The Rev. Dr. Ella Pearson Mitchell ’43 was the second African-American woman to graduate from Union, and shortly thereafter was licensed into the ministry by the Church of the Master in New York City. In 1944 she married fellow Union student Henry H. Mitchell ’44, whom she had met in an elevator in Hastings Hall.
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Dear Union, My heart is bursting with pride, and my spirit is full as I join you again for this next era as the 17th president of Union. Thank you to everyone who has welcomed me back so warmly. You have reaffirmed my belief that this is more than a homecoming; we are poised at
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New York, NY — Union Theological Seminary announced two landmark additions to its campus: the Serene Jones Center for Religion and Democracy and the Hudson Refectory. The Serene Jones Center for Religion and Democracy The Serene Jones Center for Religion and Democracy honors outgoing President Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, whose 18 years of leadership have
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The medal honors Rev. Davie’s decades of work to advance social justice, including 15 years at Union Theological Seminary. New York, NY – Union Theological Seminary is proud to announce that Rev. Frederick A. Davie, Senior Executive Vice President for Public Theology and Civic Engagement, has been awarded the seminary’s highest honor: The Union Medal.
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We are overjoyed to celebrate Rev. Dr. Cláudio Carvalhaes, Marilyn Seven Endowed Chair in Religion and the Arts at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, on being named an Auburn Seminary Barbara Wheeler Fellow! As a Barbara Wheeler Fellow, Dr. Carvalhaes will conduct research titled Sacred Imagination for Desecrated Times: Arts as Curandería in
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Union Theological Seminary is proud to congratulate Dr. Julia Kelto Lillis, who was recently awarded tenure and promoted to Associate Professor of Early Church History, on being named a 2026 American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Fellow. Dr. Kelto Lillis is one of just 63 scholars nationwide to receive this prestigious award, selected from a
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 13, 2026 PRESS CONTACT Afsheen Shamsi 212-280-1552 [email protected] New York, NY – Today, Union Theological Seminary’s Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Rev. Dr. Lisa L. Thompson as Union Theological Seminary’s 17th president. An internationally recognized theological scholar and academic, vocal social justice advocate, executive, and faith leader, Dr. Thompson
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Dear Union Community, This afternoon, I had to write a note to a student group cutting funding for an event they had planned at Union this evening. I want to explain to you my action as you are likely to hear about it from others. For transparency sake, this note is close to what I
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Union Theological Seminary is proud to share that our esteemed faculty member, Gary Dorrien, was installed as a Canon Theologian at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine during a special Choral Evensong on Sunday, February 8, 2026. The service celebrated the installation of two extraordinary scholars: Rev. Dr. Gary Dorrien—historian, theologian, and leading interpreter
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We are honored to highlight Samadarshini, a visionary theological project of Hindus for Human Rights engaged with Union and Garrett Theological Seminary that fosters a radically inclusive Hinduism rooted in justice, human dignity, and the interdependence of all beings. Samadarshini works to reclaim sacred texts, rituals, and spiritual practices in ways that actively resist casteism,
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