Christena Cleveland to Speak at Andrews University

Friday, Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m., at Lighthouse Vespers

Christena Cleveland will speak on the campus of Andrews University on Friday, Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Howard Performing Arts Center. (Photo by christenacleveland.com/bio/)

Christena Cleveland, social psychologist, public theologian, author and professor, will speak at Lighthouse Vespers on the campus of Andrews University as part of this year’s Diversity & Reconciliation Conference. Cleveland will present on Friday, Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Howard Performing Arts Center.

Currently, Cleveland is an associate professor of the Practice of Organizational Studies at Duke University’s Divinity School. She teaches classes on race, reconciliation and conflict, and she leads a research team investigating self-compassion as a buffer for racial stress. She is author of “Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Keep Us Apart” and is also finishing her second book, which examines inequality and offers a theology of privilege.

Cleveland attended Dartmouth College, where she double-majored in psychological and brain sciences and sociology, then UC Santa Barbara, where she earned a PhD in social psychology. Recently named one of “5 online shepherds to follow” by JET magazine, Cleveland has devoted much of her vocation to teaching in higher educational institutions as well as serving the church and broader society by regularly writing, speaking and consulting with organizations.

“We are honored to have Dr. Cleveland come and share with our campus community on the important topic of finding tangible and meaningful ways to seek healing, restitution and reconciliation in a diverse community,” says Michael Nixon, vice president for Diversity & Inclusion at Andrews University. “We invite you to come and join us as Dr. Cleveland reminds us of not just the value of diversity but also the obligation that diverse communities have to intentionally engage across areas of difference in order to ensure that everyone is heard, represented and included.”