Jerusha Matsen Neal

Jerusha Matsen Neal is an Associate Professor of Homiletics at Duke University's Divinity School. Ordained as an American Baptist minister, she holds a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary (2014) alongside degrees from the University of Chicago and Princeton's M.Div. Her work bridges postcolonial preaching, climate stewardship, and gender studies through a Spirit-centered lens. Formerly Dean of Studies at Fiji's Davuilevu Theological College, her research examines sermon performance in marginalized contexts.

• Education: B.A. University of Chicago; M.Div./Ph.D. Princeton Theological Seminary

Her book The Overshadowed Preacher (2020) redefines preaching efficacy through Mariological frameworks, earning Christianity Today's top award. Current projects explore climate-displaced sermons and minoritized preachers' pulpit rhetorics. She leads Bass Connections teams on immigration theology and preaches globally for events like the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly.

Awards include Duke’s 2020 Exemplary Teacher recognition and frequent media engagements on climate theology (e.g., Christianity Today, Faith & Leadership).

Teaching focuses on anti-racist proclamation, environmental ethics, and women's preaching. Recent courses include Hope for Creation?: An Exilic Perspective and Women Preaching.