Danielle Tumminio Hansen

The Rev. Dr. Danielle Tumminio Hansen centers her work at the intersection of practical theology, trauma studies, philosophy, and psychology. She is the author of five books, including Trauma-Informed Spiritual Care: Interventions for Safety, Meaning, Reconnection and Justice (Fortress, 2024), Speaking of Rape: The Limits of Language in Sexual Violations (Fortress, 2024), and Conceiving Family: A Practical Theology of Surrogacy and Self (Baylor University Press, 2019). Her research interests include the theological dimensions of trauma, theological issues related to sex and reproduction, narrative theories of the self, epistemic injustice, and restorative justice.

Tumminio Hansen was awarded the Fox Center for Humanistic Inquiry Presidential Fellowship for the 2024-5 academic year. She has also been the recipient of a Wabash Center Early Career Fellowship Grant; a Conant Grant for the study of spirituality, intersectionality, and sexual violations; and the Dwight-Hooker Prize from Yale Divinity School.

Tumminio Hansen has appeared as a guest on major national and international news outlets including NPR, CBC, Al Jazeera America, and BBC Australia to discuss the intersection of religion and popular culture. She has also written articles for The Guardian, CNN, Huffington Post, and Sojourners.

Tumminio Hansen holds a B.A. in English from Yale University, a Master of Divinity and Master of Sacred Theology from Yale Divinity School, and a Ph.D. in Practical Theology from Boston University. Prior to arriving at Candler, she was assistant professor of pastoral theology and director of field education at Seminary of the Southwest. Tumminio Hansen has been a lecturer at Yale and Tufts universities, in addition to serving as chaplain at Groton School and as an Episcopal parish priest in Lexington, Lincoln, and Quincy, Massachusetts. She has also served as a member of the Yale Divinity School Alumni Board and The Episcopal Church’s Board of Examining Chaplains.

BOOKS

Trauma-Informed Spiritual Care, Fortress Press, 2024

Speaking of Rape: The Limits of Language in Sexual Violations, Fortress Press, 2024

Conceiving a Family: A Practical Theology of Surrogacy and Self, Baylor University Press, 2019

God and Harry Potter at Yale: Faith and Fantasy Fiction in an Ivy League Classroom, Unlocking Press, 2010

CHAPTERS AND ARTICLES

“Sarah Mullally breaks the Anglican Communion’s glass ceiling,” The Christian Century (October, 2025)

“Anglican Theologies of Reproductive Choice: Guest Editor’s Introduction,” Anglican Theological Review (106:3 Summer, 2024, guest editor)

“Surrogacy, Secrecy, and the Sin of the Autonomous Self” Pregnancy and Birth: Critical Theological Conceptions.  Eds. Karen O’Donnell & Claire Williams, SCM Press (September, 2024)

“Restorative Justice and Pastoral Care: Shared Principles and Practices,”  Journal of Pastoral Theology. 34:1. 2024, 53-62.

“Temporality, Hermeneutical Injustice, and Freedom After Rape,” published in the most recent edition of the APA (American Philosophical Association) Studies on Feminism and Philosophy. Fall, 2023

“The Body of God, Sexually Violated: A Trauma-Informed Reading of Sallie McFague and the Climate Crisis,” Religions 13:3, 2022, 249-61. Reprinted in Practical Theology Amid Environmental Crises, Eds. Pamela McCarroll and HyeRan Kim-Cragg.  (Religions), 2023, 83-94.

“Generalized Surrogacy and the COVID-19 Crisis,” International Journal of Practical Theology. 26:1, 2022, 57-74.

“Even More Tenuous Connections: A Pastoral Theological Analysis of Foster Care During COVID-19,”  Journal of Pastoral Theology.  31:2-3.  2021, 207-223.  Reprinted in Justice Matters: Spiritual Care and Pastoral Theological Imaginations in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic.  Eds. Kyungsig Samuel Lee and Danjuma Gibson.  (Routledge) 2022 ,137-54.

“Spiritual Friendship and Sexual Violence,” published in Claiming God: Essays in Honor of Marilyn McCord Adams

“Remembering Rape in Heaven: A Constructive Proposal for Memory and the Eschatological Self,” in Modern Theology. September, 2020

“Absent a Word: How the Language of Sexual Harm Keeps Survivors Silent,” in Journal of Pastoral Theology. Summer, 2020

“Trauma and Grace: Theology in a Ruptured World.” Book Review. Anglican Theological Review. Spring, 2011

“Birthing a Mother: The Surrogate Body and the Pregnant Self.” Book Review. Practical Matters Journal. Spring, 2011

“Divine Worship; Human Healing and Trauma Recalled.” Book Reviews.  The Christian Century. Summer, 2011

“Psalm 112: Theological Perspective,” in Feasting on the Word. Westminster John Knox Press. Online supplement. Summer, 2010

“Grief: Contemporary Theory and the Practice of Ministry.” Book Review. BTI (Boston Theological Institute) Magazine. Ed. Rodney Petersen. October, 2010

“Reflections on God and Harry Potter,” in Hog’s Head Conversations: Brilliant Essays on Harry Potter. Zossima Press. July, 2009

President’s Humanities Fellowship, Fox Center for Humanistic Inquiry, Emory University, 2024-2025

Conant Grant Recipient to study intersectionality and sexual violence, with specific attention to the experience of minoritized populations in cases of sexual violence, 2020

Wabash Digital Salon Early Career participant, 2020

Conant Grant Recipient to study the relationship between sexual violence and language, 2019

Selected by Texas Writer’s League for their Advanced Craft of Fiction Workshop, 2019

Luce Foundation co-participant to study contemporary issues in chaplaincy, 2018

Lily Foundation grant through Boston University Center for Practical Theology to pursue dissertation qualitative interview research with Episcopal clergy to discover their theology of third party reproduction, 2013

Springboard grant through Boston University School of Theology to speak at the International Conference on Peace and Reconciliation (Jerusalem, Israel), 2012

Springboard grant through Boston University School of Theology to speak at the Infinitus Symposium (Orlando, Florida) , 2010

Springboard grant through Boston University to attend The Parliament of the World’s Religions (Melbourne, Australia), 2009

Lilly Grant for studies in practical theology through Boston University, 2008-2010