Religion and Public Life and Harvard Divinity School (HDS) Alumni Relations partner on a series of events, Leading Toward Justice, with distinguished alumnx panelists to illuminate the power of an HDS degree.
The Leading Toward Justice webinar series features panel discussions spotlighting alumnx impact in the world and the ways alumnx leverage their HDS training while working in secular-defined or public professions. The upcoming session on Monday, October 3 will discuss the critical importance of ethical practices and religious literacy in government and public service fields.
“HDS alumni—across all careers and sectors—are leading critical work to combat injustice and foster hope for a better future. The Leading Toward Justice webinar series was created to showcase that impact through personal stories,” shares Chandra Mohammed, Associate Director for HDS Alumni Relations.
The upcoming panel on government builds on two events last year focused on alumnx in journalism and humanitarian action. The selected career paths align with the professional tracks outlined in the Religious Literacy and the Professions Initiative of Religion and Public Life.
Panelists are distinguished alumnx who have led careers in public service and government since graduating from HDS including Gary Burrill, MDiv ’91, Canadian Parliamentary Member, Jacqueline Y. Collins, MPA ’01, MTS ’03, State Senator of Illinois, Usra Ghazi, MTS ’15, Foreign Service Officer, and Kelly Raths, MDiv '05, former Assistant Director, Oregon Department of Corrections.
Susie Hayward, MDiv ’07, Associate Director of the RLPI, who will moderate the panel, emphasizes, “We endeavor to answer critical questions about the ways in which religion and governance intersect, surfacing assumptions about religion and different religious communities that can shape secular-defined government institutions.”
The event is free and open to the public. A recording of the conversation will be publicly available in the weeks following the event. Register online for the live webinar on Zoom.
Gary Burrill, MDiv '91
Member of the Legislative Assembly, Province of Nova Scotia
Gary Burrill is an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada. He has served shared ministries of the United, Presbyterian, and Baptist traditions in over 20 years of congregational ministry. A former Leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party (NDP), he is currently the NDP Member of the Legislative Assembly for the electoral district of Halifax Chebucto.
Jacqueline Y. Collins, MPA ’01, MTS ’03
State Senator of Illinois, Assistant Majority Leader
A former journalist and Emmy award-nominated editor at CBS-TV, Senator Collins has used her experience and communication skills in support of a progressive agenda to create economic and social welfare policies that reduce inequality, expand opportunity and strengthen communities. Her major legislative accomplishments include making Illinois the first in the Midwest to ban “ghost guns”, the historic Predatory Loan Prevention Act and the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act, the Mortgage Rescue Fraud Act, the landmark Sudan Divestment Act and the 2005 Payday Loan Reform Act. Senator Collins is the chair of the Senate Criminal Law Committee and serves on the Financial Institutions and Transportation Committees. She majored in journalism at Northwestern University and is a graduate of Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Divinity School. She also holds a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Usra Ghazi, MTS ’15
Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
Usra Ghazi is a U.S. Foreign Service Officer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with previous assignments in the United Kingdom and Washington, D.C. She is a senior advisor for the anti-discrimination nonprofit America Indivisible and has over a decade of experience with organizations committed to building interreligious cooperation across the U.S. and the world. She previously served as a commissioner on D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's Interfaith Council and as a policy fellow for the City of Boston in the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement. Usra has a BA in religious studies from DePaul University and a Master of Theological Studies degree from Harvard Divinity School. Her remarks do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of State.
Kelly Raths, MDiv '05
Former Assistant Director, Oregon Department of Corrections
Kelly Raths has worked for 15 years with the Oregon Department of Corrections in roles of Chaplain, Advocate, Program Services Administrator and Assistant Director. She’s particularly proud of her work with incarcerated parents and their children, in restorative justice, and supporting corrections employee wellness. Kelly grew up on a cattle ranch in Montana and she and their two children maintain those agrarian roots managing their urban chicken flock and helping her husband manage a vineyard.
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Leading Toward Justice: Intersections of Religion, Ethics, and Government
MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2022, 2 – 3PM (EST)
This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
The Leading Toward Justice webinar series features panel discussions spotlighting alumni impact in the world and the ways alumni leverage their HDS training while working in secular or public professions. This session will discuss the critical importance of ethical practices and religious literacy in government and public service fields.
Moderated by Susan O. Hayward, MDiv ’07, associate director for the Religious Literacy and the Professions Initiative (RLPI) at Harvard Divinity School
Panelists:
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Gary Burrill, MDiv ’91: Parliamentary Member, Nova Scotia House of Assembly
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Jacqueline Y. Collins, MPA ’01, MTS ’03: State Senator of Illinois, Assistant Majority Leader
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Usra Ghazi, MTS ’15: Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
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Kelly Raths, MDiv '05: Former Assistant Director, Oregon Department of Corrections
Harvard Divinity School welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about the digital access provided, please contact Kristin Ponte, at kponte@hds.harvard.edu or 617-495-8246, in advance of your participation. All virtual sessions will be live captioned.