PhD Student Profile: Tasha Mitchell

September 11, 2021

Area of Study: Pastoral Theology, Personality and Culture

Tasha Mitchell was born and raised in a sunny beach community in Southern California but has spent the past 17 years living throughout the United States. She is a two-time alumna of Howard University, where she earned a B.S. in Psychology and an M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology. While she developed a robust professional career primarily in child advocacy and public service, she has also served for over 13 years in various church leadership roles.

In yielding to her pastoral calling, Tasha completed her M.Div. at Vanderbilt Divinity School with a triple concentration in Religion and Economic Justice, Spirituality and Social Activism, and Black Religion and Culture Studies. She also earned the Kelly Miller Smith Institute Certificate in Black Church Studies. Her current research interest seeks to explore the deleterious role of capitalism in Western Christianity, elucidate the immense suffering this relationship has caused, and create a moral imperative for Christians to divest from this system. Tasha’s ultimate vocational aspiration is to pursue the scholar-practitioner model. She desires to develop her craft as a public theologian and pursue justice-seeking, community-driven ministry that is culturally sensitive, relevant, ethical, equitable, and sustainable.

At the present time, Tasha resides in the vibrant Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago, IL. She enjoys traveling, watching sports, spending time outdoors, entertaining, eating good cuisine, and being creative in the kitchen. Tasha is also a huge fan of all things DIY.

Papers and Publications

Mitchell, L.N. (2007). “Drugs, sex, and alcohol: A comparative review of contemporary college trends and the private morality of christian students.” Howard University Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program Journal of Research, 12, 47-50.