The Rev. Alison Borden, dean of Princeton University’s School of Religious Life and Chapel, will retire at the end of July. Rev. Borden has led the university’s Office of Religious Life since 2007.
“From the beginning of my tenure at Princeton, I have been impressed with the Office of Religious Life.. As Allison has led our community through times of celebration, difficulty, and sorrow, my gratitude for her has only grown.” said Rochelle Calhoun, vice president for campus life, who oversees the Office of Religious Life. Alison’s Deep, thoughtful and spiritual Because of its leadership, ORL has become a model for religious and spiritual life on college campuses.”
The Rev. Theresa Thames, currently associate dean for religious life and chapel, has been appointed dean to succeed Borden.
The Rev. Theresa Thames, currently associate dean for religious life and chapel, will begin her new role as dean on Aug. 1.
“I am excited to work with Theresa in her new role as dean,” Calhoun said, “and her colleagues across campus recognize her as an incredibly bright and talented person with strong moral and ethical values, a deep spirit and compassion.”
The Office of Religious Life supports the religious traditions that flourish on Princeton’s campus and encourages interreligious dialogue and cooperation. The University supports 17 campus chaplains and numerous faith-based student organizations and institutions. As dean of chapel, Borden has overseen the use of the University Chapel, officiated at Sunday and holiday ecumenical Christian services, hosted the baccalaureate, and participated in Princeton student weddings, funerals, and other chapel services and ceremonies.
“It has been an honor to serve the Princeton community in faith, spirituality and so many other areas for 17 years,” Borden said, “and a great privilege to be a part of conversations as people grapple with the big questions of who we are, who we are becoming and what that means.”
Mr. Borden is a pastor in the Christian Union. During her time at Princeton, she has expanded the Hindu and Muslim chaplaincy corps to serve the campus community and has worked on a wide range of initiatives and programs central to Princeton’s campus life and its informal mission of “service to nation and humanity.”
“It makes me happy when I hear Princeton graduates say, ‘What surprised me about my time here is that I spent so much time in the Department of Religious Life,'” she said. “They realize that the things that we care about, they care about, too.” Those include programs focused on reconciliation, refugees, forced migration, the prison system and racial justice.
“By putting faith into action, we “We do these things, but you don’t have to share your faith to come and spend time with us,” she said. “We don’t have any plans for you, just come.”
In addition to her many ministry activities, Borden has taught in the Department of Religion and the Department of Public and International Affairs on topics such as religion and human rights, women’s rights, and nonviolent political change. Borden also partners with groups on and off campus, and starting in 2019, she has been taking students to England’s Lake District for intensive training. Rose Castle Foundation She aims to be an agent of reconciliation who can lead dialogue beyond political and religious differences. After she retires from Princeton, she plans to continue her work at the Rose Castle Foundation.
Borden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Vassar College, a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, and a Master of Arts in Theology from the University of Cambridge. Peace Studies from the University of Bradford in the north of England.
Before coming to Princeton, she spent her entire religious life as a campus pastor, serving as university chaplain at Bucknell University, Protestant chaplain at Union College, and president of Rockefeller Memorial Chapel at the University of Chicago.
Borden has also served in various roles for non-governmental organizations, including the Religious for Peace Institute, the Global Engagement Institute, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Parliament of the World’s Religions, and the Carter Center. She has written numerous articles and chapters on religion, including a book, “Women’s Rights and Religious Practice: Conflicting Claims.”
Thames, an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, will begin his new role on Aug. 1.
She served churches in the Washington, DC area for nine years before arriving at Princeton University as associate dean in 2016. At Princeton, she has led interdenominational worship services in the University Chapel and Murray Dodge Hall and provided pastoral care and spiritual counseling to Princeton students, staff and faculty.
“I am forever grateful to Allison and very excited to lead the Office of Religious Life,” Thames said. “This role combines my passions of ministry and scholarship.”
Thames earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Communications from Howard University, a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Gender Studies from Duke Divinity School and a Doctor of Divinity (D.Min.) from Wesley University. Theological Theological seminary.
Thames was named one of Sojourners magazine’s 10 Theologians to Watch in 2018, a Women’s Power Fellow in 2019, and a 2023 recipient of the 2020 Women’s Power Fellow Award. Unknown Hero Award A graduate of the Inclusive Academy at Princeton University, he has given keynote speeches at academic conferences and been invited to preach at churches across the country.
