LYDIA MITCHAM MEREDITH
Objective
To conduct scholarly research which captures the intersection of politics, the Christian religion, social and legal implications, and critical theory to complete an acceptable dissertation that addresses the topic “Religious Rhetoric and Burkean-Feminist Theory: A Study towards Mitigating Sexual Minority Discriminatory Sentiment;” and to teach students to research, think and write rhetorically and critically, and share their findings in academic and non-academic settings for 21st-century matters that relate to discrimination and social injustice matters in general; and to teach students how to put thought into action — to stir the soul of students to become productive citizens and civic contributors.
Academic Accomplishments
DOCTORAL CANDIDATE | 2019 – PRESENT | GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY | DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH | GPA 4.12
• Major: Rhetoric and Composition
• Related coursework: History & Theory of Rhetoric & Composition I and II, Composition Pedagogy, Contemporary Issues in Writing Studies, Digital Media Production, Grants and Proposal Writing, Writing for Academic Publication, Religious Responses to Crisis and Change, User Experience Research and Writing, Writing and Research Methodology
• Comprehensive Exam Completed
• Dissertation Prospectus Defense Schedule: by May 31, 2023
MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY | 2013 | GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY | ANDREW YOUNG SCHOOL OF POLICY STUDIES | GPA 3.98
• Major: Nonprofit Policy
• Related coursework: Applied Research Methods (I and II), Social Policy, Media and Politics, Politics and Policy, Nonprofit Advocacy Law Policy, Policy Analysis, Evaluation Research, Grant Writing, and Management
MASTER OF ARTS | 2009 | INTERDENOMINATIONAL THEOLOGICAL CENTER | MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF RELIGION | GPA 3.92
• Major: Christian Education
• Related coursework: The Bible and Christianity, Systematic Theology, Ministry and Context (I and II), Christian Education Colloquy (I and II)
MASTER OF MANAGEMENT | 1975 | VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY | OWEN GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT |
• Major: Management
• Related coursework: Independent Study, Strategic Resource Management, Human Resource Management, Physical Resource Management
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE | 1974 | VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY | SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING |
• Major: Engineering Science
• Related coursework: Computer Science, Management Technology, Probability and Statistics, Statistics
Academic Honors and Awards
• The Morehouse School of Religion President – Dean’s Honor Award 2009
• The Anne Wimberly and Jonathan Jackson Award for Graduating Seniors in the Discipline of Christian Education with Academic Excellence
• The Coca Cola Scholarship Award
• Georgia Baptist Convention: Durward V. Cason, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Award
• Honor Society of Theta Phi
• Amanda G. Hyatt Fellowship for Leadership, Scholarship, and Community Service 2013
• Phi Alpha Honor Society
Professional Experience
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT | GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY: CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF AFRICA AND ITS DISAPORA | (2021 – Present)
• Admin Program Manager: Funding Research & Development Programs for Communities of Color to Advance Student Success.
GRADUATE TEACHER’S ASSISTANT | GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY: DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH | (2019 – Present)
• Teacher: Lower-Division Studies: 1101 English Composition I & 1102 English Composition II.
FOUNDER AND CEO | LYDIA MEREDITH, INC. AKA BEACON OF HOPE | (2018 – Present)
• Published Book Author (Simon and Schuster, 2016); Public Speaker at Conferences and Events, Social Media Blog Writer; Civic Leader/Activist, advocating social justice for economically and socially challenged children, youth and their families (especially minorities by race, gender, sexuality, and ethnicity), the advancement of women’s equality, and pastor-teacher of the theology of love and acceptance at Tabernacle Baptist Church. Consultant to existing and startup nonprofit organizations that work to improve communities. Partner of The Wilma Group LLC, whose mission is to build wealth that funds social service enterprises.
FOUNDER AND CEO | BEACON OF HOPE, INC. | (1994 – 2018)
• Executive leader of a team of administrators, teachers, partners, public officials, community leaders, volunteers, builders, and other staff for the successful operation and delivery of programs that strengthen families and communities. Had oversight of management, fundraising, grant writing, development, implementation, and evaluation of holistic programs and curriculums for low-income students and their families. Operational budget: $2 million.
PASTOR – ADMINISTRATOR | TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH | (1994–2011)
• Established and implemented programs and ministries specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of the urban community and congregation. Member of the planning and implementation leadership team for the revitalization of the Old Fourth Ward and the Boulevard Corridor in Northeast Atlanta.
SENIOR ENGINEER | PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY (PG&E) | (1983 – 1993)
• Project Director, leading interdepartmental teams who were engineers, analysts, economists, lawyers, and legal assistants to successfully solve complex problems, optimize processes, enhance systems, and effectively utilize resources. Project goals were to settle lawsuits, eliminate waste of time, money, materials, person-hours, machine time, energy, and other resources. Successfully planned and conducted PG&E’s Diversity Awareness Workshops that were mandated by HR for all staff.
