Celebrating the Class of 2020

On Fri., May 29, 2020, we celebrated Pittsburgh Theological Seminary's 224th Commencement with virtual festivities.

This virtual celebration combines elements of a traditional graduation ceremony with activities that take advantage of the online medium. Lasting approximately 40 minutes, it includes remarks from President David Esterline, reading of each graduate's name, announcement of this year's graduation award recipients, and well wishes from faculty and staff.

Graduation Video

The Seminary remains committed to honoring our graduates with an in-person commencement when circumstances permit large gatherings again, but the PTS community is determined not to let this class’s milestone go unmarked.

Class of 2020

Certificate in Church Planting and Revitalization

Mary Almy
Bloomsburg, Pa.

Heidi Anne Husted Armstrong
Belfair, Wash.

Jennifer Ann Baer
Dallas, Pa.

Rebecca L. DePoe
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Joy T. Fisher
Atlanta, Ga.

Andrew Hill
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Jocelyn Johnston
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Lee D. Kricher
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Jane Ellen Larson
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Jonathan Jerry Lynn
Etna, Pa.

Peter N. Pross
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Hannah Quick
New Orleans, La.

Maggie Smith
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Eugene A. Walker
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Timothy James Wotring
Philadelphia, Pa.

Certificate in Theological Studies

Jodie Eckenrod
Bridgeville, Pa.

Certificate in Urban Ministry

Catherine A. Bowser
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies

Gloria Cherise Potter
Wexford, Pa.

Master of Theological Studies

Saw Tha Lay Hlaing
Hinthada, Myanmar

Master of Divinity

Ashley Smith Ashley * ***
Oak Harbor, Wash.

Kelcey Tess Bailey * **
Charlottesville, Va.

Zachary L. Bailey **
Grove City, Pa.

Samantha Lowery Coggins
Fredericksburg, Va.

Joshua Demi
Northern Cambria, Pa.

Gary Glasser **
New York, N.Y.

Heather D. Henkel
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Amanda Marie Horan **
Cleveland, Ohio

Beth A. Meier
Elderton, Pa.

Megan Miles
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Sonya-Marie H. Morley **
Washington, D.C.

Cassandra Ann Riker
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Daniel Jacob Schening
Erie, Pa.

Hattie Taylor
North Bangor, N.Y.

* Joint degree MDiv/MSW
** Graduate Certificate in Urban Ministry
*** MDiv with Church Planting Emphasis

Certificate in Advanced Studies in Ministry

Steven Fazenbaker
Atlanta, Ga.

Doctor of Ministry

Antony Mina Andrews
Rochelle Park, N.J.
Patristic Bible Study: Towards a Mindset of Christological Interpretation for Orthodox Youth

Mark Basily
Sydney, Australia
A Model for Orthodox Homiletics

C. Nathaniel Briley Jr.
Pickens, S.C.
Sinews in the Making: A New Way of Doing Church for Pickens Presbyterian Church

Paul Fanous
Sydney, Australia
Jesus the Ultimate Minister: A Four-Domain Model of Ministry Established by Christ in Luke’s Gospel

Kimberly Beth Greway
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Silenced Voices, Lifted Prayers: Prayer-Writing with Inmates

Roy D. Kindelberger II
Greensburg, Pa.
Christian Spirituality as Resurrection: Experiencing Resurrection-informed Prayer Practices

James W. Kirk
Valencia, Pa.
Death of a Spouse: Faith in God Continues in the Wilderness

Derek Scott Marotta
Cranberry Township, Pa. 
'Being With':  Equipping Missional Church Leaders through Neighborhood Listening

Carole Reidmeyer Martin
Kingsport, Tenn.
Staying Connected: Supporting Reflection on Integrating Technology with the Practice of Ministry Among Clergywomen in the Holston Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church

Luke Maybry
Charlotte, N.C.
The Peace of Christ in Session Meetings: Establishing a Rule of Life on the Session for Meaningful and Fruitful Leadership

Evan Ray Smith
Staunton, Va.
The Enneagram: A Tool for Self-Awareness and Sanctification

Helen Cassman Ventura
Suffolk, Va.
Passing the Peace: It's More Than Just a Handshake

Shea K. Zellweger
Bethany, Conn.
Closer: An Assessment of the Impacts of Individual and Corporate Spiritual Practice

