Published January 29, 2025

A Duke Divinity degree opens doors to a diverse array of fulfilling career paths, empowering graduates to navigate complex societal challenges and make a meaningful impact across a range of fields. 

Duke Divinity offers multiple degree options and certificates that can be earned alongside degrees, allowing students to customize their education to align with their unique interests and passions. 

From leading churches to careers that bridge faith and professional practice, our alumni are serving the world in a variety of ways. Find out how our programs at Duke Divinity School have prepared them to follow their call in these areas:

Church and Denominational Life

Angie Hoen (M.Div. '21) | Pastor at Mathews Chapel UMC in Cobbs Creek, Virginia

Angie Hoen, a 2021 graduate of Duke Divinity School with a Master of Divinity and Certificates in Preaching and Wesleyan Studies, serves as the sole pastor at Mathews Chapel United Methodist Church in Cobbs Creek, Va. 

“I am passionate about the people of God in this community and helping the laity discover the ways God has gifted them for missional ministry. Jesus is sending us forth from the church walls to meet people where they are,” she says.

Angie Hoen headshot
Angie Hoen

Hoen credits her time at Duke Divinity School for preparing her to lead in this pastoral context. Her education provided a strong foundation for preaching, teaching, and pastoral care, with coursework in worship, theology, ethics, and polity proving especially invaluable.

“My time at Duke Divinity School prepared me for my current pastoral setting. The interconnected support from classmates and professors taught me the importance of community in ministry—a lesson I carry into any pastoral setting,” she explains, emphasizing how relationships built at Duke continue to shape her work.

From navigating the complexities of church life to fostering community partnerships, Hoen exemplifies the transformative impact of a Duke Divinity education. “There is no better place to be,” she says of her alma mater. “It is a sacred and holy place of higher education.”

Read more about what Angie Hoen is doing with her Duke Divinity degree.

Chris Aho (M.Div. ‘04, D.Min. ‘21) | Director of Thriving Congregations for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Chris Aho, M.Div. ‘04, D.Min. ‘21, serves as the director of thriving congregations for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF). In this role, he focuses on team building, strategy development, and leadership formation to help congregations navigate today's challenges and opportunities. 

Over the past three and a half years, Aho has led the CBF’s Thriving Congregations Initiative, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., and is now expanding its reach.

“I’m passionate about helping individuals, teams, and leaders gain fresh perspectives and uncover opportunities they might have missed,” Aho says. By guiding church leaders to innovate and find faithful solutions, he fosters growth and engagement within congregations.

Chris Aho, D.Min. candidate and pastor at Oxford Baptist Church in Oxford, N.C.
Chris Aho

Aho credits Duke Divinity for equipping him to think critically and lead effectively. “My professors taught me not just to gather information—but to think critically and engage meaningfully,” he says. His coursework provided a solid foundation for integrating leadership and implementation, vital for his current work.

Aho emphasizes the significance of local congregations and their potential for meaningful impact. “Most people in local churches deeply care about their communities, neighbors, and the broader world. They genuinely want to make a difference,” he says.

Read more about what Chris Aho is doing with his Duke Divinity degree.

More Alumni in Church and Denominational Life

Hale preaches in Goodson Chapel as part of the Martin Luther King Lecture Series on April 18.

The Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Hale, M.Div.’79

Hale is the founding and senior pastor of the Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Ga., and has been in ministry for 43 years.

Learn More about Cynthia Hale
Paul Baxley headshot

The Rev. Dr. Paul Baxley, M.T.S. '96

Baxley was unanimously elected as the fourth executive coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in January 2019

Learn More about Paul Baxley
Chauncey Harrison headshot

The Rev. Dr. Chauncey Pierre Harrison, D.Min. '21

Harrison, passionate about revitalizing urban churches, is the senior pastor at Zion Baptist Church, a historic church in North Philadelphia.

Learn More about The Rev. Dr. Chauncey Pierre Harrison

Chaplaincy

Alexis Thomas (M.Div. '10) | Associate Chaplain at Furman University

Alexis Thomas, M.Div. ’10, is making a transformative impact as the associate chaplain at Furman University, where she dedicates her work to empowering emerging adults in their spiritual journeys.

Alexis Thomas headshot
Alexis Thomas

“I am passionate about cultivating spaces and practices that empower emerging adults to be intentional and energized about spiritual formation,” she explains. 

Her ministry is one of sojourning, awakening, and co-learning—a lifegiving vocation rooted in her deep commitment to helping others grow.

