A Call to Shape Our Community
The Alumni Council at Union is a dedicated group of alumni committed to fostering engagement, collaboration, and support within the Union community. Acting as ambassadors and vital partners to the Seminary, Council members help sustain meaningful relationships, create diverse networks, and shape programs that amplify Union’s mission.
Through service, support, and collaboration with Union’s Development and Alumni Relations Department, the Council plays a crucial role in keeping the Union spirit alive, engaging alumni, and fostering connections that extend beyond graduation.
Meet Our Alumni Council Members
We are pleased to highlight our current members who exemplify the passion and dedication that define the Alumni Council. Each of them has taken a unique path since leaving Union, but they are committed to advancing the Seminary’s mission and building an inclusive alumni community.
Click on each of our current council members' names below to learn more about their journey after their time at Union.
Rev. Derrick T. Jordan, MDiv/MSSW '18 - Chair
We’re curious about what inspired you to join the Alumni Council and what you hope to contribute during your time on the council.
I was inspired by the desire to contribute to a diverse representation within the Alumni Council, along with the eagerness to support students around their growth and vocational discernment.
My hope is to bring in the utility of my multi-vocational calling, experiences and intersecting identities to help cultivate growth and a meaningful expansion of structures to support current students, while also increasing active alumni participation.
We’d love to hear about your journey since graduating from Union. Have you taken on any projects or roles that you’re excited to share with us?
Since graduating from Union, I’ve:
- Earned a Post-Master’s Certificate in Trauma-Informed Clinical Practice from NYU, and launched a fully independent private psychotherapy practice providing spiritually and trauma-informed mental health care.
- Co-authored a book – The Gender Affirmative Model Revisited: Pediatric Gender Health Care, published by the American Psychological Association
- Served as the Director of the Gender & Family Project at Ackerman Institute for the Family; providing affirming mental health care, community services, research and training across NYC and beyond.
- Joined the Board of Directors at The Psychotherapy and Spirituality Institute, and Art Like ME, both based in NYC.
- Become a certified somatic-based leadership coach, through the Institute for Zen Leadership
- Become a founding member of the New York Philharmonic Pride Alliance
As you reflect on your time at Union Theological Seminary, what’s one lesson or experience that continues to influence your daily life?
Taking Rev. Dr. James H. Cone’s course on Black Liberation Theology, transformed my understanding of theology. I learned that to “do theology” is a call to action that extends beyond the walls of academia, or even the walls of the church, in how we function to seek justice, challenge systems, and minister to the oppressed.
Rev. Dr. Davanna Renee, MA '00 - Vice-Chair
We’re curious about what inspired you to join the Alumni Council and what you hope to contribute during your time on the council.
Union was a life-changing moment for me because of the faculty, such as Dr. Cone, Delores Williams, Emilie Townes and Beverly Harrison. I, therefore, want to contribute in even a small way to the legacy and experience of students coming behind.
We’d love to hear about your journey since graduating from Union. Have you taken on any projects or roles that you’re excited to share with us?
I am an ordained minister who has mostly served in the public sphere from spiritual counseling, hospital chaplaincy work, and contributing as a board member to various organizations- currently, Limitless Ambitions out of Akron, Ohio.
As you reflect on your time at Union Theological Seminary, what’s one lesson or experience that continues to influence your daily life?
There is beauty in diversity of thought, beliefs, practices and ways of being. God is glorified in our uniqueness and celebrating that in others.
Rev. Rodney F. Hughes, MA '19 - Treasurer
We’re curious about what inspired you to join the Alumni Council and what you hope to contribute during your time on the council.
I was inspired by the desire to stay connected to a community that really fed me academically and spiritually during my graduate studies. Additionally, I am looking to contribute to the efforts of the council’s work in maintaining the connectivity of this beloved community.
We’d love to hear about your journey since graduating from Union. Have you taken on any projects or roles that you’re excited to share with us?
Since graduating from UTS I have worked to complete my doctorate in Cultural Anthropology. I am currently writing my dissertation and serving as an Adjunct Professor at CUNY and The New School.
As you reflect on your time at Union Theological Seminary, what’s one lesson or experience that continues to influence your daily life?
The academic standards experienced at UTS were top-tier and prepared me to meet the challenges of deeply engaged research within my PhD program. I often joke with my colleagues, saying that Union was sheer rigor-mortis, but I can hang with the best scholars after that experience. All jokes aside, it was the best theological education I could have imagined, not to mention the lifetime connections I made while attending Union.
Mr. David Berkey, MDiv '77 - Liaison
Introduction will be coming soon…
Rev. Cassius L. Rudolph, MA '18 - Member-at-Large
We’re curious about what inspired you to join the Alumni Council and what you hope to contribute during your time on the council.
I joined the Alumni Council because I am passionate about supporting the vital work of our alumni. I want to ensure they remain connected to the seminary’s evolving mission, keep them informed about the exciting developments at Union, and amplify their voices so they are heard and valued. I believe the alumni community is a powerful force for change, and I aim to strengthen that bond, ensuring we continue making an impact together.
We’d love to hear about your journey since graduating from Union. Have you taken on any projects or roles that you’re excited to share with us?
Since graduating from Union, I’ve been deeply involved in civic and social justice work. I had the honor of serving as a staffer and executive officer at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, where I worked closely with Rev. Jesse Jackson. I also ran for Chicago City Council, which was a significant experience in community advocacy. Additionally, I served as the Development and Community Engagement Director for a seminary, but my greatest joy comes from pastoring a church in New Jersey, where I focus on building community and fostering spiritual growth.
As you reflect on your time at Union Theological Seminary, what’s one lesson or experience that continues to influence your daily life?
A lasting lesson from my time at Union is the importance of using my voice to advocate for those who are often left out or forgotten. Union instilled in me a deep commitment to speak up for justice, to lift others, and to work toward a more equitable world. This principle guides me every day in both my ministry and community work.
Join Us: A Call to Engage
The Union Alumni Council is more than just a group—it’s a collective effort to build community, advance Union’s mission, and foster meaningful relationships among alumni. As we continue to build a vibrant, diverse, and engaged alumni community, we invite you to explore how you can become part of the Union Alumni Council. Whether you are passionate about organizing events, mentoring current students, or helping to expand Union’s reach, your contributions can make a difference. We hope you’ll consider joining us on this journey and helping to strengthen the legacy of Union for future generations.
If you are interested in learning more about joining the Alumni Council or contributing to its efforts, please reach out to our Development and Alumni Relations department at [email protected].