Melva L. Sampson Announced as Faculty Speaker for 2025 Wake Forest University School of Divinity Hooding and Commencement Ceremony

Wake Forest University School of Divinity is pleased to announce that Dr. Melva L. Sampson, Assistant Teaching Professor of Preaching and Practical Theology, will serve as the faculty speaker for the 2025 Hooding and Commencement Ceremony.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Wake Forest University School of Divinity – a milestone year celebrating a quarter-century of forming “agents of justice, reconciliation, and compassion in Christian churches and other ministries.” With Dr. Sampson as faculty speaker, the School honors its rich legacy while looking boldly to the future and affirming its commitment to excellence, imagination, and transformation.

An esteemed scholar, gifted preacher, and dynamic educator, Dr. Sampson is widely recognized for her innovative work at the intersections of homiletics, womanist theology, and religion and digital media. Her scholarship and leadership has reshaped how theology is practiced and proclaimed in both traditional and online faith communities. As the founder of “Pink Robe Chronicles,” a digital hush harbor for collective healing and theological reflection, Dr. Sampson has carved out transformative spaces for spiritual engagement rooted in justice and joy. In October 2022, the Smithsonian National Museum for African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) acquired and accessioned artifacts from “Pink Robe Chronicles” into the museum collection.

An ordained Baptist clergyperson and ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Dr. Sampson’s research and teaching reflect a deep commitment to womanist theological wisdom, sacred memory, and embodied faith. She is known for her engaging teaching as well as her transformative mentorship of divinity students. Her scholarship is matched by her pastoral heart and her visionary theological presence in and beyond the classroom, pulpit, and screen.

“Dr. Melva Sampson exemplifies the best of our faculty’s commitment to intellectual excellence, faithful imagination, and compassionate leadership,” said Dean Corey D. B. Walker. “Her research, teaching, and mentoring have profoundly impacted our theological community. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we are especially honored to have her speak and inspire this next generation of congregational and community leaders.”

The School of Divinity’s Hooding and Commencement Ceremony will take place in historic Wait Chapel on the campus of Wake Forest University on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 7:00pm. For more information, please visit divinity.wfu.edu.