Education
August 2021 – Present
Southern Methodist University
PhD Student, Religious Ethics
Studying the ethic of resistance and the ethic of control in oppressed and privileged cultures along with the theologies that support or oppose them.
August 2018 – May 2021
Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University
M.Div.
Graduated Summa Cum Laude
August 2010 – May 2012
Johns Hopkins University
M.S. Biotechnology Enterprise
Graduated Cum Laude
August 2004 – May 2009
Minnesota State University Moorhead
B.A. Biology and Chemistry (double major) with emphasis in Biotechnology and Biochemistry
Graduated Summa Cum Laude
Minor in Communication Studies
Research Experience
Expected Start 2023
Southern Methodist University
Dissertation
Advisor(s): Rebekah Miles, Karen Baker-Fletcher, Steve Long
Spring 2022 – Fall 2022
Southern Methodist University
Research Assistant
Advisor: Karen Baker-Fletcher
- Researching for Dr. Baker-Fletcher’s upcoming book project on black women activists who are survivors of unjust violence and exemplars of spiritual resilience.
Scholarly Publications & Presentations
Published Articles
Journal Articles in Progress (Abstract Accepted)
Klein, Shandon C. “Empowered Resistance: The Impact of an African Indigenous Faith on the “Woman Who Was More Than a Man.” African Journal of Gender and Religion for Special Issue. Article to be published June 2024.
Conference Presentations
Klein, Shandon, “Out of the Mouths of Babes: An Ethic of Control and Dylan Roof.” Disrupting White Privilege Working Group, Society of Christian Ethics, January 2024.
Klein, Shandon, “Quaring an Ethic of Resistance and Ethic of Control: The Exemplar of Pauli Murray.” Queer Studies of Religion Unit, American Academy of Religion, San Antonio, TX, November 2023
Klein, Shandon, “Theology without Walls as an Open System” Theology Without Walls Group, American Academy of Religion, San Antonio, TX, November 2023
Salcedo, Abbie and Klein, Shandon, “Theological Virtues in the Anti-Black Racism Discourse of Religious Studies Professors.” American Association for Adult and Continuing Education Conference, October 14, 2022.
Colloquy Presentations
Response to Asian Americans and the Spirit of Racial Capitalism. Graduate Program of Religious Studies Ethics Colloquy for Tate Willson Lecture, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, March 9, 2022.
- Invited to respond to guest lecturer Jonathan Tran in colloquy
Awards & Fellowships
- 2022, 2023 Angella P. Current-Felder Women of Color Scholars, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, United Methodist Church
- 2022 – 2024 Doctoral Fellowship, Louisville Institute
- 2022, 2023 Honorable Mention, Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
- 2021 – 2026 Mustang Fellowship, Southern Methodist University
- 2021 The Dr. and Mrs. Glenn Flinn Senior Award, Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology
- 2021 The Charley T. and Jesse James Bible Award, Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology
- 2021 The Robert Weatherford Prize for Internship Preaching, Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology
- 2020 B’nai B’rith Award in Social Ethics, Harold M. Kaufman Memorial Foundation
Public Leadership & Service
2022 – Present
United Women in Faith
Elected to Metro District Nominations Committee of the North Texas Conference, 2022 – 2024
2019 – Present
Southern Methodist University
Board of Advisors, Black Africana Studies Program, 2021 – Present
Student Member, Fall Convocation Advisory Board, 2019 – 2021
2019 – Present
United Methodist Church
Lay Delegate to 2020 General Conference, Rescheduled to 2024
Lay Delegate to 2020 South Central Jurisdictional Conference, Oct 2022
- Assigned to South Central Jurisdictional Boundaries Committee 2022 – 2024
2018 – Present
North Texas Annual Conference
Metro District Nominations Committee Member, 2023 – Present
Black Church Task Force, Participant, 2020 – 2021
Genesis Church Planting Cohort, 2020 – 2021
Lay Member, 2019 – Present
Certified Candidate for the order of Elder, 2018 – Present
2016 – Present
First United Methodist Church Richardson
Ministry Associate, 2020 – Present
Circle Leader, United Women in Faith, 2019 – Present
Assistant Director of Welcoming Ministries, 2016 – 2020
Research Interests
Comparative study of oppressed and privileged cultures in regard to both ethics and lived theology
Ethic of Resistance
Ethic of Control
Pneumatology
Trans-Religious Theology
Professional Affiliations
American Academy of Religion, 2021 – Present
Society of Christian Ethics, 2021 – Present
- Student Member of the Board of Directors, 2023-2025
Society of Biblical Literature, 2021 – 2022
American Association for Adult and Continuing Education, 2022 – Present