Professional and Civic Honors and Awards
• Georgia State University’s Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Online Education — CETLOE’s Thanks-A-Teacher Program Award – Two (2) Time Recipient, 2021 and 2022
• State of Georgia Assembly – N. T. Randall Servant Leadership Award 2018
• Atlanta City Hall District 2 – 20 Years Community Leadership Proclamation 2016
• Atlanta City Hall District 2 – Outstanding Community Service Award 2012
• Old Fourth Ward – Sweet Auburn – Outstanding Leadership & Service Award 2010
• Atlanta City Hall District 2 – Community Service and Leadership Proclamation 2009
• Fulton County Board of Commissioners –10 Years Community Service Award 2006
• Principal’s Award for Community Service (Henry Grady High School) 2005
• Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Award 2004
• Atlanta City Hall District 2 – Community Service Honor 2004
• 9th District Georgia Funeral Service Practitioner Association: Humanitarian
And Community Service Award 2003
• Georgia Early Learning Initiative – Former Governor Roy and First Lady
Marie Barnes: Early Childhood Hero Award 2001
• Pacific Gas & Electric Company:
Electric Supply Business Unit’s Wall of Fame Awards (4th Quarter) 1991
Electric Supply Business Unit’s Wall of Fame Awards (1st Quarter) 1990
Skills & Abilities
RESEARCH
- GSU Doctoral Studies: Survey of Classical Era Rhetoric and Composition; Survey of Enlightenment Era Rhetoric and Composition; Survey of Social Media Rhetoric; Survey of A Teaching for Transfer Program (T4T): What Students Need to Transfer Successfully; Survey of Color: Digital Media Production (Website Design); LGBTQ+ Stigma Research Study: Invitation for Conference Paper Presentation: “How the Bible (Biblical Rhetoric) is Used to Oppress LGBTQ+ Americans: Stigma, Discrimination, Disease, and Death”: The American Academy of Religion 2021 Conference; Fulton County Community Research & Development: Community Services Program Grant Award for $25,000 to serve Homeless LGBTQ+ Youth and Young Adults.
- Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Management: Assessed and analyzed costs for the Installment Loan Department of the First American National Bank to increase long-term profitability — formal report submitted to bank and master’s thesis committee.
- Industrial Engineering Department of United States Steel Corporation: Performed various studies to generate and analyze data to reduce industrial costs and eliminate waste of time, money, materials, person-hours, machine time, energy, and other corporate resources. Programmed machines and process control computers to generate chemical data evaluated to optimize steel production formulas for designated end uses.
- Generation Planning Department of Pacific Gas and Electric Company: (1) Used existing computer model (and developed computer models) to measure when (long-term and short-term) and how much electric generation is needed to meet diverse scenarios — important variables being electric demand (load) data; and electric supply sources’ mix (fossil fuels, geothermal, nuclear, and renewable energy, such as wind, solar, and hydro). (2) Analyzed model output data (with other departments) to forecast energy rate schedules for residential, commercial, and industrial customers. (3) Developed a computer program to predict the economic impact of the deregulation of energy. (4) Led team (as project manager) of engineers, analysts, lawyers, economists, and executives – gathering data, analyzing data, and other outputs to optimize best settlement solution scenarios – settling a $60 million lawsuit between PG&E and UNOCAL (a geothermal energy supplier).
- Beacon of Hope, Inc., CEO: (1) Performed research (studying causes and effects of living in poverty – gathering data from other cities with similar living conditions and populations – gathering demographic data and implementing extensive community assessment studies) to design programs and curricula for social transformation (such as, research proven early learning best practice, after school best practice, family support best practice, etc.) – to ensure the successful development of children, youth, and their families; (2) Performed quantitative and qualitative program evaluation on programs to measure success to report to funding sources; (3) Verified success (program outcomes) from recorded data that perpetuated annual grant awards from government, foundation, and other private funding sources in excess of $1.5 million a year; (4) Critically performed and implemented corporate strategic plans annually – examining the effectiveness of all programs, assessing internal and external factors (data gathered from student and family surveys, focus groups, stake holders, community meetings, et cetera) to sustain and enhance an infrastructure commensurate with growth, and to ensure continued growth and sustainability. Findings and outputs reported in the Beacon of Hope Annual Report.
- Master’s Thesis – The Interdenominational Theological Center: Performed research to assess external and internal personal issues of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) populations across all human development domains — gathering data via qualitative analysis (focus groups, interviews, literature, and case studies); and performed a qualitative evaluation of existing Christian Education models that serve LGBT populations and recommending a best practice model from data analysis. Findings reported and defended to Thesis Committee.
- Master’s Project – Andrew Young School of Policy Studies: Performed research (with a fellow student, Michelle Creech) to analyze the cost and benefit of legalizing same-sex marriage in Georgia – revenue impact determined by gathering and analyzing data from USA states with legalized marriage and forecasting impact on Georgia’s revenue. Findings submitted and defended in a formal report.
TEACHING/TRAINING/COACHING/WORKSHOPS
• Georgia State University: Lower-Division Studies: 1101 English Composition I and 1102 English Composition II (2019-Present).
• Oakland Unified School District: middle and high school teacher for math and science (1993-1994).
• Senior Engineer PG&E: Diversity Education and Training for executive management and staff.
