CHORD Cohort of
Emerging Scholars

Theology PhD Candidate | Tallinn, Estonia

Mati Simm is a PhD candidate and junior 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.

Scholar in Residence | Boston, MA USA

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 Oxford University in 2016, focusing on feminism, theology, and biblical allusions in the works of the Brontës. In 2018, she moved to Boston to join the New England School of Missions, serving as a young professionals and campus minister while teaching violin part-time.

In 2021, Hannah relocated to Chișinău, Moldova, as part of the RevivEE mission team, where she played a key role in refugee relief efforts during the Ukraine and Russian War. Passionate about service, she has also worked with HOPE worldwide, leading volunteer corps in several countries. Recently, Hannah received her Masters of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, with plans for doctoral study. Her academic interests include religion and literature, gender and theology, biblical languages, and liberation theologies.

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 Candidate Madrid, Spain

Carlos is a PhD candidate in Philosophy and Christian Philosophy. Carlos’ main interests are found in the intersection between Philosophy and Theology, more specifically, secularism and faith.

He obtained his bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Linguistics in 2016. He then obtained his master’s degree in History of Philosophy and Contemporary Thought in 2020. For his master’s thesis Carlos focused on the concept of Christian love and resentment from the philosophical conception of Friedrich Nietzsche and Max Scheler.

Regarding his roles in ministry, he currently serves teaching and preaching in his local congregation in Madrid, Spain.

He launched this year his podcast: “Philosophy in Real Life”, which is an attempt to model the process of navigating complex topics with the purpose of going from information to transformation.