Guest Lectuer

Posted on: 2006-03-04

Ms. CL Nash 1563 Solano Ave., Suite 526, Berkeley CA 94707 [email protected] EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT Ph.D. in Systematic Theology/Anticipated Dissertation Completion, spring 2006 UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH, Great Britain M.Div. in Theology / Magna Cum Laude Graduate SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY, VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY, Richmond, VA (2000) BA in Mass Communications/Journalism UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, Milwaukee, WI Certificate of Anthropology / Certified by Maryknoll of the U.S. TANGAZA COLLEGE OF NAIROBI, Nairobi, Kenya (2000) PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES Presenter: American Women Writers of Color (AWWOC) Presenter: American Academy of Religion (AAR) Presenter: Women of Africa and the African Diaspora (WAAD) Presenter: Women’s Worlds Congress (WW02) Presenter and Discussant: Southwest Social Sciences Association (SSSA) ACADEMIC/RESEARCH INTERESTS: Socio-religious issues for women in the African and Diasporadic African communities; theories on knowledge and power with particular interest in the psychological tenants of discussion engendered by Michele Foucault. Strong interest in African American history with particular interest in the Antebellum and Postbellum Periods. RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY – Edinburgh, Scotland (Great Britain) 2005 Christian Ethics Teacher Assistant Taught undergraduate Christian Ethics to small classes using university curriculum. Using dramatic lecture techniques. Engendered energized class discussions. Sole responsibility for grading assignments and presentations. RICHMOND HILL ECUMENICAL CENTER – Richmond, VA 2001 Instructor Taught courses in womanist theology to small classes (approximately 10 students per class) using combination of historical analysis and contemporary viewpoints to examine convergence of gender and ethnicity in theological context. Created entire curriculum, including lectures, student activities, and assessments. Introduced students to new concepts in theology that challenged traditional viewpoints and offered unique perspectives on gender/cultural concerns. • Stimulated discussions for traditional vs. contemporary views of gender from Biblical standpoint and opened up dialogue between black and white women to facilitate mutual acceptance. • Met strict deadlines for curriculum development; created course that will be used as template for course taught in Kenya for full semester. ST. PAUL’S SEMINARY – Limuru, Kenya 2000 Guest Lecturer Invited for semester-long engagement to present lectures and lead discussions on North American slave trade and violence against women, incorporating womanist theology within lessons. Taught dean’s class of 30 students in challenging community environment characterized by misogynist acts and overall female repression. Placed emphasis on partnership between men and women as new paradigm. • Inspired and influenced student perspectives by pursuing in-depth discussions of violence against women and the importance of male support for the value of females within the community, resulting in “healing” moments and formation of male-female alliances. • Conducted extensive research in joint effort with three field assistants on women’s issues in Christianity through information from 100 ethnographies. • Worked in tandem with field assistants and students to overcome language barriers and build strong, trusting communication channels, resulting in increase of open dialogues. • Used variety of texts and personal experiences in theological discourse to energize class discussions and secure attention from students often exhausted due to long work hours. • Set up out-of-pocket scholarship funding for selected women in St. Paul’s program. NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE – Arlington, VA 1997 – 1998 Instructor Created seminar series entitled “Write Perspectives” that taught students basic concepts in business funding. • Prepared curriculum and 150-200 page manuals for each course that covered broad range of issues in funding options and strategies for small business owners. • Engaged students in real-world discussions and activities to enhance learning experience. OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE DOMINION-VIRGINIA POWER – Richmond, VA 2001 – 2003 Contractor • Worked in tandem with credit team to bring down charge-off accounts from $53M to $23M this year. • Demonstrated administrative skills by initiating meetings to resolve policy and procedural changes. • Worked with team lead and other staff members to review policies and implement strategy in response to major agency’s concerns with payments and disconnections. Result: agency buy-in. • Developed PowerPoint presentation that outlined necessary procedures for processing and problem-solving, resulting in both reduced times and improvement in