Rev. Dr. Delois Daniels Named Alumna of the Year

06-07-2018

A passionate woman of faith, a dynamic preacher, an advocate for diversity, inclusion, and interfaith dialogue, a promoter of family, community and mental health, and the former vice president of Mission and Spiritual Care at Chicago's Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital, Rev. Dr. Delois Daniels has been named McCormick's Distinguished Alumna for 2018.

For nearly 40 years, Rev. Dr. Delois Daniels (D.Min.’13) has distinguished herself in the ministry and profession of clinical pastoral care. A certified clinical pastoral education supervisor and a board-certified chaplain in the Association of Professional Chaplains, Rev. Daniels established the first pastoral care department and clinical pastoral education (CPE) program in the one-hundred-year history of Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. She and her team built a CPE program that trained a diverse group of students who reflected the faith communities, ethnicities, ages, and sexual orientation of the patients the hospital served. During her leadership at Advocate, the hospital created an interfaith chapel that serves the spiritual and mission needs of the hospital and community. Rev. Daniels’ service to Advocate began in 1994, and for more than 20 years, she served the organization as vice president Religion and Health, vice president Mission and Spiritual Care, and as a member of the executive team.

Rev. Daniels began her career at Spartanburg General Hospital in her home state, South Carolina. During her career, she also held leadership roles at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut and Chicago’s Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She has served on the board of directors for the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, ACPE, chaired the board of the National ACPE Racial-Ethnic Multi-Cultural Network, led the Community Renewal Society as its board president, and chaired the National Endorsement Committee for the American Baptist Churches, ABC, and served on the ABC Metro Chicago Ministers Council Cabinet and its Ordination Commission.

“Rev. Daniels is a tireless advocate for justice, family and community health,” said Rev. Rhoda Barnes, executive minister, Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland, Ill. “When called upon to served, she responds with a smile and a ‘yes.’”

McCormick’s Distinguished Alumni Award is presented annually to a graduate whose life, ministry, and values embody McCormick’s mission to prepare women and men for the work of God’s justice, reconciliation, and peace in the world. Rev. Daniels will receive her award during McCormick Days, October 18 and 19 on the seminary’s campus.