Alumni News
Dr. Stephen Stacks (’12) to release “The Resounding Revolution: Freedom Song after 1968”
Dr. Stephen Stacks ('12) authored the text, The Resounding Revolution: Freedom Song after 1968, set to be released in May of 2025.
The book description reads:
"Far from being bounded by the timeframe of the 1960s, freedom song continues to evolve as a tool both of historical memory and of present activism. Stephen Stacks looks at how post-1968 freedom song helps us negotiate our present relationship to the era while at the same time sustaining the contemporary struggle inspired by it.
Stacks’s analysis shifts the focus 
of attention from genre--freedom song--to process and practice--freedom singing. As he shows, freedom singing after 1968 generates multilayered meanings. It can reinforce, or resist, consensus memories or dominant narratives. Stacks illuminates freedom singing’s diversity by examining it in three contexts: performance, protest, and within documentary sound recording/film.
Insightful and vividly detailed, The Resounding Revolution examines sixty years of Black music to challenge and reshape the entrenched story of the Civil Rights Movement."
Thumbnail photo courtesy of North Carolina Central University.
Rev. Dr. Wayne Kendall (’92)
The following obituary was originally published by Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home and can be found here.
Reverend Dr. Wayne Kendall, 86, a resident of Townsend, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at Fitchburg Healthcare surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of Janice (Nolan) Kendall with whom he shared 23 years of marriage.
He was born in Leominster on November 3, 1938, and was the son of the late Edward and Carol (Wilson) Kendall.
Wayne was raised in Townsend and 
spent his high school years in Leominster. After the loss of his girlfriend, Claudia, in his senior year, and graduating in 1956, he decided to enter the service and joined the Air Force where he served for over 4 years in various locations such as in Greenland, Labrador, and Truro as an Electronics Technician. After years in the service and marrying Dorothy in 1961 he worked at Sanders and Raytheon for a couple years, but feeling the calling of God, went to Kentucky Wesleyan College and then to Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia where he received his Bachelor of Divinity degree as well as his Masters in Divinity, and PhD in Psychology and pastoral care at Boston University. Wayne was always a sensitive, caring, thoughtful, and beloved Reverend who served over 15 congregations over his career. Congregants appreciated his warm, kind, sense of humor. His sermons were meaningful, and spirit filled. He was a member of the New England Conference, and was involved in Westford Against Substance Abuse, and Graniteville Pride for many years.
Among his various hobbies are bird watching, hiking, drawing, astronomy, woodworking, reading, puzzles and, exercising but probably the most important one to him was “visiting” people.
In addition to his loving wife, Jan, her daughter Kimberly Fahle Peck, step son-in-law Mike Peck, and grandson Walter Peck, Rev. Kendall leaves his son Scott Kendall of Chelmsford and granddaughter Vail-Marie Kendall of Nashua, NH, his son Brian Kendall and his wife Nancy of Westford; his grandsons Patrick and Ryan and his wife, Nikki; his step great grandchild Thomas, and his great grandchildren Parker and Benson. Many of you may recall when he talks about them, he speaks about how it is the first time he has ever been “great.” He also leaves behind his sister, Del Tomasi, his niece Becky Wheeler, and his nephew Matt Leupold.
Sadly, he is predeceased by his wife Dorothy E. (Staples) Kendall of over 39 years who passed away in 2000.
Memorial donations may be made in Rev. Kendall’s name to the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, 68 Tadmuck Road Ste. 1, Westford, MA 01886. For online donations, please visit Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell.
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2025, from 1 pm – 4 pm at the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. His funeral service will take place on Monday, February 10 at 10:00 am at the United Methodist Church of Westford, 10 Church St., Westford. KINDLY GATHER AT THE CHURCH. Interment to follow in West Chelmsford Cemetery, Chelmsford.
Dr. Carolynne Hitter Brown (’09) authors upcoming work, “Singing through Struggle Music, Worship, and Identity in Postemancipation Black Churches”
Dr. Carolynne Hitter Brown ('09) authored
The book description reads:
"Singing through Struggle: Music, Worship, 
and Identity in Postemancipation Black Churches offers an innovative look at the vital role music and worship played in nurturing Black citizenship and identity during the Reconstruction era. In such border cities as Baltimore, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia, the church was where newly emancipated migrants and members of the free Black community merged identities, priorities, and experiences through a process of cultural negotiation. Music, as a sign of Black achievement and as a genuine expression of identity, produced both bastions and battlegrounds in the fight for democracy.
