Wendland-Cook Program Leadership
Joerg Rieger, PhD
Founding Director
Distinguished Professor of Theology | Cal Turner Chancellor’s Chair of Wesleyan Studies | Affiliate Faculty, Turner Family Center for Social Ventures, Owen Graduate School of Management
George Schmidt
Graduate Research Fellow
B.A. DePauw University | MDiv, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Aaron Stauffer
Associate Director
BA Religion, St. Olaf College | M.Div., Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York | Ph.D. in Social Ethics, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Gabriella Lisi
Communications Director
B.A. Xavier University | MDiv, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Francisco Garcia, Jr.
Graduate Research Fellow
BA Latin American Studies and Public Policy, UCLA | MA in Urban Planning and Latin American Studies, UCLA | M.Div., Claremont School of Theology and the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont
Vanderbilt Divinity School Leadership
Emilie Townes
Dean of the Divinity School - E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of Womanist Ethics and Society
Ellen Armour
E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Feminist Theology, Director of the Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender, and Sexuality
Stacey Floyd-Thomas
E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Ethics and Society; Associate Professor of Ethics and Society on leave Spring 2019
Forrest Harris
Associate Professor of the Practice of Ministry
Director of the Kelly Miller Smith Institute on the African-American Church
Vanderbilt University Leadership
Mario Avila
Adjunct Professor of Management; Director, Turner Family Center for Social Ventures
Lauren Rogal
Assistant Clinical Professor Vanderbilt University Law School
George Schmidt
PhD Admission Year 2020
Community Leadership
Benny Overton
President UAW Local 737, Co-founder of the Southwest Center for Cooperative Development, Vice Chairman of NOAH Nashville
Garrett Stark
Garrett has led innovative and successful union organizing campaigns for more than 15 years. Faith and labor partnerships frequently have been at the heart of what has proven successful in his work, especially in the South. Garrett has served in a wide variety of roles over the years. He currently serves as a research and communications consultant with local and international unions.
Vonda McDaniel
President, AFL-CIO Central Labor Council Nashville