Thomas credits her time at Duke Divinity School with shaping her understanding of the ministry of presence. “My time at Duke Divinity prepared me to think deeply about identity, formation, and service to the Church and world,” she says.

Influential courses, like Dr. Richard B. Hays’s New Testament class, continue to inspire her work. Reflecting on Hays’s teachings, she recalls how hermeneutical tools and Spirit-led discernment illuminate Scripture in transformative ways, a perspective she carries into her ministry.

Her journey demonstrates the enduring value of a Duke Divinity education, which she describes as “an invaluable gift” that equips leaders for service in the church, academy, and world.

Read more about what Alexis Thomas is doing with her Duke Divinity degree.
 

Members of the military in dress uniform march in front of Duke Chapel carrying flags

More Alumni in Chaplaincy

Students and Alumni Serve as Military Chaplains

Alumni like Soojin Chang, Makala Carrington, Justin Maynard, Anna Page, and Evan Adams have pursued chaplaincy in service of active duty military and veterans. 

Health and Medicine

Tarsha Banister (D.Min. '24) | Faith & Health Education Manager at Wake Forest University School of Divinity’s Faith COMPASS Center

Tarsha Bannister headshot
Tarsha Banister

Tarsha Banister, D.Min. ‘24, addresses pressing health disparities in her role as the Faith & Health Education Manager at Wake Forest University School of Divinity’s Faith COMPASS Center. The center works to advance the capacity and organizational resiliency of faith communities to address HIV/AIDS in the U.S. South.

Through storytelling, educational programs, and strategic partnerships, she collaborates with faith communities to combat stigma and foster health equity. 

“This role allows me to collaborate with Christian and interfaith partners, helping them better understand and address health challenges in their communities,” she explains.

Banister says her Duke Divinity education equipped her with the tools to lead such an impactful initiative. “Through structured study of scripture, tradition, and contemporary leadership theory, I gained the skills needed to navigate the intersection of faith and public health effectively.”

In her current work, Banister has also discovered the importance of relational leadership, emphasizing the power of deep listening and trust-building. 

For those considering Duke, she highlights the value of the D.Min. program’s cohort model. She says, “These relationships profoundly enrich both personal and professional growth, fostering collaboration and mutual support as we courageously pursue the call to serve humanity with boldness and compassion.”

Read more about what Tarsha Banister is doing with her Duke Divinity degree.

Philip Huston (M.Div. '08) | Executive Director of Lifehouse

Philip Huston preaching
Philip Huston

Philip Huston, M.Div. ’08, is the executive director of Lifehouse, a nonprofit organization he founded to address substance use and mental health challenges in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Under his leadership, Lifehouse has grown to be the largest provider of residential treatment and sober living services in southern New Mexico, with innovative programs in jails, schools, hospitals, and mobile crisis response. 

Recognized as the top addiction treatment center in New Mexico, Lifehouse is set to become the state’s first rural Certified Community Behavioral Health Center.

After serving in the local church for 11 years, Huston transitioned to this new calling, where he now witnesses daily transformations. “I have never been a part of something where I see life transformation happening every day like I do now with Lifehouse,” he shares. 

Motivated by the immense need in his community, Huston’s work demonstrates how faith can drive impactful change in people’s spiritual, mental, and physical well-being.

Huston credits his Duke Divinity education for shaping his visionary leadership. “Duke taught me how to integrate faith and theology into all of my thinking and problem solving,” he explains.

His journey from Duke to Lifehouse exemplifies how theological training can prepare graduates to navigate complex challenges and serve in innovative and transformative ways, far beyond traditional ministry settings.

Read more about what Philip Huston is doing with his Duke Divinity degree.

More Alumni in Health and Medicine

Danielle Ellis wearing a navy blazer and gold earrings

Danielle Ellis, M.D., M.T.S. ‘19, TMC Fellowship

By integrating theology and medicine, Ellis, a general surgeon in Boston, Mass., exemplifies how spiritual formation can enhance patient care by navigating complex emotional and ethical situations with empathy and respect.

Learn More about Danielle Ellis
Hands hold a clear glass cross and a book

Dr. Toby James, Dr. Tonya Armstrong, and Laurea McAllister

Dr. Toby James, D.Psy., M.Div. '10, Dr. Tonya Armstrong, Ph.D., M.T.S. '03, and Laurea McAllister, M.Div./M.S.W. '07 offer perspectives on caring for mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

Learn More about alumni perspectives on mental health
Robin Liles smiles in glasses and a collared blue shirt and jacket.

