Jennifer Secki Shields brings her passion for science, appreciation of the natural world, and love for God to bear on the launch and work of Discovery & Faith. Jennifer studied undergraduate biology at Case Western Reserve University before pursing doctoral study in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Virginia. While at the University of Virginia, Jennifer was an award-winning graduate teaching assistant and a teaching consultant for the Teaching Resource Center. She conducted research on terrestrial salamanders and participated in a variety of science education outreach efforts. Already a Christian when she entered graduate school, she regularly found herself being asked “God-and-science” questions.

 

Sensing a call to professional church ministry, in 2000 Jennifer became the Director of Christian Education for a local United Methodist church. During nearly 16 years in that role, she helped shepherd the church from aging decline to vibrancy and new life, growing its children and youth ministries in the process. Jennifer has experienced firsthand the fruits of bringing the faith-and-science dialogue into Christian worship and discipleship for spiritual learners of all ages. She has facilitated faith-and-science discussions, classes, and training events for other local churches, district- and conference-wide events, and the Presbyterian Association on Science, Technology, & the Christian Faith and has participated in “Q&A” with visitors to the Hall of Human Origins at the National Museum of Natural History.

 

Discovery & Faith was conceived and born of her 16 years in church ministry. Learn more about Our Story.