The Class of 2022

Graduates in the Master of Arts (Theological Studies) and Master of Divinity degree programs

Community rejoices with return to in-person graduation for the Class of 2022

Austin Seminary resumed in-person Commencement on May 15, 2022, at University Presbyterian Church, Austin, bestowing degrees on fifty-eight graduates: five receiving the Doctor of Ministry degree; one, the Master of Arts (Theological Studies); twenty-one, the Master of Arts in Youth Ministry; and thirty-one the Master of Divinity degree. One student also earned the Master of Science in Social Work degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

The 2022 Commencement Speaker was The Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, ThD, dean and president of Seminary of the Southwest, an Episcopal seminary in Austin, Texas. President Ted Wardlaw delivered his final Charge to the Graduates (page 20) as he transitions into retirement. The Reverend Keatan King, chair of the Seminary Board of Trustees presided over the service and Academic Dean David Jensen hooded the graduates.

The Baccalaureate service was held on May 14 at University Presbyterian Church. Dr. Suzie Park, associate professor of New Testament, delivered the sermon, and the Reverend Dr. Bobbi Kaye Jones, Professor in The Louis B. and Katherine S. Zbinden Distinguished Chair of Pastoral Ministry and Leadership presided at the Lord’s Table.

Commencement weekend got off to a rousing start on Friday, May 13, when families and friends gathered with the Seminary community in Shelton Chapel to dedicate the newly opened Mary B. and Robert J. Wright Learning and Information Center. The construction and renovation of the library took place during the COVID pandemic (2020- 2021) when the campus was mostly closed and classes and worship moved online.The glorious weekend seemed a fitting conclusion to the Class of 2022’s seminary experience as we celebrated their perseverence and faithfulness!

Master of Arts (Theological Studies)

Alvin Ray Evans Jr., Missionary Baptist Church, Pastor, Pleasant Bethany Baptist Church, Elgin, Texas

Master of Divinity

Paige Gressett, Alam United Methodist Church

Rebekkah Grace Balint, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Instructional Designer

Julia Hughes Burkley, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Associate Pastor, Opequon Presbyterian Church, Winchester, Virginia

Emily Grace Clark, Episcopal Church, Seeking a call

Jacob Auttie Collins, Nondenominational, Working in IT

Alan David Constant, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Seeking a call

Ashley Diane Cuellar, United Methodist Church, Lead Pastor, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church Austin, Texas

Sarah Grace Dixon, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Director of Children, Youth, and Families, First Presbyterian Church, Austin Texas

Elizabeth Miller Edmiston, United Methodist Church, Pastor, Manor (Texas) United Methodist Church

Emily Elizabeth Everts, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Resumé screener, Google

Katie Ann Henderson, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Assistant Director of Programs, Camp Fellowship, Waterloo, South Carolina

Kevin Michael Ireland, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Pastoral Resident, Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas

Sangbum “David” Kim, ECO Presbyterian, Associate Pastor, Austin (Texas) Korean Presbyterian Church

Joseph Thomas Lundy III, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Pastoral Resident, First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport, Louisiana

James Paul Martin, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Applying to positions working at border, also as a mission co-worker in El Salvador

Deric Zane McCurry, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Co-founder and Team Director, InnoVetted

Jordan Chace McDaniel, United Methodist Church, Next-Gen Director at Lake Hills Church, Austin, Texas

Kimberly Faith Eleno Mendoza ,Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Pastoral Resident, First Presbyterian Church, Libertyville, Illinois

Julian Antonio Olalde, United Methodist Church, Hospice Chaplain: Baylor, Scott, and White, Central Texas

Sarai Oviedo, Unitarian Universalist, Starting a media company

Matthew Hunt Ratliff, United Methodist Church, Pastor, La Feria (Texas) United Methodist Church

Josiah Benjamin Rosa, Assemblies of God, Interested in church planting in Montana

Rabert Frankie Sheppard, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ,Intern, Lake Travis (Texas) Presbyterian Church

Savannah Lynne Shivers, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Dickson Pastoral Resident, North Ridge Presbyterian Church, Dallas, Texas

Kailen Ann Soncksen, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Freelance writer

Karen Denise Sprouse ,Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Chaplaincy Resident, Ascencion Seton, Austin, Texas

Tyler Cole Steele, United Methodist Church, Director of Youth and Digital Ministries, Northwest Hills United Methodist Church, Austin, Texas

