Advent Meditation: December 1, 2022

Valerie Mayo currently serves as the Director of Beloved Community Initiatives at Seminary of the Southwest. Most recently, she served in the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky as the diocesan urban missioner, urban partnership convener, University of Louisville Episcopal Lutheran campus chaplain and priest-in-charge of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Louisville, Kentucky. She is a dismantling racism trainer and was appointed to serve on the diocesan Racial Healing Commission. For the past 2.5 years, Valerie has worked collaboratively with the Union of Black Episcopalians and TEC Sacred Ground team, developing best practices for Sacred Ground circles, with a particular emphasis on assessing the efficacy of the curriculum for Episcopalians of Color. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Saint Paul’s College; Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree from Duke University; Master’s of Divinity (MDiv) from Virginia Theological Seminary; and obtained her clinical pastoral education (CPE) certification from Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to seminary, Valerie provided case management services and system of care oversight for youth, families and adults within the mental health and substance use clinical settings, serving in various leadership capacities for over 15 years. She also served as an adjunct hospital chaplain at Duke Regional Hospital, in Durham NC, for nine years. A native of Virginia and a proud mother of two, she enjoys traveling and exploring historical sites.