Rev. Rochelle Haggins, MSW M.Div.
Rev. Rochelle Haggins, MSW, M.Div., is an ordained Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, pastor, author, and founder of the Women’s Empowerment Network. She earned her Bachelor and Master of Social Work degrees from Troy University and her Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. She is the author of Sistaology: When the Holy Spirit Breathes on Black Women’s Stories and The Wreckage. Through preaching, storytelling, and transformative experiences, she creates sacred spaces where women can heal, reclaim their voices, and walk boldly in their God-given identity and purpose.
Dr. Jamie McClain, ND
Dr. Jamie McClain is a woman of faith, healthcare professional, and community advocate. She earned her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from the National University of Health Sciences, where she is currently pursuing her Doctor of Chiropractic. She has served as founder and president of SAFFE, Inc., and as secretary and later president of the Pike County NAACP Branch #51. Dr. McClain believes that we are the hands of God on earth and that, through serving others, we allow them to experience His unwavering love.
Rev. Kamaria Byrd-McAllister, M.Div., LSW
Rev. Kamaria Byrd-McAllister is an ordained Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and Coordinator of the Philadelphia Conference Women in Ministry. She earned her M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary and her MSW from Rutgers University. A passionate advocate for mental health and marginalized communities, she serves as Director of Mental Health and Pastoral Care at First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens. Above all, she is committed to doing the will of God.
Dr. Shanate Porter, Ed.D
Dr. Shanate Porter is an educator, author, school counselor, and founder of SCALE Academy, a proposed public charter school designed to prepare students for college, career, and life through social-emotional learning, career pathways, and meaningful community partnerships.
With more than a decade of experience in education and student advocacy, Dr. Porter has dedicated her career to creating spaces where individuals feel seen, heard, and empowered to succeed. She holds a Doctorate in K–12 Educational Leadership and is the author of Engagement Language in Students. As a woman, leader, and entrepreneur, Dr. Porter understands that finding your voice is only the beginning—true power comes from having the courage to use it. Through her journey of leadership, advocacy, and building a school from vision to reality, she encourages women to speak with confidence, advocate for themselves, pursue what they are called to create, and recognize that their voice can become a catalyst for change.
Rev. Amber Scott, M.Div.
Rev. Amber Nicole Scott is the Senior Pastor of Waters Memorial A.M.E. Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her ministry reflects a deep commitment to faith, community impact, civic engagement, and social justice. She earned her Master of Divinity, magna cum laude, from Duke University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. Rev. Scott also serves as the Women in Ministry Liaison for the Historic Philadelphia Presiding Elder District and collaborates with Salvation and Social Justice.
Lady Melanie Shafah
Lady Melanie J. Shafah, affectionately known as “Lady Mel,” is a devoted wife, mother, woman of faith, and First Lady of Flipper Temple AME Church in Atlanta, Georgia. With a heart for service and a special passion for encouraging women, she strives to create safe spaces where every woman feels seen, heard, and valued. Lady Mel believes that every story carries purpose—and when women come together in faith, honesty, and sisterhood, healing and transformation can begin.
Rev. Crystal E. James, D.Min
Rev. Dr. Crystal E. James is a pastor, educator, community leader, and facilitator whose professional experience spans ministry, education, criminal justice, community development, and project management. She brings a unique perspective to conversations surrounding leadership, community engagement, education, faith, and social impact.
Rev. James earned a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Drew Theological School. Her doctoral research explored faith based community hubs and their role in fostering leadership development among Black youth.
She is married to Robert James, and together they have three children and one grandchild. Rev. James is passionate about bringing people together, creating space for meaningful dialogue, and helping communities transform conversation into action.
Rev. Leslie Harrison, DMFT
Leslie a true "soul" journer, walking with people through life events - the triumphs and the tragedies. A pastor and practitioner of advocacy quelling the ugliness of social injustice.
WHAT TO EXPECT
STORYTELLING
Real stories.
Real women.
Real impact.
HEALING WORKSHOPS
Mind, body, and spirit renewal for lasting change.
WORSHIP & REVIVAL
Powerful worship.
Fresh encounters.
Fire for your purpose.
HONORS BRUNCH
Celebrating legacy, excellence, and generations of impact.
