ABOUT OUR PRESENTERS

Dr. Askew earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Smith College, graduating cum laude. She received the Master of Arts degree with a specialty in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Northern Iowa. After working as a mental health professional for several years, Dr. Askew was captivated by the theological dimensions of the human experience and returned to school, receiving her Ph.D. in theology from Vanderbilt University. As a Fulbright scholar, she studied the impact of Muslim immigration into France and Germany. Her research and publication interests include climate migration, climate gentrification in the United States LGBTQIA migration into the United States and the EU, and theology and domestic violence.

DR. ELAINE NOGUEIRA-GODSEY 

Dr. Nogueira-Godsey is Assistant Professor in Theology, Ecology and Race at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. She intersects decolonial and ecofeminist theories to research black, brown, and indigenous women’s experiences of religion, gender, and sexuality connected to climate change, environmental racism, and food justice. Her focus has been in the development of pedagogical methods of teaching and learning that intersect decolonial theory and ecofeminist liberation theology. Her most recent works include “A Decological Way to Dialogue: Rethinking Ecofeminism and Religion” and “Tangible Actions Toward Solidarity: An Ecofeminist Analysis of Women’s Participation in Food Justice.” She is co-chair of the Women’s Caucus AAR/SBL. She is currently working on A book titled Rethinking Ecofeminism and Religion: A Decolonial Perspective.

REV. SUSAN HENDERSHOT

Rev. Susan Hendershot has served as president of Interfaith Power & Light since 2018. She was raised in a blue-collar family outside Cleveland, Ohio, before attending Bethany College in West Virginia, where she graduated with honors with a BA in Religious Studies. She went on to graduate school at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., and received her Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology. After graduate school, she moved to Iowa, where she was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and served as a pastor in local congregations, focusing on social justice. Rev. Hendershot also led faith-based nonprofit organizations and served as the first Heartland Field Organizer for the ONE Campaign on global poverty. Just prior to her current role, she served as the executive director at Iowa Interfaith Power & Light, one of the state affiliates in the Interfaith Power & Light network. Currently, Rev. Hendershot serves as co-chair of the Executive Committee for the RE-AMP Steering Committee, a network of more than 140 climate, energy, and environmental organizations throughout the Midwest. Rev. Hendershot believes climate change is a moral issue, disproportionately impacting those who are most vulnerable in our world. She gets her motivation and inspiration from her two sons. Rev. Hendershot is based in Washington, D.C.