Biography
Dr. Marsha Foster Boyd joins the Luther Seminary community for the 2019-2020 academic year as Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean. Dr. Boyd is President Emerita of Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. She achieved this milestone upon her retirement from the Presidency in 2013, after 7 years of distinguished service. Prior to her Presidency, she was Director of Accreditation and Leadership Education at The Association of Theological Schools in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Associate Professor of Pastoral Care & Counseling at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio; and Academic Dean at Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio. In each of these positions, Dr. Boyd was the first African American woman to serve.
Dr. Boyd retired as an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church after 40 years of service. She is now a proud member of City of Refuge United Church of Christ in Oakland, California, where Bishop Yvette Flunder serves as pastor.
Dr. Boyd is Founder and Chief Catalyst of Catalyst Connections Global LLC, a consulting and coaching firm, specializing in higher education consulting and in empowering global communities through leadership development, training, and coaching services. She provides personal coaching for senior administrators and leadership teams and professional facilitation for meetings, conferences and retreats. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Pacific School of Religion, the Board of Directors of the In Trust Center for Theological Schools, and Board Chair of the Marcus Foster Education Institute, named for her late father.