Pittsburgh Theological Seminary has named Kimberly Merrell as director of the Metro-Urban Institute. She will begin her service Jan. 1, 2014.
“Kimberly Merrell was both an excellent student and a productive member of the Seminary's Board of Directors. She is bright and organized, with creative ideas for the future. It will be a privilege to have her joining Dr. Drew Smith in the leadership of our Metro-Urban Institute,” said the Rev. Dr. William J. Carl III, president and professor of homiletics at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
Merrell is a graduate of Ohio University and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She is founder and executive director of Live Foundation which partners with indigenous organizations around the world to champion gender justice while encouraging Christian communities to advocate on their behalf. She has empowered thousands through her teaching and preaching in more than 16 international contexts spanning five continents. Previously she served as a family counselor in the Women’s and Children’s Program at Light of Life Rescue Mission and as chief of staff / strategic plan coordinator at Auberle. Merrell also worked for Delphi Packard Electric Systems in Warren, Ohio, serving as lean implementation specialist for the U.S. and China operations at the time of her departure in 2006.
Merrell serves on the Boards of Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation and Emmanuel Christian Academy, Cameroon. She is also on the Advisory Board of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s World Mission Initiative and previously served on the Seminary’s Board of Directors. While at Pittsburgh Seminary, she was awarded the Valentour World Travel Fellow which allowed her to study women’s issues in the global context while visiting Kenya, India, Indonesia, and Singapore.
“Kimberly Merrell brings wide-ranging professional experience, leadership abilities, and local and global vantage point on 21st century urban diversities and complexities that will help position the Metro-Urban Institute at the cutting edge of urban ministry training. I very much look forward to collaborating with her in this crucial work,” said the Rev. Dr. R. Drew Smith, professor of urban ministry and chair of the hiring committee.