training/orientation for new employees. WRITE PERSPECTIVES MINISTRY – Dale City, VA 1994 – 1997 President/CEO • Incorporated business and amassed client list of 3,000 local businesses through networking, marketing, and team building initiatives. Taught classes at SBDC during this period. • Played instrumental role in formulating multimillion-dollar proposals for industry-leading clients, including Eastman Kodak, Computer Sciences Corporation, and others. SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER – Washington, D.C. 1996 – 1997 Consultant • Created seminars for small business owners on basics of small business finance and fundraising. • Assigned real-world projects that boosted students’ abilities to put theory into practical use. PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS AFFILIATIONS: The American Academy of Religion / The Southwest Social Sciences Association/ The Women of Africa and the African Diaspora / Women’s Worlds Congress 2002 / The Society of Professional Journalists AWARDS & HONORS: Edinburgh University Divinity School Studentship 2003, 2004/ The Samuel Horace James Senior Theology Award, 2000 / Whitney Scholarship, 1998 PRESENTATIONS: • Southeast Region American Academy of Religion (SER-AAR), “Reconstructing the Cult of True Womanhood: a Christological Womanist Response,” presenter, 2005 • Being Religious Seminar, Glasgow University, “19th Century American Theologies in Black and White,” presenter, 2004 • Women in Religion, Ethics and the Sciences, (WiRES) “Y’all Gonna Make Me Lose My Mind: Dialectic Tensions Between the Black Church and the Academy,” presenter and chair; “White Coats of Justification, Black Robes of Deification: Womanist Reflections on Science, Religion and Our Bodyselves,” presenter, 2002 • Women’s Worlds Congress 2002, “Domestic Empowerment,” and “Oral Violence Against Women,” presenter for two sessions, July 2002 • Candler School of Theology's Race, Identity and Reconciliation Conference, presenter topic, "Can't We All Just Get Along? Womanist Reflections on the Myth of Reconciliation," presenter, 2001 • Women of Africa and the African Diaspora (WAAD-Madagascar Conference), "Give the Daughters Their Inheritance," presenter and chair, 2001 • Southwestern Social Sciences Association (SSSA), "Womanist Voiceprints: On the Other Side of Through," presenter and chair, 2000, 2001 • American Academy of Religion (AAR), Mid-Atlantic Region, 2000 • American Academy of Religion (AAR), Womanist Symposium (with Dr. Katie Cannon), "On the Other Side of Through: Womanist Voiceprints in Rebellion to Silence," 1999 RESEARCH/SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES: • Served as both discussant and chair at the Southwest Social Sciences Association meeting. Served as chair for the American Academy of Religion, regional meeting. • Work currently under submission to the following conferences: Mid-Atlantic Region American Academy of Religion (MAR-AAR). • Lecture Series: The North American Slave Trade – An African American Perspective (Nairobi, Kenya), Work in process PUBLICATIONS: Book Reviews • Weary Throats, by Theresa Frye Brown. Book review in Black Theology, Abingdon Press, 2005 • Black Church Beginnings, by Henry Mitchell, Studies in World Christianity, 2005 • Racializing Jesus, by Shawn Kelley. Book review in Literature and Theology, Oxford University Press, 2005 Articles • “Black Women and the Impact of Emancipation,” in Abolition Encyclopedia, Greenwood Press, 2006 SERVICE AND VOLUNTEER WORK: • Associate Minister and Director of Women's Ministries, Zion Baptist Church in Richmond VA. Undertaking the following types of initiatives: women's outreach to include women's shelters and elementary schools; Bible studies which engage theological and historical concepts to create dialogical encounters between theologians and laity; health and nutrition seminars to assist women in predominantly Black congregations with urgent health needs (including diabetes, high blood pressure, diet/exercise, etc); and economic empowerment through seminars hosted by financial planners. • Guest Lecturer and Minister in Nairobi Kenya. Worked with various women's groups in Kenya, with extensive travel to remote areas to minister regarding women’s development in religious education. Utilized skits, lectures, roundtable discussion and retreats as forums for opening dialogue. • Guest Lecturer and Minister in the United States. Invited to speak at various churches regarding women’s issues. Sought after for creative exegetical strengths regarding Biblical analysis. Speak at and facilitate women's Bible studies and retreats where women analyze the Bible story and its relationship to liberation of women. • Seminar and Workshop Leader. Prepared and conducted seminars in women’s shelters. Utilized sound financial principles for money management and job searches. Created professional presentations based on thorough research and invited women to share their questions, techniques and roadblocks in becoming self-sufficient.