Conversation Circles for BIPOC Chaplains

Thursdays 8-9:30 PM Eastern

Thursdays 8-9:30 PM Eastern

December 7, 2023
December 21
January 4, 2024
January 18
February 1
February 15

February 29
March 14
March 28
April 11
April 25
May 9

November 30, 2023
December 14
January 11, 2024
January 25
February 8
February 22

March 7
March 21
April 4
April 18
May 2
May 16

Rev. Kirstin Boswell
University Chaplain and Dean of Multifaith Engagement
Elon University

Tahara Akmal
Manager of Clinical Pastoral Education
MedStar Washington Hospital Center

Rev. Kirstin Boswell
University Chaplain and Dean of Multifaith Engagement
Elon University

Rev. Lex Cade-White
Director of Spiritual Care
Cedar Community

Rev. Dr. LeSette Wright
Dean of the Chapel
Berea College

December 11
January 8, 2024
January 22
February 5
February 19
March 4

March 18
April 1
April 15
April 29
May 13
May 27

Tahara Akmal is a board-certified chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains, and an Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) Certified Educator. Tahara made history as the first Muslim woman since ACPE’s inception in 1967, certified by ACPE to teach chaplaincy in a clinical setting. Tahara is the Manager of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and a Chaplain at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. She is an Adjunct Faculty member at Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and a Visiting Faculty member at Bayan Islamic Graduate School at Chicago Theological Seminary in Illinois. Tahara teaches in the chaplaincy program at both seminaries.

Tahara earned a BA degree in psychology with a concentration on human development from Vanguard University of Southern California. She minored in religion, with a focus on ministry and leadership. Tahara earned an MA degree in Islamic studies and pastoral counseling from the Claremont School of Theology, also in California. Tahara is currently a Ph.D. student at Alvernia University, in Reading, Pennsylvania, researching Leadership and Chaplaincy.

Tahara’s LinkedIn profile is available here.

Reverend Kirstin C. Boswell is University Chaplain and Dean of Multifaith Engagement at Elon University. Prior to this role, she was Associate Dean of Student Support Services at Brown University. Her former roles have included serving as the Chaplain to the Institute and Director of the Office of Religious, Spiritual, and Ethical Life at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Protestant Chaplain at both Brown University and Bentley University, and the Director of Operations for The International Association of Black Religions and Spiritualities at the University of Chicago. Reverend Boswell has served in congregational ministry for almost twenty years and is an American Baptist clergy person holding a Master of Divinity from The University of Chicago Divinity School. She is currently completing her PhD at the University of Chicago Divinity School, where her writing focuses on Womanist Theology and analyzing the call narratives of African American clergywomen. Her publications include: Boswell, G. H. & Boswell-Ford, K. (2010). “Testing a SEM Model of Two Religious Concepts and Experiential Spirituality.” Journal of Religion and Health, 49 (2), 200- 211; Boswell-Ford, K. (2009). Self and the Home-Place: Self-identity and God in African American Culture.

Rev. Alex Cade-White, MDiv, MPH, BCC works as Director of Spiritual Care for Cedar Community in Wisconsin. She is a passionate advocate for health equity and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), with professional expertise in health disparities around race, gender, and sexuality. Rev. Lex has taught, trained, and facilitated DEI work throughout the United States, including providing education for non-profits, churches, colleges, and universities. She has led public sector municipality work in DEI across Wisconsin, including in Green Bay, Door County, and with Sheboygan County Health and Human Services. Rev. Lex is responsible for the creation of the University of Wisconsin—Green Bay Continuing Education Diversity Equity and Inclusion certificate program where, over the past year, she has taught over 200 professionals from 28 States. Rev. Lex is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and a board-certified chaplain. Rev. Lex has a bachelor’s in Psychology and Religion from Mount Holyoke College, Master of Divinity from the Episcopal Divinity School, and Master of Public Health from Chamberlin University.

Rev. Dr. LeSette Wright is a chaplain, author, professor, public health advisor and mental health clinician. She is the founder of Peaceseekers, an organization devoted to cultivating partnerships for preventing violence and promoting God’s peace. She is the first African-American woman to be ordained to ministry from the historic Tremont Temple Baptist Church in Boston and founder of the Community Chaplaincy Collaborative that served in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing.

Dr. Wright has worked internationally to enhance the violence prevention efforts of cities, advising government, academic, community and faith-based stakeholders on effective and sustainable public health efforts; providing pastoral care and counseling with survivors of homicide victims, and training clergy, educators, youth, families and communities in the significance of trauma-informed practice, spirituality and resiliency. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Wright currently resides in Berea, Kentucky where she serves as Dean of the Chapel at Berea College.