Union Theological Seminary is proud to announce the appointment of Casey Donahue (she/hers) as the Director of the National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life, a groundbreaking new project made possible through a $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
President Serene Jones shares, “We are thrilled to welcome Casey back to Union, where her deep roots in our community and extraordinary gift for storytelling will shape a bold new chapter in our public witness. With her leadership, Casey will not only uplift powerful narratives of Christian life but also invite a broader public into the depth, complexity, and beauty of faith today.”
A 2017 M.Div graduate of Union, Casey brings more than a decade of experience guiding individuals and institutions in shaping powerful, purpose-driven narratives. She has partnered with organizations such as the Reproductive Health Access Project, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, PEN America, and The Moth, where she has helped hundreds of people craft and share personal stories.
Through her consulting practice and her professorship at Tufts Medical School, Casey has trained countless leaders, students, and faculty to speak with clarity, courage, and conviction.
In her new role, Casey will lead Union’s five-year project, which aims to identify and share compelling stories that reflect the vitality and diversity of Christian faith today. The initiative will include a Storytelling Lab at Union, visiting Storytelling Fellows, and the transformation of James Chapel into a state-of-the-art storytelling venue.
Casey shares, “I came to Union as a student over ten years ago, driven by a calling to storytelling work. This community helped shape my vocation, and I am deeply honored to return to my alma mater to help shape this project, which could not have come at a better moment, and which has the potential to connect and heal so many of us.”
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Union Theological Seminary (UTS), founded in 1836 in New York City, is a globally recognized seminary and graduate school of theology where religion, spirituality, and scholarship meet to reimagine the work of justice.
A beacon for social justice and progressive change, Union Theological Seminary is led by a diverse group of theologians and activist leaders. Drawing on both Christian traditions and multiple religious traditions along with the insights of communities of conscience, the institution is focused on educating leaders who can address critical issues like racial equity, criminal justice reform, income inequality, and protecting the environment.