Dr. Robin Liles, C.T.H.C. '22

Liles oversees Wellness & Restoration at First United Methodist Church, Asheboro. Wellness & Restoration offers counseling to people who otherwise can’t afford mental health care or to people who won’t get the help they need anywhere else.

Learn More about Robin Liles
group shot of team leaders

Abby Van Vliet, M.T.S., and Brewer Eberly, M.D., TMC Fellow

Vliet and Eberly, among others in Duke's Department of Surgery, worked on a project to establish a new curriculum that seeks to redefine what it means to be a ‘good’ surgeon.

Learn More about good surgeon

Theology and the Arts

Sujatha Balasundaram (M.T.S. ’23, Th.M ‘24) | Visual Artist and Creative Consultant

Sujatha Balasundaram headshot
Sujatha Balasundaram

Sujatha Balasundaram, M.T.S. ’23, Th.M ‘24, a visual artist and creative consultant from India, integrates Indian folk and tribal art with theological and Christian themes. 

Through her online art platform, artresponses.com, she offers services to churches, schools, and the public such as integrative curriculum, online workshops, and creative webinars that seek to foster community and healing.

Balasundaram was drawn to the Divinity School's Certificate in Theology and the Arts and Duke Initiative in Theology and the Arts (DITA), which aligned with her vision of using visual arts in spiritual formation and discipleship.

Her time at Duke Divinity was transformative, both academically and personally. The DITA coursework enhanced her art, allowing her to merge artistic and academic study with Christian practice.

Balasundaram reflects that the program led her "from the mountain of contemplation to the valley of action.”

Equipped with her Divinity degrees, Balasundaram continues to use art as a medium for mission, seeking to bridge cultural and religious divides through creative expression. Her work exemplifies the power of art in spiritual dialogue and community building.

Read more about what Sujatha Balasundaram is doing with her Duke Divinity degree.

More Alumni in Theology and the Arts

Emily Normand, M.T.S. '23

Normand is a museum educator, academic, and art historian who currently serves as the Lilly Endowment Museum Fellow for Religion and Spirituality in the Visual Arts at the University of Notre Dame.

Emily Normand headshot

Higher Education

Adam Perez (Th.D. '21) | Assistant Professor of Worship Studies at Belmont University

Adam Perez headshot
Adam Perez

Adam Perez, a 2021 Th.D. graduate in liturgical studies, is shaping the future of worship as an assistant professor at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. In his role, Perez teaches worship studies and general education courses while leading a significant grant aimed at strengthening intergenerational worship.

His research delves into the history and practice of contemporary praise and worship, a passion he describes as inspiring “the next generation of faithful and reflective worship leaders to serve the life of the church for the good of the world.”

Perez credits Duke Divinity for equipping him with the tools to excel in his multifaceted role. “My time as a student at Duke Divinity School provided excellent preparation for my current teaching role,” he shares. From mentorship under Dr. Lester Ruth to hands-on leadership in Goodson Chapel, Perez honed both his academic and practical skills for worship leadership.

Experiences like the Certificate in Reflective and Faithful Teaching also deepened his reflective approach to teaching, says Perez, by providing a specific space to gain teaching skills and insights.

Whether guiding students through theological explorations or engaging the broader community through media, Perez embodies the idea of “pulpits in many places.”

Read more about what Adam Perez is doing with his Duke Divinity degree.
 

More Alumni in Higher Education

Eric Williams wearing black clothing and glasses sits in front of Durham Civil Rights mural with his arms folded

Eric Lewis Williams, M.Div. ’05, Ph.D.

Williams began as director of the Office of Black Church Studies and assistant professor of theology and Black Church studies at Duke Divinity School in 2023.

Learn More about Eric Williams
Karen Westerfield Tucker headshot

Rev. Dr. Karen Westerfield Tucker

Tucker is a professor of worship at Boston University School of Theology and was the 2023 recipient of the prestigious Berakah Award.

Learn More about Tucker
Linda Coley wears pearls and a black shirt

Dr. Linda Coley

Coley, who earned her M.Div. at Duke, was named executive director of The Ormond Center for Thriving Congregations and Communities at Duke Divinity School in 2022.

Learn More about Coley
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The Rev. Christopher Donald

Donald was appointed university chaplain at Wake Forest University in 2024, after years of serving as university chaplain and director of religious life at Vanderbilt University.