• CEO: Continuing Education of all staff (early learning best practice and training) and Family Life-Skills Training; Abstinence-Sex Education for teens and pre-teens; AmeriCorps VISTA Members’ coaching, training and mentoring; Beacon of Hope corporate strategic planning and Board of Directors’ training; speaker for early learning/professional and community conferences and events.
• Pastor: Preparing and preaching sermons; Author and instructor for the Love and Acceptance Theology curriculum: new members education; and continuing education for clergy, church Leaders, and layman.
• Radio Interviews, Newspaper Interviews and Contributor, Book Signing speeches at bookstores, conferences, community events, conducting neighborhood associations’ meetings (Robert’s Rule of Order), recording neighborhood meetings’ official minutes, training neighborhood recording officers.
LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORK
• Decades of leadership and teamwork experience in engineering, energy, education, corporate, public, and nonprofit environments.
• Founded and Managed Beacon of Hope, Inc. (a nonprofit corporation for early childhood education, youth leadership and education, adult education, affordable housing and community re-development in the Old Fourth Ward and surrounding communities).
• Founded and CEO of Lydia Meredith, Inc. — a.k.a. Beacon of Hope. (a social justice enterprise) – continuing to cultivate partnerships with diverse organizations such as neighborhood associations, government agencies, faith-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and corporate organizations to address social and economic issues.
TECHNICAL/COMPUTER
• SPSS and Excel
• Logic Models
• Qualitative and Quantitative Program Evaluation
WEBSITES
www.lydiaMmeredith.com
https://sites.gsu.edu/lmeredith2/
PUBLICATIONS
Media Mentions
• WSB TV, 11 Alive TV, Clear Television News Stories featuring Beacon of Hope’s commitment to the Old Fourth Ward Community Re-development.
• Atlanta Journal & Constitution: Notorious Boulevard Corridor (2003); Drug Houses Now Homes (2010).
• What’s In a Doctor’s Bag: Making Kids Medically Literate (3000 Atlanta Public School Students Attend Live Performance at Atlanta Symphony Hall); Talent: Doc Neil Schulman – aka Doc Hollywood; (Online Media: YouTube: 2009, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSBENjNFCf8; Coordinated and Sponsored by Beacon of Hope, Inc. and Central Atlanta Neighbors Association.
• Dixon, Alisha. “From first lady to a voice for LGBTQ and human rights.” Chicago Defender, April 2017.
• Dixon, Alisha. “‘The Gay Preacher’s Wife’ the Lydia Meredith Story.” The Michigan Chronicle, May 3, 2017.
• Caslin, Yvette. “‘Gay Preacher’s Wife’ author Lydia Meredith on T. D. Jakes’ ‘toxic theology.’” Rolling Out, June 11, 2017.
• Meredith, Lydia (Contributor). “This is how this Christian woman reacted when her preacher husband told her he was gay. Read how she thought her life was over, but it was really just the beginning.” Gay Star News, (June 20, 2017).
• Reid, Jacque. “The Gay Preacher’s Wife Reveals Sex Scandal That Led to Divorce.” Tom Joyner Morning Show (article online) https://blackamericaweb.com/2016/10/18/the-gay-preachers-wife-reveals-sex-scandal-that-led-to-divorce/, Internet.
• Wells, Marissa. “Book Corner: Love, Sexuality, and Faith Examined in Memoir,” Los Angeles WAVE Newspapers, (article online) http://wavenewspapers.com/book-corner-love-sexuality-faith-examined-memoir/, Internet, November 17, 2017.
• Lyons, Lauri. “The Gay Preacher’s Wife: LGBT, God, and Marriage in Atlanta,” Nomads Magazine, June 2017.
• Duncan, Dallas. “Atlanta LGBT advocate comes out as ‘The Gay Preacher’s Wife,’” Georgia Voice, May 5, 2017.
• The Advocate Editors. “Love Conquers All: A Story of a Family Healed.” The Advocate, July 20, 2017.
• SiriusXM: The Karen Hunter Radio Show. “Live Your Truth” (interview online) https://soundcloud.com/siriusxm-news-issues/lydia-meredith-author-of-the-gay-preachers-wife-live-your-truth, December 2017.
• Frank Ski and Wanda Smith Morning Show V103. “Lydia and Dennis Meredith discuss the book ‘The Gay Preacher’s Wife'” (interview online) https://v103.radio.com/blogs/frank-and-wanda-morning/watch-lydia-meredith-and-rev-dennis-meredith-discuss-book-gay, August 23, 2018.
• Other Radio Appearances: Deedria Chauntee: “Unleashed Talk Radio;” F. Keith Slaughter: “The Movement Radio Show;” Harold Michael Harvey: “Saturday Morning with Harold Michael Harvey.”
Professional Certifications – Memberships – Affiliations
• Focus on Diversity: Certified Diversity Trainer
• My Brother’s Keeper, Inc.: Cultural Competency Certificate
• The White House Project: 2010 Go Run Political Leadership Training
• National Accreditation Commission of Early Care and Education: National Council Administrator Credential
• National Childcare Credentials: Child Development Associate Credential
• TBC Tabernacle Baptist Church Inc.: Certificate of Ordination
• Fulton County Region 14: DFCS Advisory Board President
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.