SISTERHOOD & COMMUNITY
Built-in connections.
Lifelong bonds.
Deepened sisterhood.
Need Registration Sponsorship
We want you in the room
We do not want finances to be the reason a woman who needs to be in the room cannot attend.
Through the generosity of our Sister Sponsors, a limited number of sponsored registrations are available for the Sistaology Experience 2026.
If the cost of registration is currently a financial barrier for you, we invite you to complete the short application below. Sponsored registrations are limited and will be awarded based on available sponsorship funds.
Submitting an application does not guarantee a sponsored registration. If selected, you will receive information from the Women’s Empowerment Network regarding your registration.
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October 30–31, 2026
Holiday Inn Philadelphia–Cherry Hill
Want to Sponsor a Sister?
When you sponsor a sister, you are doing more than paying for a registration. You are making room for a woman to experience the Sistaology Experience, a sacred gathering where the stories of Black women are heard, honored, celebrated, and given room to breathe. Your sponsorship gives another woman access to two days of storytelling, worship, healing, wellness, prayer, sisterhood, powerful conversations, the Sistaology Seven production, our Honors Brunch, and an opportunity to simply be poured into.
SISTAOLOGY EXPERIENCE HONOREES
Courage. Impact. Legacy.
Our honorees are courageous women whose lives and work have created pathways for advocacy, inclusion, justice, healing, and liberation. Through pioneering leadership, faithful service, and an unwavering commitment to their communities, they have empowered others, cultivated belonging, and made a lasting impact. Each woman embodies the spirit of Sistaology by using her voice, story, and influence to help Black women and their communities breathe, heal, and rise.
Dr. Phyllis Green
Supervisor Phyllis N. Green, a native of Florida, earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bethune-Cookman University and a master’s degree in counseling education from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Before entering full-time denominational leadership, she worked in higher education at Florida A&M University and DeKalb Technical College, where she was a dedicated advocate for student success. In recognition of her work in missions, Allen University awarded her an
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2023.
Since 2009, Supervisor Green has served as an Episcopal Supervisor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, providing leadership in the 12th Episcopal District, which encompasses Oklahoma and Arkansas, and the 7th Episcopal District in South Carolina. Throughout her years of service, she has worked extensively with the Women’s Missionary Society, Young People’s and Children’s Division, Christian Debutantes and Masters Commission, and the Ministers’ Spouses, Widows, Widowers Plus P.K.s Organization.
Her leadership has included serving as president of the Florida Conference M-SWAWO + PKs, president of the 11th Episcopal District M-SWAWO, and president of the AMEC Supervisors’ Council. With a passion for supporting clergy families, she created “Self-Care Pop-up with Super” and convened “Unveiling with Super,” initiatives designed to encourage ministers’ spouses and clergy families in self-care, personal growth, and development.
Supervisor Green is a Golden Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and has served her community as a tutor for elementary school students. She is married to the Rev. Dr. John F. Green, Executive Director of the Department of Global Witness and Ministry of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. They are the proud parents of one daughter, Courtney.
Lauren Wilson
Lauren A. Wilson “LAW”
Lauren A. Wilson, affectionately known as “LAW,” is a youth development executive, inspirational speaker, HBCU advocate, autism advocate, and curator of sensory spaces. She serves as Vice President of High School Programs for Directions For Our Youth, Inc., overseeing NYC Department of Education-funded Learning to Work programs that provide career development, paid internships, postsecondary planning, and comprehensive support to young people.
As the proud mother of her son, Lexington, who is autistic, LAW is passionate about ensuring that individuals with special needs are seen, supported, included, and loved. She curated the sensory room at St. Matthew A.M.E. Church, making it the first church in New Jersey to establish a dedicated sensory room, and has expanded this work to help create more inclusive spaces within the faith community. She firmly believes that everyone deserves to be included and loved in the house of the Lord.
A proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, LAW serves as the Rhoer Advisor for her chapter, mentoring and developing young women. She is also a proud HBCU graduate, earning her bachelor’s degree from Claflin University and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Equity, Ethics, and Justice. She recently completed the National Urban League Congressional Advocacy Program, further strengthening her commitment to civic engagement, public policy, and advocacy.
