Forever Committed: Dr. Gennifer Brooks – Alum Donor Profile

December 8, 2023

When Gennifer joined the ministry staff at Grace United Methodist Church in St. Albans, NY in 1986, her pastor suggested that she take a few courses at NBTS. Her enrollment started a 37-year-and-counting relationship between Gennifer and NBTS.

Gennifer took more than a few courses. In 1990 she earned her MDiv degree, summa cum laude, qualifying her to be an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. She was deeply influenced by her NBTS professors, including the renowned Dr. Howard Hageman.

In 2001, Gennifer became the very first student to graduate with an NBTS DMin degree. (The surname “Brooks” put her at the front of the diploma line of this first DMin graduating class.) Her doctoral experience prepared her to mentor graduate students in her current roles as Director of the DMin program at Garrett-Evangelical Seminary and Dean of the DMin in Preaching program for the Association of Chicago Theological Schools.

Deeply committed to theological education, Gennifer says that she will never stop supporting NBTS: “The Seminary continues to provide training and impart knowledge to students today.” She especially commends her alma mater for its commitment to being broadly diverse and serving the underserved.

Gennifer also respects the way NBTS is rooted in the Reformed tradition but builds bridges with those of other denominations: “I remain committed to the work of NBTS.”

Dr Brooks is the Ernest and Bernice Styberg Professor of Preaching and Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, in Evanston, Illinois.

• B.B.A., M.B.A., Pace University
• M.Div., D.Min., New Brunswick Theological Seminary
• Ph.D., Drew University