Ruth Vida Amwe named associate director of OMSC at Princeton Seminary

By AI, Created 6:46 PM UTC, May 21, 2026, /AGP/ – Princeton Theological Seminary has chosen Ruth Vida Amwe as the next associate director of the Overseas Ministries Study Center, with her start set for June 1. The appointment adds a scholar of world Christianity and gender to a center that supports researchers and artists from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Oceania and diaspora communities.

Why it matters: - Ruth Vida Amwe will help shape one of Princeton Theological Seminary’s key global Christianity hubs at a time when the field is expanding and shifting. - The appointment puts a scholar focused on Africa, the Black diaspora, women, and gender into a role tied to fellowship programs, curriculum development, and editorial work. - OMSC@PTS is dedicated to supporting scholars and artists from Asia, Africa, Latin America, Oceania, and diaspora communities.

What happened: - Princeton Theological Seminary selected Ruth Vida Amwe, MTS ’19 and PhD ’25, as the next associate director of the Overseas Ministries Study Center at Princeton Theological Seminary, known as OMSC@PTS. - Amwe begins the role on June 1. - The selection followed a global search.

The details: - Amwe will help lead the Lamin Sanneh Research Fellowship. - Amwe will help develop new online world Christianity courses. - Amwe will assist in editing OMSC@PTS’s flagship journal, International Bulletin of Mission Research. - Amwe will support other scholarly initiatives and research. - Amwe’s research centers on Africa and the Black diaspora, especially the intersection of world Christianity, gender, and society. - Amwe most recently served as a postdoctoral fellow at Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City. - Amwe is also a research associate at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. - Amwe is an invited reviewer for the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion and the International Bulletin of Mission Research. - Amwe is the deputy managing editor of Utambuzi: Journal for the Study of the Religions of Africa and its Diaspora. - Amwe serves as the North American representative of the International Sociological Association’s Research Council on the Sociology of Religion. - Amwe is a steering committee member in the African Religions Unit for the American Academy of Religion. - Amwe is a member of AAR’s Status of Women and Gender Minoritized Persons in the Profession Committee. - Amwe has designed and taught in-person, online, and travel courses. - Amwe recently developed a new Princeton Seminary course, “Religion and Gender in Africa and Beyond.” - Amwe has organized major international academic conferences. - Amwe has worked on grant-funded projects totaling more than $3 million. - Amwe earned a bachelor’s in theology from ECWA Theological Seminary, Jos. - Amwe earned a bachelor’s in religious studies from the University of Jos. - Amwe earned a Master of Theological Studies and a PhD from Princeton Seminary.

Between the lines: - OMSC@PTS is leaning further into online education and global scholarship, especially work that connects world Christianity with women and diaspora communities. - Dr. Soojin Chung, OMSC@PTS director and search committee chair, said Amwe’s experience and research record made her the clear choice after multiple interview rounds. - Amwe said the field of world Christianity is at a critical inflection point and that OMSC and Princeton Seminary are well positioned to reimagine methods, resources, and strategies. - The appointment also reflects Princeton Seminary’s continued emphasis on international, interdisciplinary, and public-facing theological work.

What’s next: - Amwe will join OMSC@PTS on June 1. - Amwe and Chung plan to develop future online curriculum on world Christianity, with special focus on women and diaspora communities. - OMSC@PTS is expected to continue building scholarly initiatives tied to research, fellowship support, and journal editing.

The bottom line: - Princeton Seminary is betting on an emerging scholar with deep global and editorial experience to help steer OMSC@PTS into its next phase.