsive leadership. During this roundtable discussion, womanist scholars and practitioners will challenge and help us imagine ways to advance the work of social justice. Read More

The Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center, Peabody Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Vanderbilt Divinity School will host a lunchtime discussion about women’s leadership on Monday, March 27. “When Women Lead: Unapologetically Taking Up Space” will feature several prominent women leaders as panelists. Read More

Emilie Townes, who will step down as dean of the Divinity School on June 30, reflects on her leadership and areas of change and growth for the school in this Q&A. Read More

An influential leader in the inclusion of arts in theological education and a Triple ’Dore who is devoted to fostering excellence in the academic study of religion have been selected as the 2022 Vanderbilt Divinity School and Graduate Department of Religion Distinguished Alumni/ae. Read More

A new co-edited volume by Vanderbilt researchers is a tribute to the late Katie Geneva Cannon, who in 1974 became the first African American woman ordained in the United Presbyterian Church. Cannon’s work lays the groundwork for continued discussions on moral thought among scholars today.   Read More

Members of the Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center communities are invited to attend a special “Faith and Politics” panel discussion featuring Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow. The event, which includes fellow panelists Dean Emilie M. Townes of Vanderbilt Divinity School and Professor Katherine Crawford of the College of Arts and Science, will take place Monday, Oct. 3, at 5 p.m. in Wilson Hall, Room 103. Read More

In two unique courses offered by the Divinity School, students explore issues around incarceration and punishment alongside 14 death row inmates at Tennessee’s Riverbend Maximum Security Institution. Read More

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver has appointed a committee to conduct a national search for the next dean of Vanderbilt Divinity School. The committee includes faculty members, deans, an alumnus and a current student. Read More

Emilie M. Townes, who has led the reenvisioning of theological education at Vanderbilt Divinity School while increasing the visibility of the institution’s historical commitment to seeking justice, will step down as dean effective June 30, 2023. Read More

Vanderbilt University will launch the James Lawson Institute for the Research and Study of Nonviolent Movements during a livestreamed celebration featuring the Rev. James Lawson and keynote speaker John M. Seigenthaler on April 7. Read More

The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham discussed the complex intersection of religion and politics in American democracy on Jan. 13 as part of a virtual event hosted by the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy and Vanderbilt Divinity School. Read More

Vanderbilt University has received a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help Vanderbilt Divinity School establish a project focused on educating pastoral leaders who are exploring alternative pathways in ministry, today and the future. Read More

The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham will discuss the intersection of religion and politics in the U.S. during a Jan. 13 discussion hosted by the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy and Vanderbilt Divinity School. Read More

Nashville’s newest public high school will be named in honor of the Rev. James Lawson, a civil rights icon and Vanderbilt University Distinguished Professor, emeritus. Read More

Lifelong Learning at Vanderbilt Divinity School, a new curricular-based program open to the community, aims to expand the public discussion surrounding religious issues. Read More