Columbia Theological Seminary Names First Ombuds

The Presbyterian seminary in Decatur, Georgia has appointed Marcia Y. Riggs as its first Ombudsperson. In this new role, Riggs will serve all members of the Columbia community, a population of about 500. Riggs is a womanist theologian and recognized authority on the black woman’s club movement of the nineteenth century. 

At CTS, Riggs is also a Professor of Christian Ethics. She established an educational not-for-profit ethics center, Still Waters: A Center for Ethical Formation and Practices, Inc, which offers a certificate program in religious ethical mediation as well as a professional doctorate program in theories and practices of conflict transformation in collaboration with New York Theological Seminary. Riggs graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, earned an MDiv at Yale University, and PhD at Vanderbilt University. (CTS Ombuds; Yale Alumni Award.)