Commencement Speaker
Rev. Dr. Vanessa Monroe is a visionary pastor, scholar, and spiritual director with over two decades of experience leading transformational ministry at the intersection of faith, justice, and community empowerment. She currently serves as Senior Pastor of Bethel Church United Church of Christ, a vibrant, multicultural congregation rooted in the theology of accompaniment. Under Dr. Monroe’s leadership, Bethel Church has launched Journey HTX, a living-learning community for formerly fostered youth, born from the transformation of the church’s former Journey Conference and Retreat Center. This innovative initiative exemplifies her commitment to bridging church and community through bold partnerships and creative ministry. Within the wider United Church of Christ, Dr. Monroe has held key leadership roles, including Associate Conference Minister and Chair of the Conference Board in the Illinois Conference. One of her greatest joys is serving on the Board of Trustees at Huston- Tillotson University, a UCC-affiliated HBCU in Austin, Texas. She has represented the UCC on the board for the past eight years and currently serves as Board Chair. Dr. Monroe holds a Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Direction from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, a Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law, a Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Northwestern University. Her internship at the ACLU during law school planted the seeds for her lifelong commitment to the intersection of faith and justice—a commitment that continues to flourish within the UCC. A sought-after preacher, lecturer, and workshop facilitator, Dr. Monroe draws on both research and lived experience to equip leaders—within the church and across broader society—for relational, restorative, and responsive work. Her ministry is grounded in a deep commitment to spiritual and mental wellness, which she centers as essential to sustainable leadership and community transformation. Her interdisciplinary writing includes contributions to legal journals, youth-focused curricula, and essays on religious pluralism. She is the co-author of Exodus Women, Volume One: Securing the Sacred – Usable Truths, Secret Pledges, and Clarion Calls, and her essay Excavating Darkness: Unearthing Memories in the Service of Social Transformation appears in the 2022 anthology Walking Through the Valley: Womanist Explorations in the Spirit of Katie Geneva Cannon. Rev. Dr. Monroe actively volunteers with civic organizations and remains deeply engaged in public service. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and shares life with her husband, Kevin Monroe, and their three young adult children: Paige, Kaleb, and Maya.
REVEREND DR. VANESSA MONROE
Board of Trustees - Chair Huston-Tillotson University
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