REVEREND DR. LAKEESHA
WALROND
Conference Host, Pastor, Educator
Educator, visionary leader, sought after speaker, and consummate change agent, Dr. LaKeesha Walrond is a force faithfully encouraging those she encounters to embody their infinite possibilities. Dr. Walrond is a dynamic speaker who has addressed a number of national and international audiences and has received numerous recognitions including honors from the New York Liberty WNBA Basketball Association, the National Action Network, the MC Donald’s GospelFest, NCNW, NAACP, as well as her alma mater, Spelman College and Union Theological Seminary.
In June of 2019, she became the first woman President of New York Theological Seminary, committed to preparing faith and thought leaders to engage relevant, restorative, and revolutionary ministry. Since her appointment, NYTS highlights include the implementation of a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) program at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility that graduated nine incarcerated women, the redevelopment and national expansion of the Certificate Program, and the relocation of the campus to Union Theological Seminary. Mayor Bill DeBlasio named October 26, 2019 “Rev. LaKeesha Walrond Day” in the city of New York.
Dr. Walrond answered her call to the ministry in December of 1995 and began her journey in ministry serving as an Associate Minister at Zion Temple UCC in North Carolina for six years. She served as the Executive Pastor and Chief of Staff of First Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC) in Harlem, NY for thirteen years and has been serving as the Preaching Pastor for the past five years.. As Chief of Staff, she used educational and organizational strategies to maximize FCBC’s capacity and influence in the community and abroad. As Executive Pastor, she implemented strategies to create a culture of learning which evolved into a community of learners.
In an effort to authentically reach the hearts of women, Dr. Walrond launched the Getting to
Greatness (G2G) Women’s Conference in 2013. G2G provides opportunities for women’s empowerment through leadership development and spiritual, mental and psychological wellness. She is the author of two books. My Body is Special (2017) is the first of her six-part “Let’s Talk About It” (LTAI) children’s book series, written to help end sexual violence against children. Her first e-book, Stronger Than Your Worst Pain: A Spiritual Guide to Activating Your Inner Power (2018), empowers women to recognize their passion, power and potential to overcome life’s most difficult challenges.
A native Texan, Dr. Walrond earned her undergraduate degree from Spelman College, a Master of Education (MEd), Master in School Administration (MSA), and Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education (PhD) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Union Theological Seminary in New York, NY - where she later served as a trustee for three years. Dr. Walrond has a passion for children and education. She worked in the public-school system in North Carolina for eleven years as a teacher, a coordinator for special education programs, an assistant principal, and as a principal.
Dr. Walrond is happily married to The Reverend Michael A. Walrond Jr. and they are blessed to be the proud parents of two beautiful children: Michael III, and Jasmyn Dominique.