Associate Dean of Marketing and Communications Named
Nakoya Moss has joined Perkins as Assistant Dean of Marketing and Communications effective October 7. In this role, Moss leads Perkins’ strategic marketing and communication efforts to elevate the school’s profile and enhance engagement with diverse audiences. The Assistant Dean for Marketing and Communications is a newly established position, focused on promoting Perkins and expanding its visibility through forward-thinking marketing initiatives. 
Moss is a marketing communications leader with extensive experience in non-profit and higher education sectors. In her previous role as Director of Marketing at Communities Foundation of Texas, Moss led a team in crafting and executing comprehensive marketing plans, managing cross-functional collaborations, and driving engagement through traditional and digital channels.
“Having grown up in a faith community, I understand the vital role that institutions like Perkins play in shaping ethical, informed leaders,” said Moss. “I am excited about the opportunity to bring my skills in marketing and communications to support Perkins School of Theology’s mission of making theological education accessible and impactful.”
Stevenson-Moessner Publishes New Book
Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner’s new book, Physician of Souls: Ministry as Medicine (Fortress Press, June 2024) explores the concept of “physician of souls” for religious leaders and theologians in their 
response to pain, illness, moral injury, soul-wounding, and crisis. The book offers a credo based on John Chrysostom’s approach to healing, emphasizing the interconnection of body-mind-soul-culture, resistance to exploitation and degradation, and the importance of community in the healing process. Stevenson-Moessner also advocates for a more prominent role for religious professionals such as chaplains in the healing process, emphasizing their unique ability to represent the faith tradition of the patient and, in the Christian tradition, act as an emissary of Christ the Healer. Stevenson-Moessner is Professor of Pastoral Care and Pastoral Theology at Perkins.
President Bush Visits Perkins Class
Perkins students in Dallas Gingles’ classroom had a surprise visitor on September 17: former President George W. Bush. At the invitation of Gingles and the office of SMU President R. Gerald Turner, Bush participated in the “Presidential Rhetoric and American Political Theology” course. The class followed a Q&A format, with the former president fielding questions from students and Gingles. Read the blog post here.
ISNA Honors Robert Hunt for Interfaith Work
The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) honored Robert Hunt in September with its Excellence in Interfaith Relations Award. In bestowing the award, ISNA leaders cited his work in promoting interfaith relations through many years as a participant in international dialogue events, and in helping organize and lead Faiths in Conversation dialogue groups, engaging Perkins School of Theology students in interfaith dialogue, and working with Thanks-Giving Square and its Interfaith Council. Read the blog post here.