America’s domestically violent and compounding attacks against marginalized populations expose the ever-increasing need for critically engaged and ongoing research concerning the valuing of human beings and bodies. My scholarship engages deeply the scripting and denigration of the body in history that creates religious and cultural meaning for the present with particular attention to Black women’s body politics.
Research Interests
Womanist Theological Ethics, African American Religious History, Body and Religion, Black Aesthetics, Luke-Acts, Black Millennials & FaithPublications
Academic Journal Article"The Will to Adorn: Beyond Self-Surveillance, Toward a Womanist Ethic of Redemptive Self-Love" | View
Digital Articles
#BlackSkinWhiteSin: In the Name of Redemptive Self-Love: Stop! The Holyrolling Fashion Police | ViewGod, Thank You For Making Me BLACK! Black History Month Musings | View
Tilling The Soil: An Introduction To Millennial Womanism | View
Clothed In Glory: Beyoncé Fashioning The Black Feminine Divine And Spinning Gold | View
Dare to Dream, Again: The Politics of Love, Hope and Redemption in Religious Resistance to Neoliberalism: Womanist and Black Feminist Perspectives, by Keri Day | View
Worship Resources
"Oh Say Can You See” by Rev. Damien Durr, Dr. Cona Marshall, and Rev. Melanie C. JonesView
Fellowships/Scholarships/Grants
- The Henry Luce Foundation Grant, 2019-2022
- Villanova University Church Management Fellowship, 2018-2019
- The Louisville Institute Dissertation Fellowship, 2017-2018
- Association for the Improvement of Minorities
- Chicago Chapter Book Scholarship, 2017
- Shirley Ray Scholarship, 2013-2016
- Chicago Theological Seminary Center for the Study of Black Faith & Life Inaugural C. Shelby Rooks Scholarship, 2014-2015
- Forum for Theological Exploration Doctoral Fellowship, 2012-2014
- Chicago Theological Seminary Presidential Scholarship, 2012-2014
- Vanderbilt Divinity School Kelly Miller Smith/Brandon Full Tuition Scholarship, 2009-2012
- Howard University Dean’s Scholarship, 2006-2008
Professional Organizations
- American Academy of Religion
- Steering Committee Member to the Ethics Section, 2016-present
- Steering Committee Member to the Womanist Approaches to Religion and Society Section, 2017-present
- American Studies Association, student member
- Black Religious Scholars Group, Board Member and 2018-19 BRSG Scholar in Residence
- Society of Christian Ethics
- Social Media Coordinator, 2016-present
- Student Representative to the African/African American Working Group, 2016-2018
- Student Representative to the Executive Board, 2015-2017
- Society of Race, Ethnicity and Religion
- Religious Researchers Association
- Howard University Alumni Association
- Association of Vanderbilt Black Alumni
- Vanderbilt Oak Leaf Society
- Golden Key Honors Society