Doctor of Ministry, 2021
Rev. Dr. Hakizimana “Appolo” Appolinaire
Rev. Dr. Hakizimana “Appolo” Appolinaire is BST’s 2024-25 Alum of the Year! Dr. Appolinaire serves as a Country Director of Scripture Union Rwanda, and Pastor in the Anglican Church of Rwanda, Diocese of Karongi. From 2019- 2020, he served as Professional Chaplain, in University of California, San Francisco’s hospital. From 2019- 2022, he was a deputy Regal Representative of the Anglican Church, Gahini Diocese. From 2003 – 2010, Dr. Appolinaire served as Executive Secretary of World mission frontiers in Tanzania, Africa, and as a Pastor of Rukara Parish in the Anglican Church from (2000 – 2003). He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Berkeley School of Theology, two Masters’ degrees, one from Wyclif University, and the other from Berkeley School of Theology, and a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Tanga, Tanzania. Appolinaire is married to Mukarwego Esperance, with three sons. He received vision to build East Africa Community Healing when he was working in the UCSF hospital where he was working as a professional Chaplain, after understanding how much people are suffering in the hospital physical, mental, and spiritual disease. He wishes to see no one suffering alone, He hopes that through the Community Healing Center project, people will learn how to support each other during someone’s suffering.
Master of Theological Studies, 2024
Dr. Karen Cole-Smith
On May 18, 2024, Dr. Cole-Smith received two degrees from Berkeley School of Theology: Master of Divinity and Master of Theological Studies! Dr. Cole-Smith stated that the best aspect of her experience at BST was that it promoted the scripture Micah 6:8 by providing diverse educational, spiritual, and community experiences that ensured that she would be successful in carrying out the mandates to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.” Dr. Cole-Smith was most recently the executive director of community outreach at Santa Fe College. Her prior education includes a bachelor’s degree in criminology and sociology from Bethune-Cookman University, master’s degree in sociology and criminology from Ohio State University and doctoral degree in sociology and criminology from the University of Florida.
Sylvia Lane
We are delighted to share wonderful news that Rev. Sylvia Lane, formerly Britt, (M.Div. ’25), has had an incredibly exciting season both professionally and personally. Sylvia has launched into a thriving ministry career, starting her new full-time position on September 8, 2025, as a Palliative Care Chaplain with Kaiser, and also serving as a Per Diem Chaplain with Sutter Hospitals, in addition to her volunteer role with the SFPD. We are also sending our heartfelt congratulations to Sylvia and her spouse, Londi, on their recent marriage on October 4, 2025! We celebrate both her dedication to compassionate care and this beautiful new chapter in her
Rev. Michael-Ray Mathews
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.
Doctor of Divinity, 2022
Rev. Dr. Curtis Price
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 14 years. Curtis’ DMin dissertation topic at BST is entitled Redeeming the Church: Healing and Reconciliation Between the LGBTQ Community and the Church.
Rev. Dr. Shane B. Scott
On Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, Rev. Dr. Scott formally began as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to this position, for 12 years Rev. Dr. Scott served as Senior Pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church, in Watts (Los Angeles), California. A native of Franklin, Louisiana, and raised in Richmond, California, Dr. Scott graduated from Berkeley School of Theology in 2008 with a Master of Divinity degree. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and Philosophy from Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and a Doctor of Ministry degree from New York Theological Seminary in New York City, New York. Dr. Scott also holds a certificate in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