Learn More about Donald

Social, Environmental, and Community Justice

Rajeev Tiwari (M.Div. '22) | Housing Coordinator at World Relief Durham

Rajeev Tiwari, a 2022 graduate of Duke Divinity School with a Master of Divinity and a Certificate in Faith-Based Organizing, Advocacy, and Social Transformation, is making a significant impact as the housing coordinator for World Relief Durham.

In this role, Tiwari advocates with landlords, property managers, and community stakeholders to secure permanent housing for refugees resettling in Durham. His work combines advocacy and compassion, guided by his passion for ministry that places people at the center.

Rajeev Tiwari heashot
Rajeev Tiwari

“Nothing beats seeing a family walk into their new house and feel a sense of safety and security that they didn’t get in their home country,” Tiwari shares, reflecting on the deeply rewarding moments of his work.

Tiwari says Duke Divinity provided a strong theological foundation that shapes his approach to refugee resettlement. “The study of theology teaches you the beauty of loving your neighbor in such a way that is built on Christ’s sacrificial love,” he explains. Courses like those with Dr. Luke Bretherton taught him the importance of listening in order to advocate, which he applies daily in his work.

Trained with a Duke Divinity education, Tiwari tries to address real-world challenges by modeling the way of Jesus, advocating for justice and love in the Durham community.

Read more about what Rajeev Tiwari is doing with his Duke Divinity degree.
 

Alumni Working for Environmental Justice

Six Duke Divinity alumni are featured in this article, as they each follow their calling to care for creation in their ministry contexts. 

Norbert Wilson leads outdoor prayer at climate retreat before mealtime

Bivocation

Lyndsay Clark (M.Div. and M.S.W. '12) | Private practice in mental health; Instructor and Director of Field Education at Samford University

Lyndsay Clark headshot
Lyndsay Clark

Lyndsay Clark, M.Div. and M.S.W. ‘12, has built a career that seamlessly integrates faith and professional practice in social work. 

Currently serving as an instructor and director of field education at Samford University’s Master of Social Work program, Clark helps graduate students prepare for impactful careers by placing them in internships, managing community partnerships, and teaching foundational courses.

Through teaching courses like Faith Perspectives in Social Work, Clark also helps students explore how faith and spirituality shape both their clients’ lives and their own professional practices.

Her passion lies in integrating spirituality with social work practice. “I feel privileged to work in a space where there is a lot of natural overlap between two areas of persistent interest and calling,” she says.

Clark credits Duke Divinity School with preparing her for this interdisciplinary work. Her courses at Duke shaped her understanding of diverse expressions of faith and spirituality, which she draws on daily. “Duke is where I really learned to be a student and give myself over to material and study,” she reflects.

Read more about what Lyndsay Clark is doing with her Duke Divinity degree.

Amy Watson (M.T.S. '06) | Managing Director at NTT DATA; Lay Leader at Dilworth United Methodist Church; Parish Ministry Fund Board Member with the Western North Carolina Conference

Amy Watson headshot
Amy Watson

Amy Watson, M.T.S. ‘06, has embraced a life of leadership and service, blending her theological education with her professional career. As a managing director at NTT DATA, Watson thrives in acquisition integration, mentoring young professionals, and navigating complex challenges.

Beyond her corporate work, she actively serves in ministry, including on the Parish Ministry Fund board for the Western North Carolina Conference and volunteering extensively with Charlotte-Mecklenburg public schools. 

Watson’s bivocational life reflects a seamless integration of faith and service beyond traditional church roles.

Watson says Duke Divinity helped shape her perspective on living out her faith in everyday life. She states, “Duke gave me a more nuanced view of seeking out how to ‘live a life that becomes the Gospel,’ as the United Methodist baptismal liturgy says.” 

This view continues to inform her professional and volunteer roles, allowing her to navigate both realms with a deep sense of purpose.

Watson’s journey was deeply influenced by an elective course during Divinity School, which introduced her to the concept of bivocational ministry. This dual perspective allows her to seamlessly combine her theological insights with her leadership roles in both consulting and ministry.

Through her diverse roles, Watson demonstrates that ministry can be expressed in many forms, showing that the ministry can extend to the varied spaces where service is needed. Her journey highlights the transformative power of combining theological education with practical leadership, creating a life deeply rooted in faith and action.

Read more about what Amy Watson is doing with her Duke Divinity degree.
 

Students gather around a seminar table and listen to a lecture

Alumni from Duke Divinity's Dual Degree Programs

By connecting theological education with fields like public policy, social work, medicine, and law, the dual degree programs equipped alumni to address complex challenges with creativity and compassion.