Vanderbilt Divinity School is excited to host Rep. Harold Love Jr., (MTS ’98) as its Spring 2026 Practitioner-in-Residence (PIR). Each semester, the Divinity School invites a member of the clergy, a nonprofit leader, or a social justice activist to be “in residence” with its community. The PIR hosts sessions about their work, mentors students, and invites them to visit their organization or congregation. Students are exposed to experts who model the interdisciplinary, interfaith, and justice work that is at the core of the Vanderbilt Divinity School community.
R
ep. Love, Jr., has served as a dedicated public servant in the Tennessee House of Representatives since 2012, representing the 58th District. He serves on the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee as well as the Insurance Committee. He graduated from Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics/Finance in 1994, earned a Master of Theological Studies degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School in 1998, and received his PhD in Public Policy and Administration from Tennessee State University in 2017. He was ordained by the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church in 1999 and serves as pastor of Lee Chapel A.M.E. Church in Nashville. A proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Rep. Love was awarded the Vanderbilt Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016.
Dean Yolanda Pierce noted, “We are so excited to have Rep. Love, Jr., join us this spring. His focus on social justice and community activism will be a catalyst for our students as they imagine where their theological degrees will take them. We couldn’t have a better example of God’s work in the world.”
Rep. Love will kick off his residency with a lunch and learn event, held Friday, February 6, 2026, at noon in room G29 at the Divinity School, where he will discuss his path to Divinity and its impact on his career. Members of the Vanderbilt and Nashville communities are welcome to attend. Please RSVP at: https://forms.office.com/r/x8zVhrzWRc. For more information, email Cheryl Williams, director of administration (cheryl.a.williams@vanderbilt.edu).