Award Winners

Richard J. Rapp Memorial Award in Doctor of Ministry Studies
Kimberly Greway
Paul Fanous

Thomas Jamison Scholarship
Ashley Smith Ashley              

Jennie Rigg Barbour Memorial Prize
Amanda Horan            

Sylvester S. Marvin Fellowship 
Ashley Smith Ashley  

Brooks Foundation Commencement Prize
Gary Glasser

Robert M. Ezzell Homiletical Prize
Amanda Horan

Paul T. Gerrard Prize in Homiletics and Pastoral Care
Kelcey Bailey

Jackson Hale Prize in Polity 
Amanda Horan

Michael Wilson Keith Memorial Prize in Homiletics
Samantha Coggins

Robert A. Lee Church History Prize
Sonya-Marie Morley
Ashley Smith Ashley

John W. and Miriam G. Meister Award in Pastoral Ministry 
Cassandra Riker

Middlesex United Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church U.S.A.) Memorial Prize in Biblical Studies
Amanda Horan

Clara Edna Miller Prize in Pastoral Theology 
Gary Glasser

Henry A. Riddle Fund for Graduate Study
Ashley Smith Ashley

The William B. Watson Prize in Hebrew 
Amanda Horan

ABOUT PITTSBURGH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Rooted in the Reformed tradition, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is committed to the formation of women and men for theologically reflective ministry and to scholarship in service to the global Church of Jesus Christ.

Support Future Alums

Make a gift online to support future alums of the Seminary, just like this year's class, to be able to graduate without incurring heavy financial burdens.

Faculty

In addition to their on-campus duties, our faculty are experts in their fields and are available to preach and teach. Learn more about their topics of research and writing and invite them to present at your congregation or gathering.

Virtually Visit PTS

Interested in the Seminary or know someone who may feel called to PTS? Come visit us!

Stay in Touch with the Seminary

Sign-up to receive the Seminary's newsletters: Seminary News (monthly), Center for Adaptive and Innovative Ministry (monthly), Continuing Education (monthly), World Mission Initiative (monthly), Metro-Urban Institute (quarterly), and Kelso Museum. Alums, there's also one for you!

Celebrating the Class of 2020

On Fri., May 29, 2020, we celebrated Pittsburgh Theological Seminary's 224th Commencement with virtual festivities.

This virtual celebration combines elements of a traditional graduation ceremony with activities that take advantage of the online medium. Lasting approximately 40 minutes, it includes remarks from President David Esterline, reading of each graduate's name, announcement of this year's graduation award recipients, and well wishes from faculty and staff.

Graduation Video

The Seminary remains committed to honoring our graduates with an in-person commencement when circumstances permit large gatherings again, but the PTS community is determined not to let this class’s milestone go unmarked.

Class of 2020

Certificate in Church Planting and Revitalization

Mary Almy
Bloomsburg, Pa.

Heidi Anne Husted Armstrong
Belfair, Wash.

Jennifer Ann Baer
Dallas, Pa.

Rebecca L. DePoe
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Joy T. Fisher
Atlanta, Ga.

Andrew Hill
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Jocelyn Johnston
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Lee D. Kricher
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Jane Ellen Larson
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Jonathan Jerry Lynn
Etna, Pa.

Peter N. Pross
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Hannah Quick
New Orleans, La.

Maggie Smith
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Eugene A. Walker
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Timothy James Wotring
Philadelphia, Pa.

Certificate in Theological Studies

Jodie Eckenrod
Bridgeville, Pa.

Certificate in Urban Ministry

Catherine A. Bowser
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies

Gloria Cherise Potter
Wexford, Pa.

Master of Theological Studies

Saw Tha Lay Hlaing
Hinthada, Myanmar

Master of Divinity

Ashley Smith Ashley * ***
Oak Harbor, Wash.

Kelcey Tess Bailey * **
Charlottesville, Va.

Zachary L. Bailey **
Grove City, Pa.

Samantha Lowery Coggins
Fredericksburg, Va.

Joshua Demi
Northern Cambria, Pa.

Gary Glasser **
New York, N.Y.

Heather D. Henkel
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Amanda Marie Horan **
Cleveland, Ohio

Beth A. Meier
Elderton, Pa.

Megan Miles
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Sonya-Marie H. Morley **
Washington, D.C.