LAW’s life mission is to create and expand equal opportunities for Black and Brown communities, with a particular commitment to empowering women and girls. Through her leadership, advocacy, mentorship, and service, she works to help ensure that every person has the access, support, and opportunity to thrive.
Rev. Stephanie Atkins
Rev. Stephanie Atkins is a native of Washington, D.C., a United States Navy veteran, author, advocate, entrepreneur, and lifelong servant-leader in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In June 2025, she made history as the first woman appointed pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in the congregation’s 208-year history.
Rev. Atkins holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Communications from the University of Phoenix, a Master of Divinity from Howard University School of Divinity, and a Master of Fine Arts in Nonfiction Writing from Goucher College. She also earned a Certificate in Trauma-Informed Spiritual Care from Turner Theological Seminary.
She serves as the Connectional Herstoriographer of A.M.E. Women in Ministry and has worked extensively in community advocacy, voter engagement, nonprofit leadership, and empowerment. Through her ministry and civic leadership, Rev. Atkins continues to pioneer change, amplify voices, and create pathways for others to thrive.
First Lady Rosalee Boyer
First Lady Rosalee Boyer is the co-founder of Salvation and Social Justice, where she leads strategic fundraising and advances advocacy, education, and community engagement. She has worked closely with legislators and government agencies to address issues affecting Black voters and communities throughout New Jersey.
Her current work includes the Youth Justice and Community Engagement initiative in collaboration with the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and the First Ladies Black Maternal Health Initiative in partnership with Jefferson Health, which amplifies the voices of Black women with lived experiences.
The vision for Salvation and Social Justice grew from the ministry of Greater Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church. As a devoted wife, ministry partner, and First Lady, Rosalee supports that vision while working tirelessly to confront systemic racism and advance justice and liberation for Black communities.
Dr. Jamie Eaddy
Dr. Jamie Eaddy is an organizational leader, grief scholar, womanist pastoral theologian, and theo-thanatologist. She serves as Lead for Supervised Ministry & the Doctor of Ministry Program at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. Her work lives at the crossroads of liberation, death studies, and just and ethical communal care. Trained in the traditions of womanist thought, pastoral theology, chaplaincy, organizational development, and change management, she brings rigorous academic formation to the deeply human work of accompanying people through loss.
Her scholarship centers the naming and disruption of death-dealing systems — the structures, theologies, and cultural silences that compound grief and deny communities the fullness of their mourning. She is committed to liberatory care: grief work that does not merely help people cope, but helps them reclaim their agency, their voice, and their belonging.
She is Alberta's granddaughter, Pauline's cousin, and Salam's niece. From them she learned to embrace one of her guiding principles: If your fight for liberation stops once you get free, it wasn't liberation you were after, it was privilege.
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Rev. Dr. Lesly R. Devereaux, Esq., D.Min, JD
Reverend Dr. Lesly R. Devereaux, Esq., DMin, JD is a pastor, attorney, author, advocate, and community leader whose journey reflects faith, resilience, empowerment, and legacy. She currently serves as Pastor of Heard African Methodist Episcopal Church in Roselle, New Jersey, and is an ordained Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She previously served for more than a decade as Pastor of Trinity AME Church in Long Branch, New Jersey.
A trailblazer in ministry and law, Dr. Devereaux has built a career spanning the pulpit, legal profession, entrepreneurship, and community leadership. She is the Owner and Managing Attorney of the Law Offices of Lesly R. Devereaux, where her work includes estate and legacy planning, helping individuals and families protect their futures and preserve generational wealth. She has also spent more than two decades advising churches in matters of church law, governance, and organizational stewardship.
At the heart of her work is a passion for the advancement of women. As Founder and CEO of Remarkable Women and Girls, she has created a platform dedicated to empowering women and girls through leadership, personal development, encouragement, and the belief that women can rise beyond their circumstances and redefine what is possible. Her story is one of resilience, demonstrating that difficult chapters do not have to have the final word. Through ministry, advocacy, mentorship, and service, she continues to use her journey to encourage others to embrace purpose, build legacy, and create possibilities for generations to come.
Resilient in her journey. Transformative in her impact. Trailblazing in her purpose.
This version feels much more like an honoree profile than a professional CV, while still giving enough substance for someone visiting the website to understand why you are honoring her.
