The alums of Yale Divinity School are pastors, scholars, activists, educators, the heads of numerous ecclesiastical and secular organizations, and more—all exemplifying the YDS mission of service to church and world. As we mark the Bicentennial of YDS, we celebrate our graduates and their impact on the communities they serve.
We have started our notable alums site in 2023 with a selection of alumni leaders and award honorees. We invite our YDS alum community to submit the stories of additional notable alums via our webform. The Communications and Alumni Offices will select which stories are posted on this website and will perform edits as necessary.
Be sure to bookmark this page to check back for additional noteable alum biographies over the course of the spring semester.
For questions about this project, please be in touch with the Alum office at divinity.alumni@yale.edu
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Molly Baskette ’96 M.Div. | Rev. Molly Baskette is the senior minister of First Church Berkeley UCC in Berkeley, CA. She has served in a wide variety of settings: Mexican... |
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Elijah Heyward III ’07 M.A.R. | Dr. Elijah Heyward III is an expert on African American history, popular culture, religion, and contemporary Gullah/Geechee culture. After graduating from Yale Divinity School, Dr... |
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Robert Wilson ’67 B.D. ’72 Ph.D. | For over four decades, Dr. Robert Wilson, served on the Yale Divinity School and in the Department of Religious Studies faculty. Hoober Professor of Religious... |
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Jane Middleton ’78 M.Div. | Bishop Jane Middleton has been a trailblazer throughout her ministry in the United Methodist Church. She was the first woman to serve as the pastor... |
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Jason Turner ’06 M.Div. | The Rev. Dr. J. Lawrence Turner has served as the Senior Pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Memphis, Tenn., since 2013... |
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Greg Turner ’70 M.Div. | Rev. Greg Turner has been a faithful leader in pastoral ministry all over the world for 50 years. During his time at YDS, Turner spent... |
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Chad Tanaka Pack ’10 M.Div. | Rev. Chad Tanaka Pack is committed to social change, primarily through his work with faith-based organizations striving for racial justice and LGBTQ equality. His nonprofit... |
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Barbara Rossing ‘81 M.Div. | The Rev. Dr. Barbara Rossing is Professor of New Testament at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, where she has taught since 1994. An... |
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Wilma Reichard ’77 M.A.R., ’79 M.Div. | The Rev. Wilma J. Reichard’s ministry as a hospital chaplain has profoundly impacted her community and those she has served. She served for 23 years... |
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Wesley Poling ’71 M.Div. | Dr. Wesley Poling began his higher education career at Yale in 1971, where he served as Director of Alumni Records and Director of the Agents... |
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Chan Sok Park ’06 M.Div., ’07 S.T.M | Dr. Chan Sok Park currently serves as Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. During his student years at... |
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Barbara Lundblad ’79 M.Div. | Noted for her work in homiletics, Dr. Barbara Lundblad is the Joe R. Engle Professor of Preaching Emerita at Union Theological Seminary in New York... |
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James P. Keane ’91 M.Div. | James P. Keane has over two decades of leadership and management experience that includes service as Principal of St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, Conn.,... |
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Cece Jones-Davis ’05 M.Div. | The Rev. Cece Jones-Davis is known for her artistry and advocacy and tireless work at the intersection of faith and social justice. Her work focuses... |
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Alisha Lola Jones ’07 M.Div. | Dr. Alisha Lola Jones is a noted performer-scholar and ethnomusicologist. Along with her 2022 appointment as University Lecturer in Music in Contemporary Societies at the... |
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Aracelis Vázquez Haye ’12 M.Div. | The Rev. Aracelis Vázquez Haye is a leader in theological education and formation. She is the project manager for the Network of Theological Entities at... |
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Thomas Ficklin, Jr. ’75 M.Div. | Tom Ficklin, Jr. has been a fixture in the New Haven community for nearly fifty years. Since graduating from YDS, he has worked in a... |
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Kaji Douša ’06 M.Div. | Widely noted for her pastoral leadership and immigration advocacy work, the Rev. Kaji S. Douša is Senior Pastor of Park Avenue Christian Church in New... |
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Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes ’18 M.Div. | The Rev. Dr. Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes is a ministerial leader working at the intersection of faith and culture. Wilkes is currently serving as one of... |
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Kat Banakis ’09 M.Div. | Known for her commitment to interfaith and inter-denominational efforts, Rev. Kat Banakis currently serves as Rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Evanston, Illinois. Banakis... |