Meet Rev. Denise Carrell MDiv '23, PhD Program Coordinator
How often does one encounter a pastor with a talent for spreadsheets, a passion for policy meetings, and the character of a “naturally born hype man”? For PhD students and faculty at Princeton Theological Seminary, the answer might be “every day.”
The Rev. Denise Carrell, who became the Seminary’s first PhD Program Coordinator in 2023, quickly discerned that this new role would require a blend of bold, outgoing hospitality and quiet, behind-the-scenes tenacity.
Israel Gwatana, a first-year PhD student in World Christian History & Religion, describes how he first met Denise while still a Master’s student at Princeton Seminary: “Her warmth and receptiveness immediately made me feel that I belonged here.” For incoming PhD students who are new to Princeton Theological Seminary, Denise is essentially the “face” of the institution, acting as their point person as they navigate the complexities of moving, registering, and adjusting to life within a new, academically rigorous program. Febrianto, a first-year student in Practical Theology, appreciates “how genuine she is every time she asks ‘how are you’ to me when we meet. She is also a good listener, which makes her a fantastic support for the students.”
The PhD Program Coordinator position was created within the Princeton Seminary PhD Studies Office as a result of the 2022 PhD Taskforce Report. The report, created by Princeton Seminary faculty who integrated feedback from alumni, students, and the wider community, was the result of a year-long intentional reflection on the PhD program’s goals, strengths, and areas of needed growth. The report aimed to reinforce, as Denise describes it, “the Seminary’s commitment to the doctoral program not only to maintain [Princeton Seminary’s] reputation as a leading program within the greater academic landscape, but also the intentional wholistic support of the doctoral students.” The PhD Program Coordinator supports PhD Studies Director Dr. Heath Carter and oversees the administration of the program, the well-being of the students, and communication with faculty and staff. To those ends, Denise has brought her unique blend of enthusiasm, institutional knowledge, bureaucratic creativity, and pastoral care to the job.
Denise first joined the Princeton Seminary community in 2016 through the Institute for Youth Ministry certificate program. She fell in love with the Seminary and discerned her own call to ministry a few years later. She earned her Master of Divinity at Princeton Seminary in 2023 while working in the Seminary’s Office of Admissions, and was ordained in 2024. Her work with PhD students fits perfectly within her pastoral ministry, as she sees herself as “drawn to working with those who are in times of transition and discernment. The pursuit of a PhD can be lonely and isolating, but it’s also a time when students discover a unique community of colleagues—people who care deeply about similar things and are motivated by the same passion for knowledge and excellence.”
I see my ministry in the pastoral care of students who are navigating the stress of life and academics, but I also see it in community-building—creating this kind of institutional community—one that supports and pours into students as they are living and working in this liminal academic space.”
As an advocate for students, Denise has proven to be a highly effective administrator, seeking out new ways to navigate institutional bureaucracy, improve efficiency, and create pathways for communication between students, faculty, and staff.
Current PhD students agree that Denise is living into her call. As Gwatana says,
“Beyond the demands of her job, Denise strives to express love in a diverse yet unique way that brightens the day of each seminarian she comes across.”
For her part, Denise enjoys the challenges set before her, as well as the front-row seat to the work and passion of students within Princeton Seminary’s PhD program. “I believe in what the Seminary is about,” she says, “This grand experiment of aligning top-notch theological education with faith formation within a close-knit community. But that kind of vision requires a lot of intentional support. If I can be part of that support system for students and faculty so they can pursue their goals… well, what could be better than that?”