Contact: Kerry Traubert

404-727-1170
ktraubert@thefund.org

RISING AFRICAN-AMERICAN RELIGION SCHOLARS

TRAVEL RIGOROUS, OFTEN ‘LONELY ROAD’ TO FACULTY POSTS

National FTE Conference at Duke University Aims

to Support Gifted Students, Improve Diversity in Academy

WHO & Rising young African-American scholars in religion and theology

WHAT who are 2007 Fund for Theological Education (FTE) Doctoral Fellows, selected
competitively from applicants nationwide. These emerging scholars gather to share
support for a challenging professional journey into the academy. They will explore
“Teaching Religion and Theology in the 21st Century.”

WHEN: June 1-3, 2007

WHERE: Duke University Divinity School, Durham, N.C.

African-American doctoral students who aspire to teach religion and theology in today’s
academy face challenging odds:

 More than one-third of North American theological schools report they do not have a person of
color on their faculties.
 About 90 percent of faculty among all graduate religion and theology programs are Caucasian,
according to a survey by the American Academy of Religion. Faculty role models for young
racial/ethnic scholars are few and far between.

In spite of these obstacles, a national nonprofit organization and a new generation of black doctoral
students and faculty are working for change and are getting results.

To improve diversity and excellence in the teaching of religion and theology, The Fund for Theological
Education (FTE) has awarded fellowships this year to 30 outstanding African-American doctoral
students. Hailing from top-ranked academic programs nationwide, they will meet at Duke University
Divinity School June 1 to 3 to discuss common goals and challenges. The $18,000 FTE Fellowships
aim to accelerate the successful completion of Ph.D. degrees among recipients, and provide support
to ease the difficulty of finding teaching and research jobs in the academy.

"The students we support—while exceptionally talented—often walk a lonely road to become

graduate religion and theology faculty,” says Dr. Sharon Watson Fluker, FTE vice president of
Doctoral Programs and Administration. “It’s ironic that this field—so vital to building mutual
understanding and respect between people of different faiths and cultures—lacks diversity
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among its own faculty. If we are ever to increase the number of racially diverse theological faculty, we
must first increase the number of racially diverse students pursuing doctoral degrees. Our goal is to
give top students the financial and networking support they need to overcome obstacles and to attain
faculty appointments.”

Since 1999, more than half of FTE fellowship recipients in the dissertation phase of their doctoral
programs have successfully completed their degrees and are teaching in the academy.

The FTE conference offers students one-on-one sessions with established African-American faculty
who will serve as their mentors, as well as tips on preparing for job interviews, navigating academic
politics and surviving the Ph.D. journey. Students at this year’s event are enrolled in degree programs
at the University of Chicago, Duke University, Emory University, Yale University, Vanderbilt University
and other top institutions.

"We are delighted to host such a pivotally important gathering for the future of scholarship, teaching
and leadership in theology and religious studies,” said L. Gregory Jones, Dean and Professor of
Theology, Duke Divinity School. “Enhancing diversity in these fields is critically important for the
church, the academy and the world. Duke Divinity School is honored to have such a distinguished
group of participants and faculty gather for this important weekend."

Two Duke University Divinity School scholars and FTE Fellows—J. Kameron Carter and Tammy
Williams—both assistant professors in Theology and Black Church Studies, will serve on the
conference faculty. Other conference faculty include:

Michael Joseph Brown Candler School of Theology, Emory University

Valerie Bridgeman Davis Memphis Theological Seminary
Dwight N. Hopkins The University of Chicago Divinity School
Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan Shaw University Divinity School
James S. Logan Earlham College
Evelyn L. Parker Perkins School of Theology, SMU
Stephen G. Ray Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia
Marcia Y. Riggs Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Ga.
Jalane D. Schmidt University of Virginia

FTE is a leading ecumenical advocate for excellence and diversity in Christian ministry and
theological scholarship. Its work supports the next generation of leaders among pastors and scholars,
providing $1.2 million annually in fellowships and other support to gifted young people from all
denominations and racial/ethnic backgrounds. Since 1954, FTE has awarded nearly 6,000
fellowships in partnership with others committed to creating a pipeline of quality leadership for the
church and the academy.

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