PROFILE
Senior Faculty Member, University Chaplain, Senior Pastor, Divinity Professor and Clinical Social Worker with an outstanding career in academic administration, pastoral leadership, teaching, mental health and social welfare.
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
- Outstanding scholar with Doctorate in Social Welfare, M.S.W., M. Div., and member of the faculty of Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University and Yale Divinity School
- Highly regarded religious and educational leader with career as Clinical Social Worker
- Widely published author in multidisciplinary fields with extensive public lecture schedule and expereince working in multi-faith and diverse cultural environments
- Managerial skill in recruiting, training and mentoring students, staff, and parishioners
EDUCATION
YESHIVA UNIVERSITY
Doctor of Social Welfare (1997)
Master of Social Work (1981)
HARVARD UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Certificate, Professional Education (1989)
YALE UNIVERSITY DIVINITY SCHOOL
Master of Divinity (1975)
OTTAWA UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology/Sociology (1972)
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Fulbright Specialist, University of the Free State
Bloemfontein, South Africa (2010)
Connecticut Health Foundation Health Leadership Fellow (2009-2010)
Fulbright Senior Scholar, Department of Practical Theology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa (2007-2008)
Visiting Scholar, Yale Law School (2001-02)
Certificate, The Institute of Lifespan Clinical Developmental Psychology(1982)
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Senior Pastor: The Dixwell Avenue Congregational United Church of Christ, New Haven, Connecticut, (2012-present)
The Carl and Dorothy Bennett Professor in Psstoal Counseling, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University, NYC (2007- present)
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN YALE (non-denominational/multi-ehtnic)
Chaplain/Pastor (1992-2007)
Conduct services, baptisms, weddings, and funerals at Battell Chapel.
MOUNT AERY BAPTIST CHURCH, INC., Bridgeport, CT
Senior Pastor (1975-1992)
Provided pastoral leadership to an urban congregation of 700+ active members. Led a capital funding drive to build a $1.2 MM facility and established health, mental health and educational social services programs for children, adolescents, adults, and families.
SOCIAL SERVICES
HARVARD UNIVERSITY, Cambridge, MA
Senior Consultant, Program in Refugee Trauma (1998-present)
Provide clinical education to physicians, public health, social service and religious staff on those traumatized by war in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Cambodia and Japan.
GREATER BRIDGEPORT COMM. MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, Bridgeport, CT
Psychiatric Social Worker (1984-89)
HONORS
Outstanding Achievement Award, Ottawa University Alumni Association (2005)
Sabbatical Grant for Pastoral Leaders, Louisville Presbyterian Institute (2004)
Commence Speaker/Recipient of Doctor of Divinity, Ottawa University (1998)
NIMH Doctoral Fellow, Council on Social Work Education (1981-82)
Rockefeller Doctoral Fellow, The Fund for Theological Education (1976)
Protestant Fellow, The Fund for Theological Education (1973-75)
TEACHING BACKGROUND
YALE UNIVERSITY, New Haven, CT
Assistant Clinical Professor of Social Work (1992-2007)
Supervise post-graduate Social Work Fellows in the Child Study Center and teach a seminar on “Religious, Spirituality and Social Work Practice with Children and Families.”
YALE DIVINITY SCHOOL, New Haven, CT
Adjunct Associate Professor, Pastoral Theology (1987-present)
Teach courses in the pastoral and social ministries of the Christian Church, on religion and social welfare, and preaching. Won Merzick Prize in Preaching (1975)
SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY, New Haven, CT
Visiting Lecturer, Department of Counseling/School Psychology (2004-05)
Visiting Lecturer, Department of Social Work (1995-00)
Taught courses in religion and social work practice, clinical social work, family therapy, and counseling in multicultural and faith-based community services.
HARTFORD SEMINARY, Hartford, CT
Visiting Professor (1990-91)
Taught courses to students in the M.A., D. Min, and Black Ministries Certificate programs.
Research Associate (1991-92)
Contributed to a project funded by Lilly Endowment to develop an initial mapping of alternative forms of theological education.
ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION
YALE UNIVERSITY, New Haven, CT
Chaplain (1992-2007)
Develop religious programs, lead services, and provide pastoral care. Manage clerical and administrative personnel and administer a $30 MM endowment.
- Lead Bereavement and Family Illness support groups and provide spiritual mentoring
- Established a lively Multifaith Council offering retreats, dinners, and discussions
- Created a Religious Life Calendar to coordinate religious events and holidays of 20+ Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist and Jewish traditions
- Lecture and lead workshops on issues of global justice and mental health in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Colombia, S.A., West Africa, and Cuba
- Honored as African-American Trail Blazer by WTNH News Channel 8 and UPN 9
Acting Master, Trumbull College (2002-03)
Directed administrative and programmatic functions to nurture the intellectual and cultural life of 400 students in one of twelve residential colleges of Yale University.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Independent Researcher, Institute on Race Relations, London, England (1970)
Faculty Research Fellow, Yale U. Institute for the Advance Study of Religion (1999-01)
Fulbright Scholar, University of Pretoria, Department of Practical Theology, (South Africa, 2007-2008)
REFERENCES
References are available upon request.