Students
Ranging in age from 22 to 70 and representing over 40 faith traditions, our student body is the most diverse and inclusive anywhere. Religiously curious and passionately compassionate, our students create a provocative yet nurturing community here in the heart of Chicago.
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Student Organizations

Each CTS student brings her or his own interests and experiences to the Seminary. There are several organizations and programs that fit the needs and interests of most students. Here is a list of the active student organizations at CTS; if you would like to learn more, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  

Charles Shelby Rooks Society

The Charles Shelby Rooks Society honors the first African-American president to lead a predominantly white theological school. This organization celebrates Diasporic ties to Africa, academic excellence, cultural, community, spiritual and social cognizance and activism. As President of CTS from 1974 to 1984, Dr. Charles Shelby Rooks was committed to theological education,  the public responsibility of the church and the training of African American church leaders. (Liz Alexander, Don Thomas)

Eco-Justice Student Group

The Eco-Justice Student Group celebrates the wonder of God’s varied creation and seeks to discern and articulate the relationships among ministry, social justice and environmental justices at CTS and throughout the wider community. (David Dorapalli)

Estudiantes Latinas y Latinos y sus Amigas/os en CTS

This is a society that desires to promote Latin American thought at Chicago Theological Seminary; that will generate spaces of development and support to the students; that encourages unity among all the other organizations but at the same time pushes for an understanding of the cultural diversity and rich inheritance from throughout Latin America which make it possible for multi-vocal perspectives to emerge concerning our current challenges; that advocates gathering and exchanges with theologians of Liberation Theology which serve to articulate the struggle against all the forms of oppression which tire our communities, whether they be based on sexism, classism, trans-lesbi-gay-phobia, racism, or capitalism; that is an organization that remains firmly by the side of the oppressed, especially in the fight for rights for Latina/o immigrants to the United States. (Esther Baruja, Allison Baker, Michael Gabbard)

Heyward-Boswell Society

The Heyward-Boswell Society serves as the outreach and support group for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community and their supporters at CTS. The society strives to bring its prophetic gifts of witness and education to bear in proclaiming God’s work in all lives, regardless of sexual orientation. (Sarah Hairston)

Fellowship of International PhD Students

The Fellowship of International PhD Students is an organization intended to meet the particular needs of international PhD students to organize themselves as scholars, to produce quality scholarship that reflects our international commitment to solidarity, justice, and mercy, and to help represent the work of Chicago Theological here and abroad.  The Fellowship hopes to accomplish this through lectures, connections with senior scholars, discussions to share and improve their academic work, mini-conferences, new research databases, and networking opportunities with scholars around the world. (Su-Hyun Han)

Korean Student Organization

This student organization brings an international Korean perspective to theological discussion in the classroom and community. The group is committed to encouraging academic integrity and to bearing public witness to the shared yearning for a reunified North and South Korea. (Uk Ryel Ryu, Sunhee Jun, Shimon Pak)

Ph.D. Student Association

This organization fosters a community of learning among Doctoral students and seeks to assist in preparing them for academic positions. (Eric Biddy, Brandon Grafius)

Seminarians for Reproductive Justice

This group is committed to taking on the pressing challenges of reproductive justice both locally and globally. The goal is to keep students educated, informed and mobilized around  these basic human rights issues.(Elizabeth Hartung-Ciccolini, Heather Loring-Albright)

Seminarians for Worker Justice

Seminarians for Worker Justice participates in a national network of interfaith student groups who confront workplace inequalities. They encourage faith communities to be stronger advocates for justice in society, help workers and unions in their efforts to organize, and encourage faculties to include issues of economic justice in the classroom. (Carolyn Roncolato)

Student Government

This student government organization consists of six elected representatives of the CTS student body. They serve as liaisons and advocates for the student body to the faculty and administration. They serve on the Academic Council and represent the students to the Board of Trustees. (Andria Davis, Tijuana Gray, Elizabeth Hartung-Ciccolini, Johnny Kline, Amy Rovell-Rixx, Joshua Simon; advisor, Ayanna Johnson)

Women of CTS

This student-run organization supports our community of women seminarians. This group brings a female perspective to gender issues such as inequality, sexism, empowerment, family and safety. (Dawnn Brumfield, Evelyn Okeke)