The music of Black churchgoers, singing together in sanctuaries as well as in homes, schools, and outdoors, expressed resistance to uplift ideologies within and to white supremacy without. Even while using hymns and music of the European sacred tradition, members infused the songs they chose with new meanings relevant to their evolving concerns and situations. Drawing on fresh archival sources, Singing through Struggle sheds light on the unexplored gap in the study of African American religious music between slavery and the Great Migration, demonstrating the continuous stream of Black creativity and dignity that existed in religious music making between gospel music and the spirituals.
This close-up investigation of three Black congregations draws out previously forgotten stories of men and women who understood church music as key to shaping a collective purpose and civic identity. Their stories demonstrate how faith, music, and ritual gave the Black community means for exploring a deeply complex and ever-changing reality."
The Very Rev. Dr. Marion Pardy (’97) awarded for leadership among interfaith communities
The following is an excerpt from The United Church of Canada's article, “Dr. Pardy nominated for her interfaith and guaranteed living income (GLI) work,” published on February 4, 2025. Click here to read the full article.
"The Very Rev. Dr. Marion Pardy, 37th Moderator of The United Church of Canada, will receive the King Charles Coronation Medal in recognition of her leadership and commitment to interfaith community service. This is not her first medal of recognition; in 2013, the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador awarded Dr. Pardy a Queen’s Jubilee Medal in recognition of her contributions to church and community.
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'From pew to pulpit, to public officials, to public and social media; from synagogue to mosque, to temple, to Gurdwara, Dr. Pardy has spent years in education, consciousness-raising, advocacy and solidarity,' says Haseen Khan, executive member with the Canadian Interfaith Conversation, who initiated the nomination on behalf of the Religious Social Action Coalition, of which he also is one of the directors. '[Her work highlights] for society the benefits of the pluralistic nature of our country and the necessity for appreciation and understanding of all religions, noting that the many paths to the Divine command respect from all.'”
Mr. Sean Glenn (’13) joins in developing Haven Religious Community
The following is an excerpt from The Living Church article by Greta Gaffin ('23, '28), “Three Members Form a Nascent Religious Community,” published on January 1, 2025. Click here to read the full article.
"Haven Religious is an emerging religious 
community in Hartford, Connecticut that hopes to provide active service to the church and the city. There are three members: the Rev. Marta Rivera Monclova, Gregory Simmons, and Sean Glenn. Rivera Monclova and Simmons are novices in the Order of the Body of Christ, a traditional vowed religious community that exists within Haven.
Rivera Monclova is the leader. She wants to create something she sees as not prominent within the Episcopal Church: active religious life. 'We’re very inspired by the early Victorian sisterhoods, who often were just women who started living together in a house and serving the church,' she said.
The community uses the Carmelite Rule of St. Albert, because it was written for a group of hermits who wanted to unite into a more corporate life. Because members can pursue different ministries, as opposed to having one shared apostolate, they felt like a rule emphasizing individual discernment and spirituality would work best. The community shares in daily Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, acknowledging that sometimes ministry needs mean someone cannot attend."
Rev. Leonard S. Buxton (’56, ’63)
The following obituary was originally published by Hugh B. Hughes Funeral Home and can be found here.
Reverend Leonard S. Buxton died 
December 16th, 2024 at Wesley Village Rehabilitation Center in Pittston surrounded by members of his family. He was born in Ephrata PA, the son of Rev. Sydney and Ella Buxton on May 21, 1930. Leonard attended Albright College and Boston University, becoming a United Methodist minister. He served numerous congregations–from Somerville Massachusetts to churches in metropolitan New York, including a tenure of service at NY Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn–finally settling in northeastern Pennsylvania. Active in the civil rights movement, he also taught psychology at Claflin and Benedict Colleges in South Carolina and wrote about his experiences in his book This is My Story, This is My Song.
Leonard married his beloved wife, Loretta (Smith) Buxton in 1957 and they had daughter (Lynette), and three sons. They traveled the world during their time together and were currently living at Wesley Village retirement community.
