Alison Hager (ANS MDiv, Class of 2025)
Andover Newton Seminary proudly celebrates the ordination and installation of Alison Hager (ANS MDiv, Class of 2025) as pastor at West Avon Congregation Church in Avon, Connecticut on September 28, 2025. To read more about Ali, please see her profile on the West Avon Congregation’s website.
Mindy Misener (ANS MDiv, Class of 2027)
Joan Lavaki (ANS MDiv, Class of 2026)
Andover Newton Seminary students Mindy Misener (ANS MDiv, Class of 2027) and Joan Lavaki (ANS MDiv, Class of 2026) who were among the honorees at the YDS Fall Awards Ceremony on September 16th. Mindy received the Frederick Buechner Prize for religiously themed creative nonfiction, and Joan received the Wolcott Calkins Prize for vigorous pulpit speaking.
Andrea Barton Reeves, JD (ANS MAR, Class of 2026)
On September 9th, Andrea Barton Reeves, JD (ANS MAR, Class of 2026) was named a 2025-26 Milbank Fellow in recognition of her leadership transforming delivery of social services at community centers across Connecticut. Andrea currently serves as the Commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Social Services, and as a Social Justice Scholar at Yale Divinity School, Andrea’s academic focus is on non-profit leadership excellence and poverty alleviation. To learn more about Andrea’s work, please visit the Milbank Memorial Fund.
Captain Lee A. Axtell (ANTS DMin, 2017)
On August 25th, the retirement ceremony of Captain Lee A. Axtell (ANTS DMin, 2017), Force Chaplain, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, was held aboard Battleship USS Missouri in Ford Island, Hawaii. The full recording of Lee’s ceremony is available through the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.
Dave Stuart (ANS MDiv, Class of 2025)
On June 22nd, The Reverend JaQuan Beachem (ANS Miv, Class of 2021) and Andover Newton’s Associate Dean for Community Development & Spiritual Formation was on hand to celebrate the ordination of Dave Stuart (ANS MDiv, Class of 2025) as Associate Minister at Wilton Congregational Church in Wilton, Connecticut. David was a Raymond Fellow while at Yale Divinity School and completed his clinical pastoral education in the Spiritual Care Department at Norwalk Hospital. Prior to divinity school, David retired early as a partner and special pro bono counsel at the law firm of Cravath, Swaine and Moore in New York City. To learn more, please see Wilton Congregational’s news story.
Matthew Rivera (ANS MDIV, Class of 2025)
This summer, Matthew Rivera joined American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) as the National Coordinator for Healing & Transforming Communities. In this role, he partners with churches, leaders, and organizations to strengthen justice-centered ministries and build systems that amplify impact. He also facilitates ABHMS’ Justice Dialogues, coordinates emergency response efforts, and helps cultivate emerging faith leaders through initiatives like the Summer Passionary Institute. To learn more, please see the ABHMS story on Matthew.
Kelly Antonson (ANS MDiv, Class of 2025)
Earlier this summer on June 1st, members of The Congregational Church of New Canaan unanimously voted to call Kelly Antonson (ANS MDiv, Class of 2025) as the church’s Associate Minister for Children, Youth, and Families. Kelly’s appointment followed a sermon titled, “Write It on Their Hearts.” Please see The Congregational Church of New Canaan for the more on this story.
Courtney Esteves (ANS MDiv, Class of 2025)
Courtney Esteves (ANS MDiv, Class of 2025) has joined Wellesley Village Church in Wellsley, Massachusetts as a Pastoral Resident. After graduation, Courtney spent the summer in New York City (where she grew up) as Chaplain Intern at Bellevue, the nation’s oldest public hospital. Her time there fostered her commitment to trauma-informed pastoral care and housing justice, and the experience provided fertile ground to seek God’s presence amidst our suffering. To learn more, please see Wellesley Village Church’s bio on Courtney.
Lillian Steinmayer (ANS MDiv, Class of 2025)
Lillian Steinmayer (ANS MDiv, Class of 2025) has joined Round Hill Community Church in Greenwich, Connecticut, as Associate Pastor.
Richard P. Olson (ANTS BD’59 and MTS ’60)
In May, Richard P. Olson (ANTS BD’59 and MTS ’60) author of Laughter in a Time of Turmoil, published his twenty-second book, Rowing Together Through the Rapids. The publisher, Good Faith Media, describes the book as “part memoir, part social analysis, and part guidebook, this thoughtful work tackles timely issues including creation care, inclusive leadership, political conflicts, gender and sexuality, and overcoming racial divides.”