Rev. Kathryn (Katie) Choy-Wong, MDiv 1980
Katie will be honored as the 2023 recipient of the Cora and John Sparrowk President’s Award at the 2023 American Baptist Churches Biennial Mission Summit. In addition, Katie serves on BST Board of Trustees and recently published a book called Building Lasting Bridges: An Updated Handbook for Intercultural Ministries. Katie is a retired pastor from New Life Christian Fellowship, an American Baptist church in Castro Valley, California.
Rev. Celinda Miranda, LCSW, PPSC, and MDiv 2007
Celinda was awarded the 2022 Alum of the Year at the sold out 150th Anniversary Banquet last October with Dr. Cornel West as the featured speaker (video on BST’s YouTube page). Celinda has worked in the bilingual mental health services for 33 years and teaches at San Jose State University. Celinda is an associate minister at Emmanuel Baptist Church in San Jose, California.
Rev. Dr. Marie Onwubuariri, MDiv 2004 and DMin 2017
Marie is director of Intercultural Ministries for American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) in Pennsylvania. Marie is also affiliate faculty at BST, and her work extends to the Alliance of Asian American Baptist Churches. She edited the book Trouble the Water: A Christian Resource for the Work of Racial Justice.
Rev. Michael-Ray Mathews, MDiv 1998
Michael is president of the Alliance of Baptists and Deputy Director for Faith in Action, formerly PICO National Network, a national community organizing network that gives people of faith the tools that they need to fight for justice and work towards a more equitable society. Michael is a senior fellow at Auburn Seminary and affiliate faculty at BST.
Rev. Dr. Curtis Price, MDiv 2000 and DMin 2022
Curtis is Pastor at First Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, Utah. Curtis has over 20 years of experience as a pastor and has served at Salt Lake First Baptist Church for 13 years. Curtis’ DMin dissertation topic at BST is entitled Redeeming the Church: Healing and Reconciliation Between the LGBTQ Community and the Church.
Rev. Michael A. Smith, MDiv 2010, MCL 2011, and current DMin candidate
Michael has been Pastor of the McGee Avenue Baptist Church in Berkeley California for 17 years. In 2013, he became the founding Executive Director of The Center for Food, Faith & Justice which serves as a faith-based non-profit arm of the church as a lead organization dedicated to the issues of environmental and food justice, health equity and economic development. He is pursuing his DMin at BST and is receiving competency-based credit for his work.
Rev. Dr. Allison J. Tanner, MA 1998 and MDiv 2000
Allison has been at Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church for nearly 25 years and is the Pastor of Public Witness. Her role entails education, advocacy, relationship building, partnerships, and public witness. Allison is also the National Coordinator of the Apartheid Free initiative, an interdenominational coalition of faith groups that are encouraging people to step away from any and all support to Israeli apartheid, occupation, and settler colonialism.
Rev. Dr. Valerie Miles-Tribble, MDiv 2001
Dr. Valerie is Professor of Ministerial Leadership and Practical Theology at Berkeley School of Theology. Dr. Valerie’s philosophy of teaching is listed on BST’s website, and she enjoys engaging clergy and lay leaders to develop their gifts as spiritual change agents. Dr. Valerie’s impressive and extensive research and published works are listed on BST’s website in addition to courses that she teaches.
