“Drew gave me room to grow in more than one direction,” said Lydie Ngoie T’21, G’26
October 2026 – Lydie Ngoie T’21, G’26 originally came to Drew University to pursue a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree, which she completed in 2021. Inspired to continue her academic journey, she went on to pursue a Doctor of Medical and Health Humanities degree through Drew’s Caspersen School of Graduate Studies.
Thanks to the flexibility of Drew’s hybrid learning opportunities, Ngoie was able to continue serving as a United Methodist pastor in Detroit while pursuing her doctoral studies. She successfully completed her doctorate and graduated in 2026.
“I chose Drew because I was looking for a place where I could grow academically, spiritually, and as a leader,” said Ngoie, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Drew Theological School gave me a place where I could develop that calling, deepen my understanding of theology, and prepare for pastoral leadership. I also appreciated the diversity of the Drew community. I had opportunities to learn with people from different cultures, denominations, backgrounds, and perspectives.”
After completing her MDiv degree, Ngoie realized many of the questions she cared about were at the intersection of ministry, healthcare, ethics, immigration, and the experience of vulnerable communities.
“Because I had a background in healthcare management before entering theological education, the Doctor of Medical and Health Humanities program at the Caspersen School felt like a natural way to bring different parts of my journey together,” said Ngoie.
Her doctoral research focused on the ethical dilemmas experienced by French-speaking African immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was especially interested in questions of healthcare access, structural barriers, caregiving, faith, and the ways immigrant families responded to difficult circumstances,” explained Ngoie. “The program gave me the opportunity to look at these experiences not only from a theological perspective, but also through ethics, healthcare, and the humanities.”
Ngoie described her Drew experience as “transformational.”
“Drew did more than help me earn degrees,” she said. “It challenged me to think more deeply, ask difficult questions, listen to perspectives different from my own, and understand more clearly who I am as a leader. I am grateful that Drew gave me room to grow in more than one direction. I came to study theology, but my journey eventually brought theology into conversation with healthcare, ethics, immigration, and community life. Today, I carry all of those experiences with me in my ministry and in the work I hope to continue doing.”
