PhD Student Profile: Marshaé A. Sylvester

September 8, 2021

Area of Study: Pastoral Theology, Personality and Culture

Marshaé grew up in the Pacific Northwest among the evergreens and mountains but is currently living in Chicagoland. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Willamette University double majoring in Psychology and Spanish. Marshaé spent 11 years in college campus ministry engaging in spiritual care and leadership development among students of color. Later, Marshaé completed a Master in Theological Studies with an emphasis in Religion, Personality and Culture, graduating with Honors and as a member of Theta Alpha Kappa National Honors society for Religious Studies and Theology. She is currently working on a PhD in Pastoral Theology with a focus on Decolonial projects of spiritual care for Black queer femme identified people. She is interested in the topic of religious syncretism or queering religion, resiliency, and cohesive self-identity. Additionally, she is being trained as a clinical therapist, with an emphasis on spiritually integrated care for LGBTQIA people of color. In her free time, Marshaé is making travel plans, catching a show with her partner, painting, or maintaining her balcony garden. Marshaé considers herself a nature connected, body positive, artist, theologian. Marshaé is passionate about the thriving of marginalized people. She hopes for people to be celebrated, in every ethnicity, ability, gender, sexuality, and body shape, as image bearers of an immensely creative God.

Papers and Publications

In Search of our Authentic Selves: The Impact of the Strong Black Woman Image on Black Millennial Women’s Relationships, Coping and Authenticity – A Thesis