Dr. Stephanie Clintonia Boddie embodies the interdisciplinary approach needed to address complex social issues in the 21st century with a unique tri-disciplinary appointment across Social Work, Seminary, and Education. Dr. Boddie is an associate professor of church and community ministries at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She holds faculty appointments across three different areas, teaching in the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, Truett Seminary, and the School of Education.

Dr. Boddie is known nationally and internationally for her research on congregation-based social services and trends in faith-based initiatives. Over the years, much of that research has been through the lens of the black church, with a focus on the social and entrepreneurial approaches these institutions have used to address disparities in wealth, health, and food insecurity in their communities.

In the classroom and beyond, Dr. Stephanie Clintonia Boddie is dedicated to nurturing the next wave of social innovators and community leaders. Her approach to education is as multifaceted as her research, blending rigorous academic study with hands-on community engagement. Dr. Boddie’s teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that true learning happens when theory meets practice. Some of her initiatives include:

• The Greenhouse Project: Leading Baylor graduate students in constructing a greenhouse, combining lessons in sustainable agriculture, community development, and project management
• Award-Winning Student Research: Mentoring students win the 2019 Hatfield Student-Faculty Research Prize for their study on teen food insecurity in Waco
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Fostering projects that bring together students from Social Work, Education, and Seminary studies to address real-world community challenges.