Ellen Ott MarshallView profile
Professor
Ellen Ott Marshall is a Professor of Christian Ethics and Conflict Transformation at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology and Director of the Graduate Division of Religion. She holds degrees from Vanderbilt University (PhD, MA), the University of Notre Dame (MA), and Davidson College (BA). Her work bridges academic scholarship and practical engagement, focusing on contemporary Christian ethics, violence prevention, peacebuilding, and theological hope. She has authored/co-authored six books, including Parenting for a Better World (2022) and Introduction to Christian Ethics (2018), and numerous articles on gun violence, film in ethics education, and faith-based conflict resolution. Marshall’s research emphasizes ethical practices that foster moral discernment and civil discourse, particularly in contentious contexts. She co-leads Emory’s Religion, Conflict, and Peacebuilding Initiative and chairs the New American Pathways Advisory Councils. Her teaching excellence has earned prestigious awards, including the Emory Williams Teaching Award (2015) and the Provost’s Distinguished Teaching Award (2019). She also serves in leadership roles with the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Christian Ethics. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates theology, history, and practical ethics, with notable contributions to maternal ethics, pacifism, and the dynamic interplay between faith and social justice. Marshall’s work often involves collaborative research, such as her Louisville Institute-funded project on forming Christian conflict workers. She advocates for hope as a practiced virtue rooted in attentiveness to both suffering and transformative possibilities.







