On August 26 and 27, Candler School of Theology at Emory University will celebrate the installation of the Rev. Dr. Terrence L. (Kojo) Johnson as the Mary Lee Hardin Willard Dean, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the school’s life and leadership.
We take as our theme the searching question posed in Psalm 116— “What shall I render unto the Lord?”—a question that invites us to the work before us: to discern what Candler must render to God, the church, the academy, and to the world in a time that demands both rigorous thought and faithful and prophetic witness.
The celebration begins on August 26 with a keynote panel featuring internationally respected scholars whose work represents the richness of Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, and interreligious traditions. Together, they will explore how rigorous scholarship, moral imagination, and diverse theological perspectives can equip leaders to engage the defining questions of our time.
On August 27, the community will gather for Fall Convocation and the Installation Ceremony, featuring an inaugural address by Dean Johnson and a celebration of Candler’s shared mission for the years ahead. A community lunch will immediately follow the ceremony. Please join us!
Registration for the Candler Dean Installation events has closed. Please email cstevents@emory.edu for any questions or additional information.
The Rev. Dr. Terrence L. (Kojo) Johnson
Dean, Convocation Speaker
On August 1, 2026, the Rev. Dr. Terrence L. (Kojo) Johnson became the 11th dean of Candler School of Theology at Emory University. An internationally recognized scholar, academic leader, and ordained itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, he comes to Candler after serving as the director of Religion and Public Life and Charles G. Adams Professor of African American Religious Studies at Harvard Divinity School. A distinguished scholar of African American religion, democracy, ethics, and political thought, Dr. Johnson explores the intersections of public life and justice, shaping national conversations on faith and religion’s role in advancing a more just and democratic society.
Schedule of Events
| Wednesday, August 26 | |
|---|---|
| 5:00–6:30 PM | Opening Keynote Panel: “Faith When Democracy Betrays Its Promise: Law, Lament, and the Work of Justice” Cannon Chapel Panelists: • Dr. Susannah Heschel, Dartmouth College • Rabbi Dr. Marc Gopin, George Mason University • The Rev. Dr. Jennifer S. Leath, Queens University • Fr. Claudio Burgaleta, SJ, Boston College • The Rev. Dr. Robert M. Franklin, Jr., Candler School of Theology (Moderator) |
| 6:30–7:30 PM | Reception Atrium, Rita Anne Rollins Building |
| Thursday, August 27 | |
|---|---|
| 11:00 AM–12:00 PM | Fall Convocation and the Installation of the Dean Newly installed Dean Terrence L. (Kojo) Johnson will deliver the Fall 2026 convocation address. Cannon Chapel |
| 12:15–2:00 PM | Community Lunch Atrium, Rita Anne Rollins Building |
Featured Speakers
Claudio M. Burgaleta
Panelist
Father Claudio M. Burgaleta, SJ, PhD, is a Jesuit priest and scholar whose work in Latinx theology, spirituality, and pastoral ministry demonstrates how contemplation leads to faithful action in the world. His scholarship centers the lived experience of Latinx communities while advancing theological reflection that serves both church and society.
Robert M. Franklin, Jr.
Moderator
The Rev. Dr. Robert M. Franklin, Jr., is a nationally recognized leader in ethics, higher education, and public theology. He serves as Candler’s inaugural James T. and Berta R. Laney Chair in Moral Leadership, is former president of Morehouse College, and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Marc Gopin
Panelist
Rabbi Dr. Marc Gopin is a renowned scholar of conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and interreligious engagement. His work advances compassionate reason as a disciplined way of knowing across religious, cultural, and political difference, offering transformative approaches to reconciliation, ethical leadership, and global coexistence.
Susannah Heschel
Panelist
Dr. Susannah Heschel is a leading scholar of Jewish historical and theological inquiry. Carrying forward the intellectual legacy of her father, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, whose work on the prophets gained renewed force through his friendship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., she brings deep moral reflection to questions of justice and public life.
Jennifer S. Leath
Panelist
The Rev. Dr. Jennifer S. Leath is an innovative scholar whose work in ethics, embodiment, and Afro-Diasporic religious traditions expands contemporary understandings of freedom, flourishing, and moral agency. Her scholarship challenges communities to imagine more just, liberative, and life-giving ways of being.
Event Information
Guests can park in the Peavine Visitor Lot on Eagle Row, then walk toward the Rita Anne Rollins Building on Dickey Drive, following the posted signs.
Enter the Rita Anne Rollins Building on the first floor, where you have two options:
- Take the main staircase to the 3rd floor, where you’ll enter the Atrium
- Take the elevator to the 3rd floor and turn left, going through the double doors to the Atrium.
Exit the Atrium through the far set of double doors, and Cannon Chapel will be directly across the plaza.
The main Emory campus has six public parking lots. The Peavine Visitor Lot is the closest to the venue. Fishburne Parking Deck is also within easy walking distance.
Overnight accommodations are available at numerous hotels in the area, including the Emory Conference Center Hotel, which is within walking distance of the event venues, and the Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Decatur.
If you have additional questions about these events, please contact Candler’s Events Office at cstevents@emory.edu for assistance.