Michelle E. Shaw

Michelle E. Shaw serves as Assistant Professor in the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences at Belmont University, where she integrates her professional journalism background with academic scholarship in communication and religious studies.

Her educational credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Public Culture, Northwestern University
• Master of Theology, Emory University’s Candler School of Theology
• Master of Divinity, Interdenominational Theological Center
• BA in Mass Media Arts, Clark Atlanta University

Dr. Shaw's research critically examines how Black women's lived experiences shape their pedagogical approaches in teaching preaching, operating at the intersection of rhetorical theory, religious education, and critical race feminism. Her work challenges traditional pedagogical frameworks by centering racial and gendered identities within religious communication contexts, with implications for inclusive teaching practices in predominantly white theological institutions.

Prior to academia, her 15-year journalism career at major publications including The Nashville Tennessean and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution informs her practical emphasis on message clarity and audience engagement. She actively mentors students in crafting concise communications across interpersonal and public contexts while maintaining research focus on identity-conscious pedagogy in religious education.