Michelle Voss

Michelle Voss is Professor of Theology and Past Principal at Emmanuel College, Victoria University (University of Toronto), where she directs Master of Divinity Programs. An ordained United Church of Canada minister, she previously served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Wake Forest University School of Divinity (2015-2018) and as Emmanuel College's 13th Principal (2018-2021)—the first woman to hold this position in its 90-year history. Her leadership emphasized race, class, gender, sexuality, and religious pluralism during institutional consolidation and the pandemic's onset.

Her educational background includes:

• BA from Calvin College (1998)
• MTS from Candler School of Theology, Emory University (2002)
• PhD from Emory University (2006)

As a leading scholar in comparative theology, Voss specializes in Christian-Hindu contexts with research spanning aesthetics, gender, embodiment, disability studies, and multiple religious belonging. Her work employs decolonial frameworks to examine how interreligious dialogue reshapes theological reflection, particularly through emotional and ritual dimensions. She develops theological anthropology informed by nondual Saiva Hindu perspectives, challenging dualistic frameworks in traditional doctrines.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2011-2025) reveals evolving engagement with decolonial approaches and indigenous perspectives, alongside consistent focus on Hindu-Christian relations and interreligious pedagogy. Recent work increasingly addresses pandemic-era challenges, institutional leadership in pluralistic contexts, and land-based spirituality, demonstrating practical application of comparative theology in ecclesial and educational settings.

Her scholarly impact is recognized through:

• American Academy of Religion Award for Excellence in Constructive/Reflective Studies (2015) for Tastes of the Divine
• Society for Hindu-Christian Studies Best Book Award (2008-2011) for Dualities: A Theology of Difference

Voss has secured significant grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Society for Hindu-Christian Studies, and United Church of Canada Foundation. Though specific advisees aren't listed, her curriculum development at Wake Forest and current Master of Divinity leadership demonstrate extensive mentoring in multireligious theological education. She served as Society for Hindu-Christian Studies President (2017-2018) and contributes to editorial projects like The Routledge Handbook of Hindu-Christian Relations.

While not affiliated with a named laboratory, her collaborative work—such as editing Comparing Faithfully with diverse scholars—highlights team-based approaches to interreligious scholarship. Current initiatives focus on integrating disability studies and indigenous perspectives into theological frameworks through her ongoing research and teaching at Emmanuel College.