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.
Rev. LaDonna Harris
On September 30, 2023, Rev. Harris was ordained by the Disciples of Christ at Mills Grove Christian Church in Oakland, California. Rev. Dr. LeAnn Snow Flesher, BST’s Vice President of Academics and Dean, spoke at Rev. Harris’ ordination and in attendance was her faculty advisor, Rev. Dr. Valerie Miles-Tribble. In addition, Rev. Harris has been named the incoming Senior Pastor for The Church By the Side of the Road in Berkeley! Rev. Harris is entering into her second career as pastor after retiring from her position as Chief Probation Officer for Alameda County. Rev. Harris also serves as the Women’s Ministries Facilitator for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Northern California/Nevada Region, and she received her Master of Divinity from Berkeley School of Theology in 2017.
Rev. Dr. Marjorie B. Lewis
Dr. Lewis’s 35-year tenure both in Oakland, California and Denver, Colorado features service in three arenas: religion, academia, and behavioral health. She combines academic and applied orientations informed as an Ordained Minister (D. Min.), a Public Policy Analyst (Ph.D.), and a Colorado State Licensed Mental and Behavioral Health Professional (trainer, evaluator, and direct services provider). Dr. Lewis has utilized these skills in military and prison reentry, psychotherapy, counseling, and psychoeducation. She has served in several faith communities, including but not limited to Assistant to the Pastor (Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr.) at the Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland. In the academic realm, she is a PhD. Graduate of the Heinze School of Public Policy, was a Post Doctoral Fellow at the Goldman School of Public Policy, taught in higher education as a tenured track Professor at the University of Colorado, Denver’s Graduate School of Public Affairs and the Hubert Humphrey School of Public Affairs. In the mental and behavioral health venues, she has served as a member of the Colorado Board of Parole and is currently on the WellPower Mental Health Community Center’s Board of Directors, serving as chairperson of their Governance Committee. She is the author of two books, Singing Songs in a Strange Land: Anecdotes on Resilience, and First Aid for the Soul: Resilience, Rehabilitation and Recovery. Dr. Lewis received her Master of Arts in Religion from Berkeley School of Theology in 1991.
Doctor of Ministry, 2017
Rev. Dr. Marie Onwubuariri
Marie is director of Intercultural Ministries for American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) in Pennsylvania and also affiliate faculty at BST. She edited the book Trouble the Water: A Christian Resource for the Work of Racial Justice and authored the article “Reframing tension for transformation: Bridge-crossing | bridge-making | bridge-being“.
Master of Community Leadership, 2019
Chaplain Kwee T.L. Say
On September 6, 2023, Chaplain Say was promoted to Lieutenant in the United States Navy. Chaplain Say is currently serving as a Command Chaplain aboard the USS ROSS (DDG 71). She joined the U.S. Navy in 2018 as a non-active reservist and started her active duty in the Navy in October 2022. She was awarded two Masters’ degrees in 2019 from Berkeley School of Theology, in Divinity and Community Leadership. Chaplain Say came to America in 2004 from Burma (Myanmar) and is the very first Burmese Karen, her ethnic group from Burma, to become a Chaplain in the United States Navy. She is honored to serve with the finest Sailors the nation has to offer aboard Navy Destroyer USS ROSS, her God, and country.
Master of Community Leadership, 2011
Doctor of Ministry, 2024
Rev. Dr. Michael A. Smith
Michael has been Pastor of the McGee Avenue Baptist Church in Berkeley California for 18 years. In 2014, 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. His DMin dissertation topic was The Black Earth Theology Project: Toward Reconciliation and Care of God’s Creation.