Cassandra Ann Riker
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Daniel Jacob Schening
Erie, Pa.

Hattie Taylor
North Bangor, N.Y.

* Joint degree MDiv/MSW
** Graduate Certificate in Urban Ministry
*** MDiv with Church Planting Emphasis

Certificate in Advanced Studies in Ministry

Steven Fazenbaker
Atlanta, Ga.

Doctor of Ministry

Antony Mina Andrews
Rochelle Park, N.J.
Patristic Bible Study: Towards a Mindset of Christological Interpretation for Orthodox Youth

Mark Basily
Sydney, Australia
A Model for Orthodox Homiletics

C. Nathaniel Briley Jr.
Pickens, S.C.
Sinews in the Making: A New Way of Doing Church for Pickens Presbyterian Church

Paul Fanous
Sydney, Australia
Jesus the Ultimate Minister: A Four-Domain Model of Ministry Established by Christ in Luke’s Gospel

Kimberly Beth Greway
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Silenced Voices, Lifted Prayers: Prayer-Writing with Inmates

Roy D. Kindelberger II
Greensburg, Pa.
Christian Spirituality as Resurrection: Experiencing Resurrection-informed Prayer Practices

James W. Kirk
Valencia, Pa.
Death of a Spouse: Faith in God Continues in the Wilderness

Derek Scott Marotta
Cranberry Township, Pa. 
'Being With':  Equipping Missional Church Leaders through Neighborhood Listening

Carole Reidmeyer Martin
Kingsport, Tenn.
Staying Connected: Supporting Reflection on Integrating Technology with the Practice of Ministry Among Clergywomen in the Holston Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church

Luke Maybry
Charlotte, N.C.
The Peace of Christ in Session Meetings: Establishing a Rule of Life on the Session for Meaningful and Fruitful Leadership

Evan Ray Smith
Staunton, Va.
The Enneagram: A Tool for Self-Awareness and Sanctification

Helen Cassman Ventura
Suffolk, Va.
Passing the Peace: It's More Than Just a Handshake

Shea K. Zellweger
Bethany, Conn.
Closer: An Assessment of the Impacts of Individual and Corporate Spiritual Practice

Award Winners

Richard J. Rapp Memorial Award in Doctor of Ministry Studies
Kimberly Greway
Paul Fanous

Thomas Jamison Scholarship
Ashley Smith Ashley              

Jennie Rigg Barbour Memorial Prize
Amanda Horan            

Sylvester S. Marvin Fellowship 
Ashley Smith Ashley  

Brooks Foundation Commencement Prize
Gary Glasser

Robert M. Ezzell Homiletical Prize
Amanda Horan

Paul T. Gerrard Prize in Homiletics and Pastoral Care
Kelcey Bailey

Jackson Hale Prize in Polity 
Amanda Horan

Michael Wilson Keith Memorial Prize in Homiletics
Samantha Coggins

Robert A. Lee Church History Prize
Sonya-Marie Morley
Ashley Smith Ashley

John W. and Miriam G. Meister Award in Pastoral Ministry 
Cassandra Riker

Middlesex United Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church U.S.A.) Memorial Prize in Biblical Studies
Amanda Horan

Clara Edna Miller Prize in Pastoral Theology 
Gary Glasser

Henry A. Riddle Fund for Graduate Study
Ashley Smith Ashley

The William B. Watson Prize in Hebrew 
Amanda Horan

ABOUT PITTSBURGH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Rooted in the Reformed tradition, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is committed to the formation of women and men for theologically reflective ministry and to scholarship in service to the global Church of Jesus Christ.

Support Future Alums

Make a gift online to support future alums of the Seminary, just like this year's class, to be able to graduate without incurring heavy financial burdens.

Faculty

In addition to their on-campus duties, our faculty are experts in their fields and are available to preach and teach. Learn more about their topics of research and writing and invite them to present at your congregation or gathering.

Virtually Visit PTS

Interested in the Seminary or know someone who may feel called to PTS? Come visit us!

Stay in Touch with the Seminary

Sign-up to receive the Seminary's newsletters: Seminary News (monthly), Center for Adaptive and Innovative Ministry (monthly), Continuing Education (monthly), World Mission Initiative (monthly), Metro-Urban Institute (quarterly), and Kelso Museum. Alums, there's also one for you!