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Atlanta, GA 30322

About Us

The Office of Student Life is comprised of three senior staff members and a dynamic team of student talent! Together, the OSL staff work to respond to student needs by creating events that promote a holistic student experience. Keep scrolling to learn more about the office!

OSL Senior Staff

Reverend Allison Henderson-Brooks

Assistant Dean of Students

Rev. Allison Henderson-Brooks is the Assistant Dean of Students. Allison is a proud graduate at Atlanta’s historic Spelman College where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature in 2008. In May of 2019, she received her Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. While a student, was apart of the inaugural class of Westside Fellows for Candler and worked as the research assistant for The Rev. Dr. Robert M. Franklin in the Laney Legacy Program for Moral Leadership. She also was the President of the Baptist Students Association and Co-Chair of the Senior Class gift committee. Dean Henderson-Brooks is also a licensed and ordained Baptist minister.

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Quentin Samuels

Associate Director of Student Life

Quentin Samuels is the Associate Director of Student Life. He oversees the OSL student staff and advises student leaders and programs. His work also includes collaborating with other school and institutional partners to plan and execute signature events for Candler. Moreover, he provides leadership and support for the design, execution and evaluation of new and existing OSL programs and projects. Prior to his work at Candler, Quentin was the Campus Outreach and Ministry Coordinator at the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College, from which he was graduated with a degree in Business Administration. Quentin has a deep love for music, media, the arts and culture. He believes at the center of every artistic expression is a meaningful measure of the Divine.

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Marielle C. Thomas

Director of Career Services

Marielle was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. She received her bachelor's degree from Middle Tennessee State University and a master's in administration with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership and Development from the University of South Dakota. For the past decade, she has worked in higher education in career services helping students with their professional development and helping employers develop and enhance their campus recruiting strategy. She has had the pleasure of serving students and employers at universities such as Georgia Tech and Georgia State University.  Marielle has an extensive ministry background with over 23 years of experience. She currently serves as the Director of Worship & Creative Arts at The Faith Community. 

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 2022 — 2023 OSL Team

Djalia Uwimana

Second-Year MDiv
Djalia Uwimana is a second-year MDiv international student from Rwanda. Prior to joining Candler, she graduated from Pharmacy School in Kenya and worked as a pharmacist. Djalia is passionate about using science, scripture, and faith to create safety, inclusion, healing, and purpose. In 2019, she left everything and moved to Lambeth Palace in the heart of London to join the community of St. Anselm, an ecumenical religious order of young people devoted to prayer, theological study, and service to the poor. She served as a hospital chaplain while living in the UK. Currently, Djalia is in the discernment process in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta.

Djalia is a travel enthusiast and has a deep love for languages. She loves music, arts, and learning about different cultures. 

Brittain Lawrence

Second-Year MDiv
Brittain Lawrence is a second-year MDiv student interested in exploring the intersections of theology and ethics, particularly related to theodicy and suffering. She majored in religious studies and minored in philosophy at Belmont University, where she studied Koine Greek for two years. Brittain is an avid lover of languages and has also studied Latin, Spanish, and most recently German. Brittain enjoys musical theatre, listening to political podcasts, and whitewater rafting. 

Junmey Wang

Third-Year MDiv
Junmey Wang is a 3rd Year Master of Divinity international student, born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Junmey enjoys playing, intercultural living, and learning. During this time in seminary, she is relearning our human capacity for deep feeling, including processing cultural trauma and grief, and cultivating rest and pleasure in our lives. She is interested in reconnecting with her cultural histories, and the art of living gently and responsibly as part of the wider earth ecosystem.

Cheyne Collier

First-Year MDiv
Cheyne Collier is a first-year Master of Divinity seeking to discern his ordination track in the Episcopal Church. Before coming to Candler, Cheyne completed a Master of Theological Studies in Ethics at Lee University where he also served his department as a teaching assistant, lecturer, and mentor in the mentorship program. He remains interested how dialogue and listening interact with the various intersections of moral life. He is interested in work that will create better bridges between the worlds the church, the community, and the academy while maintaining their respective distinctions. Cheyne loves music, museums, libraries, and finding great places to eat with others.

Kim Furlow

Second-Year MDiv
Kim Furlow is a second-year MDiv student from Birmingham, Alabama. They are a certified candidate for ordination on the deacon track with the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church. Kim is currently serving as the Pastoral Resident of Adult Discipleship at Decatur First United Methodist Church. They are a member of Candler Sacred Worth and currently serve as the organization's chaplain. Additionally, they are a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network, and an alumna of The Reformation Project's 2019 Leadership Cohort. 

Kim is a second career student at Candler. Their professional background includes real estate sales and property management, restaurant management, and nonprofit work.

Queen Jonafa’ Tervalon

Third-Year MDiv
Queen Jonafa’ is a third year MDiv student from Kenner, Louisiana. She is hoping to complete her final year of seminary with a certificate in Human Rights. Queen Jonafa’ focuses on the intersections of politics, religion, and ecology. She obtained a B.A. in political science from Clark Atlanta University, and is planning to become provost and president of an HBCU in the future. In the Office of Student Life, she is committed to contributing to events and dialogue that educate people about seminary, and applying faith principles to the real world. She currently serves as the children’s pastor at New Bethel AME Church in Lithonia, GA.

Will Smith

Second-Year MDiv
Will Smith is a second-year MDiv student hoping to pursue a certificate of Religious Education. Born and raised in Georgia, Will proudly graduated from the University of Georgia (go dawgs!) with a degree in Religious Studies. It was at UGA where William got baptized and began his time in ministry leadership, although it was with a campus ministry rather than a church. One of Will’s favorite parts of Candler is chapel, because he gets to see what different denominations’ worship looks like. In terms of jobs, Will has years of experience in customer service and currently works as an intern for both Candler’s Office of Student Life and Candler’s Office of Admissions. Walks in nature, hanging out with loved ones, creating art, and playing video games are what you can find Will doing when he’s not studying or working.

Michelle Jiang

Undergraduate
Michelle Jiang is a senior undergraduate student at Emory University where she is studying Economics and Religion. She is interested in pursuing a career in marketing where she can bridge both quantitative and qualitative approaches from her studies and develop her skills in user experience/user interface and content design. In the Office of Student Life, Michelle’s work involves newsletter creation, social media management, and web design.

Michelle loves to travel and visit art museums when she is not busy watching the most recent Formula 1 race.
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