Joel Pepper Brougham Timmons, Lutheran Church, ELCA Youth Director, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas

Courtnay Greer Veazey, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Associate Pastor, Idlewild Presbyterian Church, Memphis, Tennessee

David Anthony Wallace, Nondenominational, Interested in starting ministry

Rachel Diane Watson, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Stated Supply Associate Pastor, University Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas

Graduates in the Master of Arts in Youth Ministry program

Master of Arts in Youth Ministry

Stephen Derek Adkison, Lutheran Church, ELCA, Youth Minister, St. Marks Episopal Church, Houston, Texas

Samuel Richard Belcher, United Methodist Church, Director of Youth Ministries, First Presbyterian Church, Franklin, Tennessee

Olivia Jane Black, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Associate Director for High School, Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas

Joseph Gordon Carnes, United Methodist Church, Youth Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Milan, Tennessee

Joshua Rive Day, United Methodist Church, Director of Family Ministries, Westlake United Medhotist Church, Austin, Texas

Benjamin Carter Dreher, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Youth Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tennessee

Andrew Harrison Howlett, United Methodist Church, Coaching tennis and seeking teaching position at a Christian school

Olivia Nicole Keffer, United Methodist Church, Student Ministry Director, Calvary United Methodist Church, Nashville, Tennessee

Makenzie Laine Knowlden, United Methodist Church, Director of Youth Ministires, Florence (Alabama) First United Methodist Church

Melissa Susan Kowerduck, United Methodist Church, Youth Minister, Grace United Methodist Church, Huntsville, Alabama

Abbigail Laign Owens, United Methodist Church, Children’s Minister, Brentwood United Methodist Church, Brentwood Tennessee

Sloan Elizabeth Radford, United Methodist Church

Christina Renee Reeves, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Riley Jo Robertson, United Methodist Church

Latarvis Edtwan Rule, United Methodist Church, Teaching seventh grade at Desoto Central Middle School, Southhaven, Mississippi

Jacob Powell Shelly, United Methodist Church, Youth Minister, Trinity United Methodist Church, Paducah, Kentucky

Emily Claire Sprunger, United Methodist Church, Director of Children, Youth, and Families, Collegiate Presbyterian Church, Ames, Iowa

Ian Scott Thackery Taylor, Episcopal Church, Director of Family Ministries, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Greenville, North Carolina

Daphne Chanel ,Turnage Nondenominational

Joshua Alexander Wardle, United Methodist Church, Youth Minister, First United Methodist Church, Henderson, Texas

Kaleigh Rebecca Welch, United Methodist Church, Youth Minister, Bee Creek United Methodist Church, Spicewood, Texas

Graduates in the Doctor of Ministry program

Doctor of Ministry

Doctor of Ministry Graduate, position, and title of doctoral project

Scott Keith Campbell, Executive Presbyter, Palo Duro Presbytery, “Commissioned Pastors: Their Role in Saving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Small and Rural Communities, especially in Palo Duro Presbytery”

Annabell Lalla-Ramkelawan, Pastor, Marabella/Bonne Aventure Pastoral Region, Cunupia, Trinidad, “Sacramental Mystery or Sacramental Magic? Do Christians Truly Understand the Mystery of the Sacraments?”

John Douglas Leedy, Associate Pastor for Youth & Young Adults, Hope Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas, “The Beyond We Search for: The Paschal Vigil at the Intersection of Youth Ministry and Liturgical Theology”

Krystal Lee Leedy, Assistant Director of Hope Children’s Center, Hope Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas, “O Christ, Surround Me: A Study in Mundane Liturgy”

Grace Akiko Suwabe, Interim Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Marysville, California, “The Role of Belonging in a Multicultural Church: A Case Study”

2022 Graduate Awards

The following awards to graduating master’s -level students, nominated by and voted on by the faculty, were announced during Commencement:

Donald Capps Award in Pastoral Care: Kailen Soncksen

Chidester Preaching Award: Kevin Ireland

Rachel Henderlite Award: Rabert Sheppard

Hendrick-Smith Award for Mission & Evangelism: James Martin

Ethel Lance Human & Civil Rights Award: Emily Grace Clark

Carl Kilborn Book Award: Courtnay Veazey

Charles L. King Preaching Award: Matt Ratliff

The Sam O. Morris Youth Ministry Award: Abbigail Owens

Max Sherman & Barbara Jordan Fellowship: Reba Balint

John B. Spragens Award: Rachel Watson