Leonard is survived by his wife (Loretta), sons Mark (Hilary), Jon (Barbara), and Dale (Angie). Grandchildren include Leah (Addison), Josiah (Sarah), Jesse (Elsa), and Sam. He also has a great grandchild, Wren.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Shavertown United Methodist Church, 163 N Pioneer Avenue, Shavertown, on Friday, December 20th at 3:30 PM with visitation from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Shavertown United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice. Online condolences, if desired, can be sent to hughbhughes.com.
Prof. Wesley Wildman named an Inaugural Duan Family Faculty Fellow in CDS
The following is an excerpt from the article “BU’s “Changemakers”: Crovella and Wildman Named Inaugural Duan Family Faculty Fellows in CDS” by Maureen McCarty, featuring Professor of Philosophy, Theology, and Ethics Wesley Wildman, published in March 2025.
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During the winter 2024 ceremony held at the Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences, Crovella, CDS chair of academic affairs and professor of computer science in the College of Arts & Sciences, and Wildman, CDS chair of faculty affairs and professor of philosophy, theology, and ethics at Boston University, were recognized for their leadership and contributions to advancing interdisciplinary collaboration in data science. Before an audience of over 200, CDS Associate Provost Azer Bestavros praised the two scholars calling them “changemakers” and “cornerstones” of CDS.
“Critical to our vision and mission are distinguished faculty members who have the capacity and demonstrated track record of bridging disciplines and thus acting as ‘changemakers’ at BU,” Bestavros said. “Their selection is a recognition of their commitment to CDS's premise, vision, and mission – even before CDS was created – and their tireless efforts to make it the reality we have today. Simply put, they are two cornerstones of CDS.”
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Rev. Dr. Brandon T. Crowley (STH ’12, ’19) Inspiring the Development of Affirming Congregations
The following is an excerpt from The Heights article by Laney McAden and Riley Del Sesto, “He Felt God Call Him to Come Out. Now, He Helps Black Churches Become Safe Spaces for Others To Do the Same,” published on February 17, 2025. Click here to read the full article.
"Crowley’s first book, Queering the Black 
Church: Dismantling Heteronormativity in the African American Church, was published in 2024 by Oxford University Press. In the book, he seeks to aid other Black churches across the country through the process of becoming welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.
'I wrote the book because there are Black churches out there who want to figure out how to affirm gay people,' Crowley said. 'They just don’t know how to do it.'
In his book, Crowley addresses the history of Black Christian methodology in regard to homosexuality. He writes, in part, with the goal of 'queering' these beliefs in Black Churches across the country, just as the Civil Rights Movement dismantled the flaws of American equality.
'And so queering, for me, is about subversion,' Crowley said. 'It is about making the least, the most important. It is about turning the center on its head where there is no center and all are equitably treated.'
Rev. Deborah Loomis LaFond (’96) publishes children’s book, “The Laughing Giraffe”
Reverend Deborah Loomis LaFond ('96) authored the 2024 children's book titled The Laughing Giraffe.
The book description reads:
"The Laughing Giraffe is a story about 
Thulani, a gentle and quiet giraffe living in the savanna of Southern Africa. With his long, thick lashes, Thulani captivates everyone around him. Join Thulani on an adventure filled with surprise when his friends attempt to make him laugh. Written by Deborah L. Lafond and illustrated by Amanda Leighton, this book will bring joy to readers of any age. Teachers, parents, and grandparents will find this story illustrating critical concepts for living and working together. Thulani's friends show empathy, a willingness to help their friends, and an acceptance of differences. The book contains a list of characters with Zulu names and meanings, a drawing, the animal species, and a description of each. The illustrations are realistic and whimsical, making it perfect for early primary grades."
Rev. Kim Engle (’24) serving first appointment with Middleboro, Lakeville churches
The following is an excerpt from the Nemasket Week article, “Combined Middleboro, Lakeville churches have new pastor” published on February 7, 2025. Click here to read the full article.
"Engle, a Plymouth native, was a member 
at the Church of the Pilgrimage in Plymouth, where she also began her path into ministry. She was accepted into the Boston University School of Theology where she received her masters of divinity degree and was recently ordained in the United Church of Christ.
Engle’s position at both North Congregational Church and Lakeville United Church of Christ is her first in ministry. She previously served as camp program director at Amazing Grace, a director at the Hanover YMCA and also worked at Sing, Explore, Create, where she taught music to preschoolers and students with disabilities."