April 2026 | student & alumni accomplishments

Throughout the year, Perkins students and alumni are shaping the church, academy, and public life—offering leadership, scholarship, and service in communities across the country and around the world.

Perkins Excellence highlights these moments of impact, reflecting how theological education at Perkins forms leaders for faithful ministry in a changing church and society.

Featured Highlights

Engaging the Public Church

The Rev. Victor Long (M.Div. ’88) 
Lead pastor at First United Methodist Church in Mount Vernon, Illinois, the Rev. Victor Long brought pastoral insight to a national audience in a PBS News segment, “America at a Crossroads,” with Judy Woodruff—offering a theological voice in a time of cultural complexity. Learn more. 

Theology in Public Conversation

Michaela Calahan (M.Div. ’24, Th.M. ’26) 
Michaela Calahan presented a paper at United Lutheran Seminary’s “Liberating Our Democracy” conference in Philadelphia. Her work, “Reconstructing American Flesh: W. E. B. Du Bois, Black Theological Imagination, and the Limits of White Christian Democracy,” explores how theology shapes democratic belonging in the United States. Learn more.

Appearances

The Rev. Erin Hill Barnes (M.Div. ’25)
Perkins alum, the Rev. Erin Hill Barnes, senior pastor at Open Table in Mansfield, was featured on a podcast episode in which she discusses how the Open Table church plant developed and grew during her internship at Perkins.  

Awards  

Fernando Berwig Silva (M.S.M. ’23) 
Fernando Berwig Silva received SMU’s Outstanding Graduate Student Instruction Award from the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, recognizing excellence in teaching and academic contribution. 

Promotions 

The Rev. Anthony Everett (M.Div. ’08) 
Appointed chief advancement and partnership officer and interim executive director of the Institute for Black Church Studies at BSK. Read here.  

The Rev. Samira Page (D.Min. ’16, M.Div. ’10) 
Named canon for multicultural ministries, continuing her leadership in diverse and inclusive church contexts. Read here. 

The Rev. Shane Pair (M.Div. ’03) 
Selected to serve as National Guard assistant to the chief of chaplains at U.S. European Command. Learn more. 

Scott Scheetz (M.S.M. ’17) 
Named director of music ministry and organist at First Presbyterian Church, bringing expertise in worship leadership, choral conducting, and organ performance. Learn more. 

Publications 

Anderson (Andy) Harrison, III (M.T.S. ’25) 
Published an examination of the hymn “Worthy of Worship” in The United Methodist Church History of Hymns series and the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Read here. 

Rev. Rachel Headden (M.Div. ’24) 
Contributed a lesson featured in the Youth Lectionary Curriculum for The United Methodist Church. Read here. 

Edna Livingston Hargrave (M.Div. ’21) 
Published Dying to Live: Keys to Abundant Life, exploring pathways to faithful and abundant living. Learn more. 

The Rev. Michelle Morris (M.Div.’09) 
Published Prophets to the Generations: How God Raises Prophets from Isaiah to Gen Z and Beyond, connecting biblical prophetic voices with contemporary generational leadership. Learn more. 

Formed for Impact

From local congregations to global conversations, Perkins graduates are equipped to lead with theological depth, pastoral wisdom, and a commitment to justice. These accomplishments reflect not only individual achievement, but the broader mission of Perkins School of Theology—to prepare persons for faithful leadership in a changing church and society.