“Once you are a part of the Drew family, you maintain your place in the circle of clergy and theological thinkers at Drew”
July 2023 – Lewanda Miller T’14,’23 earned her Master of Divinity (MDiv) in 2014 from Drew Theological School, and has just graduated from Drew for the second time with her Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in the Courageous Leadership in a Changing Culture cohort.
The cohort is designed for the engaged and curious leader who is committed to speaking and leading in congregations and the public square in relevant and courageous ways.
As the pastor of St. James AME Church in Harlem, Miller was drawn to return to Drew to fulfill her vocational goals. Read on to learn more.
What has been your experience as a DMin student at Drew, and how is this program continuing to impact you as a religious leader?
Enrolling in the Doctor of Ministry, Courageous Leadership in a Changing Culture cohort has been a transformative and affirming experience for my ministry call and public theological witness. The diverse vocational and ecclesial leaders in my cohort and faculty enriched my learning experience, resources, and network of ministerial companions. Ministry opportunities across denominations and faith traditions were engaged in my local church through this program. Through the work developed and completed in this program, I was able to formulate ministries within my denominations and abroad.
Why did you choose Drew Theological School?
As a former graduate of the MDiv program at Drew, I experienced the cadre of informed and invested theologically dynamic faculty and programs that aptly prepared me for ministry. When the opportunity to attend a doctoral program emerged, I wanted to come to a place where I had faculty and administrators who were accessible and supportive of the work I would endeavor in the program. Many of the faculty and administrators have worked with me on programs and projects beyond my studies. Once you are a part of the Drew family, you maintain your place in the circle of clergy and theological thinkers at Drew.
Do you have any advice to offer to prospective students?
To all who would endeavor to embark on studies at Drew, I would encourage you to take the step, visit The Forest, and become a part of a generation of theological change makers and thinkers of this age.
