Images

Russell E. Thornhill Ed.D., is a 2025 graduate of the Ed.D. program in Educational and Professional Practice at Antioch University.

Dissertation Committee:

Lesley Jackson, Ph.D., Committee Chair

Emiliano Gonzalez, Ph.D., Committee Member

Jamie Washington, Ph.D., Committee Member

Keywords

Gay (upper case G denotes an emphasis on identity), LBGTQ+, Scholarly Personal Narrative (SPN), Black Gay father, liberation theology, Social Justice, Transformational Learning, Lived Experience Scholarship

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

This dissertation examines the roles, challenges, and contributions of a Black Gay father, a demographic largely absent from academic discourse. While literature explores themes of the church, LGBTQ+ identities, and social justice, there remains a critical gap addressing the lived experiences of a Black Gay father. This study fills that void by elevating narratives as community activists, family leaders, and clergy members, acknowledging their transformative impact within familial and societal structures. The methodology used is the Scholarly Personal Narrative (SPN). It allows for in-depth, reflective engagement with personal experiences in conversation with scholars while situating them within broader sociocultural, theological, and justice discourses. SPN is particularly suited for this research as it foregrounds lived experience, making visible perspectives often excluded from traditional methodologies. This study is grounded in social justice leadership, liberation theology, transformative learning theory, and lived experience scholarship. It offers a critical framework for analyzing how Black Gay fathers navigate identity, faith, and leadership while advocating for justice. This narrative reveals that Black Gay fathers are essential architects of justice-oriented leadership. Through thematic reflection and critical incident analysis, their experiences challenge traditional notions of fatherhood, faith, and activism, demonstrating resilience and the ability to forge inclusive spaces for future generations. The study further underscores the systemic erasure of Black Gay fathers in academia, religious institutions, and policy, highlighting the need for intentional recognition and reform. The implications of this research extend beyond individual experience; it calls for deeper academic inquiry, institutional accountability, and greater visibility, particularly within theological seminaries and culturally responsive education programs. It serves as a foundation for future research on intersectional fatherhood, LGBTQ+ identities within Black communities, and the role of faith in justice movements. It also advocates for policy shifts, curricular reform, and inclusive theological engagement that affirms and supports Black Gay fathers. Ultimately, this dissertation asserts that recognizing and amplifying the voices of Black Gay fathers is both a scholarly necessity and a moral imperative. These stories disrupt exclusionary systems and inform transformative leadership, theology, and social justice practices, shaping policy, education, and community engagement for lasting change. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Comments

ORCID No. 0009-0001-8041-4566

Bio:
Dr. Russell E. Thornhill, EdD, MAOM, MA

Professor of Compassion | Social Justice Educator | Former CEO & Pastor

Dr. Russell E. Thornhill is a professor, progressive theologian, and social justice educator whose work is rooted in the sacred principle that love must be lived, not just preached. With over three decades of leadership in nonprofit organizations, ministry, and higher education, Dr. Thornhill brings a rare combination of profound wisdom, lived experience, and spiritual care to every space he enters.

As the former CEO of the Minority AIDS Project in Los Angeles and a longtime pastor within the Unity Fellowship Church Movement, Dr. Thornhill has dedicated his life to dismantling systems of exclusion, especially those that silence Black, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized communities. He has been an ordained minister for over 25 years and serves as an Elder in the Unity Fellowship Church Movement Global Ministries. Within the denomination, he is known affectionately as “Elder Thornhill.” He teaches from a foundation of radical inclusion, critical biblical engagement, and an unwavering commitment to liberation through education and theology.

At Antioch University Los Angeles, Dr. Thornhill is a full-time faculty member and co-director of the Bridge Program, a zero-tuition initiative expanding access to higher education for those historically excluded from academic spaces. He teaches undergraduate and graduate programs, preparing emerging leaders to think critically, act ethically, and center humanity in their work.

His academic journey includes an EdD in Educational and Professional Practice focusing on Social Justice Leadership from Antioch University, a Master of Arts in Organizational Management (MAOM), and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Claremont School of Theology. While he honors these formal degrees, Dr. Thornhill’s deepest learning has emerged through storytelling, mentorship, spiritual formation, and a lifelong legacy of love in action.

What It Means to Be a Professor of Compassion and a Warrior of the Human Spirit

To be a Professor of Compassion is to approach teaching as a sacred act of justice, healing, and community building. For Dr. Thornhill, this means cultivating learning environments rooted in mutual respect and equity, spaces where authentic communities of learners can critically engage, grow, and thrive.

In his classroom, students are recognized in their full humanity. Their voices are honored, and their lived experiences are deeply valued. He believes that education must nourish both the mind and the soul.

Guided by the teachings of Margaret J. Wheatley, Dr. Thornhill walks the path of a Warrior of the Human Spirit, one who leads with clarity, courage, and compassion, even in the face of injustice and uncertainty. For him, this calling equips future leaders to critique what is broken and engage the world with wisdom, humility, and a heart for transformation.

As Dr. Thornhill often says:
“Compassion is not a soft skill. It’s a radical tool for change.”

Links:

Russell E. Thornhill, Antioch University Teaching Faculty Bio

Antioch University Los Angeles, The Bridge Program

Within Academia and Spirituality, Russell Thornhill Leads Towards Liberation

Rev. Elder Russell E. Thornhill, Religious Archives Network

Supporting Non-Traditional Learners Starts With Respecting Their Knowledge