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The Reverend Dr. AHyun Lee Appointed as Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology, Care, and Psychotherapy

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary is pleased to announce the appointment of the Reverend Dr. AHyun Lee (G-ETS 2015) as assistant professor of pastoral theology, care, and psychotherapy, beginning July 1, 2022. A graduate of Garrett-Evangelical’s Doctor of Philosophy program, Lee’s pastoral and professional background will bring a rich variety of experiences to her position along with a particular specialization in intercultural pastoral counseling.


“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Lee back to Garrett-Evangelical,” said President Javier A. Viera. “Her unique mix of skills as a scholar-practitioner, and her wide-ranging areas of clinical expertise, pastoral competencies, and global/multi-cultural experience will bring these much needed gifts to our faculty and to our students and learning spaces. Her contributions and leadership will significantly strengthen our already top ranked program in counseling and all of our programs in pastoral theology.”


“Dr. Lee’s clinical credentials, her capacity to immediately offer courses that are needed for licensure, and her commitment to ensuring student success and a positive experience in the clinical track program were of particular note,” said Dr. Rodolfo R. Nolasco, Jr., who chaired the faculty search committee and serves as the Reuben P. Job Professor of spiritual formation and pastoral theology. “We also noted her pedagogical skills in engaging students and her firsthand knowledge of Garrett-Evangelical and our clinical training partner, the Center for Religion and Psychotherapy of Chicago.” 


Lee currently serves as assistant professor of pastoral care at Wesley Seminary, Indiana Wesleyan University and has served as a faculty member and psychotherapist at the Center for Religion and Psychotherapy of Chicago. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Illinois and has completed numerous professional certifications. An ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, Lee has also served in a variety of locations and positions within the Wisconsin Conference and South Korea, including rural and urban churches, the Center for Asian/Asian American Ministry and Theology at Garrett-Evangelical, and cross-cultural and cross-racial ministries.


“I cannot express my excitement regarding my new position at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, a place which has profoundly shaped my scholarship, clinical practices, and teaching,” said Lee. “Not only am I thrilled to be working alongside such a distinguished faculty, I am also excited to teach and connect with the bold and adventurous students of the Garrett community. I hope to continue my work as an ally and advocate for greater representation of minority and underserved communities to access pastoral and spiritual care. I look forward to sharing my clinical and pastoral experiences along with my research with students and colleagues!”


Lee’s research interests include psychotherapy and religion, intercultural pastoral care and counseling, self-psychology, narrative therapy theory, trauma and crisis counseling, trauma-informed pedagogy, Asian and Asian American theology, practical/pastoral theology, feminist/womanist theology, postcolonial theory and theology. She is the author of Selves in Between: Offering Care and Forging Bonds with Difference (New Room Books, 2021), Protestant Clergy Sexual Misconduct and Intercultural Pastoral Care – Invisible Mask (Palgrave Macmillan, forthcoming) and 나를 만나는 여행 (Seoul: Korea: 반디, forthcoming).


Lee is a member of Pacific, Asian, and North American Asian Women in Theology and Ministry, the Society of Pastoral Theology, the American Academy of Religion, International Academy of Practical Theology, National Association of Korean American United Methodist Clergy Women, Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association, and the Illinois Counseling Association. She is also on the editorial board of the Journal of Pastoral Psychology.


Along with her PhD from Garrett-Evangelical, Lee earned a bachelor of theology from The Methodist Theological University (Seoul, South Korea), a master of theology from The Graduate School at The Methodist Theological University (Seoul, South Korea), and a master of divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary (Washington, DC, United States).