CHORD Cohort of
Emerging Scholars

Theological Financial Ethics | Tallinn, Estonia

Mati Simm successfully defended his PhD in August 2026 and continues to work part-time as a researcher at the University of Tartu. His research focuses on theological financial ethics, exploring how Christians think about money and how they use it. As a secondary interest, he also examines the relationship between economic systems (e.g., free market capitalism or socialism) and theology.

Mati Simm was baptized in Tallinn, Estonia, in 1994. He has been married to Monika since 1999 and is the father of two daughters. He holds degrees in Music, Theology, and Business Administration. Before beginning his full-time PhD studies in theology, he worked as the CEO of a financial services company. Previously, he served in full-time ministry, leading churches in Tallinn, Tartu (Estonia), and Riga (Latvia) and working as a missionary. Currently, Mati serves in the church as a teacher, a small group leader, and a member of the leadership team of the Tallinn Church.

Theology & Religious Studies PhD Candidate | Doha, Qatar

Sherie is a seasoned Women’s Ministry Leader in the Greater Baltimore Church, with nearly 20 years of ministry experience, including 13 years as full-time staff. Converted at 16 in Kingston, Jamaica, she has led Youth/Family and Singles ministries in Northern Virginia and Baltimore. A passionate advocate for women’s and singles’ ministries, she has spoken to thousands of college students and single adults.

Sherie holds a Master of Theological Studies from Loyola University Maryland and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Theology and Religious Studies at Georgetown University. Her research focuses on gender and power in Abrahamic religions. Fluent in Spanish and French, she is proficient in Latin and has taught Attic Greek. She has published an article in the Winter 2022 issue of the Teleios Journal.

Old Testament/Hebrew Bible PhD Candidate | Austin, TX USA

Thomas (TJ) Paresi is a PhD Candidate at Baylor University in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. He holds a Master of Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Master of Divinity from Lincoln Christian University.

TJ served as a Youth & Family and Campus Minister in New York and New Jersey for 10 years. During that time, he helped facilitate the merger of two congregations and organized numerous youth camps, retreats, and conferences. TJ has served in teaching ministries in Boston, MA and Mercer County, NJ. Currently, he and his wife lead a house church in Texas.

TJ’s research interests include the Joseph story (Gen 37-50), the Pentateuch, the formation of the Bible, and Biblical Theology. His work explores how God communicates with people and makes Himself known in different historical contexts, highlights the diverse voices within the biblical canon, and considers how theology shapes church practice.

Master of Applied Theology | Oxford, United Kingdom

After earning her Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, Hannah returned to the University of Oxford on a full scholarship to pursue a Master of Applied Theology (MTh), with hopes of continuing into doctoral study. Her work explores narrative in Scripture, liberation theology, and making theology accessible to the everyday Christian. She also co-hosts the Thread Podcast and continues to teach and speak internationally, including recent keynote engagements at the North American Church Builders Conference and NASCON Singles Conference.

Hannah DeSouza was baptized in the East London Church of Christ as a teen in 2009. She studied English Literature and Spanish at King’s College London and earned a Master’s in Victorian Literature from the University of Oxford in 2016. She later served in ministry in Boston and Chișinău, Moldova, where she was part of the RevivEE mission team and supported refugee relief efforts during the war in Ukraine. Hannah has also served with HOPE worldwide, leading volunteer corps in several countries.

Christian Spirituality PhD Candidate | San Antonio, TX USA

Jacob Ostrowski was born and raised in the Boston area and grew up in the Boston Church of Christ. Following his graduation from college, he and his wife, Bethany, served for fourteen years in the full-time ministry in Auburn, Alabama, Atlanta, Pretoria, South Africa, and New Hampshire. After earning a Master’s in Spiritual Formation from Lincoln Christian University, Jacob and his family underwent a period of vocational discernment. With their local elders’ blessing, they relocated to San Antonio, Texas in 2021, where he began doctoral studies in Christian Spirituality at the Oblate School of Theology.

His research interests include biblical spirituality, especially 1 Peter, spiritual formation, and mature spirituality for the ordinary and everyday Christian life. He loves to nerd out about coffee, a morning run, and quiet(ish) evenings at home with his wife and three kids (Jack, 11, Hank, 9, and Edie, 7).

Christian Philosophy PhD | Madrid, Spain

Carlos Santos earned his PhD in Christian Philosophy in December 2025, receiving Sobresaliente – Cum Laude (Outstanding – Cum Laude). This top honor signifies unanimous approval from the examination committee and is the pinnacle of doctoral achievement in Spain. In international terms, particularly for those familiar with the North American Latin Honors scale, this achievement is widely regarded as the equivalent of a Summa Cum Laude.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Linguistics and a master’s degree in History of Philosophy and Contemporary Thought, where his research explored Christian love and resentment through the work of Friedrich Nietzsche and Max Scheler.

Carlos currently teaches and preaches in his local congregation in Madrid, Spain. He also hosts Philosophy in Real Life, a podcast exploring complex topics with the goal of moving beyond information toward meaningful transformation.

Leadership & Learning in Organizationals EdD Candidate | Chicago, IL USA

Tanner Versage is an EdD candidate in Leadership and Learning in Organizations at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education. His research focuses on designing healthy, sensemaking, and responsive learning frameworks for multi-site organizations (churches), and exploring how these networks and systems can establish shared vision and measurable norms of growth while honoring the nuances of each location. He holds a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry from Harding School of Theology, where his capstone research evaluated organizational systems, change management, and integration strategies for church mergers.

Over the past fifteen years, Tanner has transitioned from designing physical spaces to architecting human learning systems. He earned a Bachelor's of Architecture (B.Arch) from Virginia Tech, where he participated in the internationally acclaimed LumenHAUS project and published thesis research on improvisation as a link between jazz and architecture. Tanner currently serves as an Appointed Evangelist, Bible Teacher, and Director of Education and Integration for the Chicago Church of Christ, where he teaches, shepherds a ministry of young families, and directs leadership development initiatives. Tanner and his wife (Jessica) are passionate about building a church that will long outlast them. The Versages love their full life in Wheaton, IL with their two elementary-aged sons (Carter, 9, and Emmett, 6).