Lorena Parrish

The Reverend Lorena M. Parrish, Ph.D. is womanist scholar-activist, ordained minister in American Baptist Churches, U.S.A., adjunct at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York and academic advisor/mentor for doctoral students in Pastoral Care and Counseling at New Brunswick Theological Seminary. She has over 16 years of nonprofit experience and has worked in multicultural and multi-racial congregations. Dr. Parrish is recognized for her leadership and excellence in diversifying, growing and revitalizing organizations, creating programs for cross-cultural engagement and transformational leadership. She has served as Senior Associate Pastor of Fort Washington Collegiate Church in New York City; as Pastor of Claryville Reformed Church in Claryville, New York; as Director of Youth Ministries at The Riverside Church in New York City; and as Chief Executive of Girls Incorporated of NYC, a nonprofit committed to advocating for and serving underserved young women and girls. Dr. Parrish is also a former publishing executive and has worked for Cahners Publishing, Scholastic, Inc. and Woman’s Day Magazine. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media Communications (Cum laude) from New York University, a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work (Summa cum laude), and a Master of Divinity, Master of Philosophy, and Doctor of Philosophy in Systematic Theology from Union Theological Seminary in New York City.