OUCRL Welcomes New Chaplain
New Assistant University Chaplain
Welcome, Rocky Major
The Office of the University Chaplain and Religious Life is pleased to welcome the Rev. Rocky Major as Assistant University Chaplain and Assistant Director of Religious Life. His responsibilities include support and care for African-American and Black communities of faith at Vanderbilt, programming that explores and celebrates intersectional identities, and providing coaching to student leaders of religious life organizations.
Chaplain Major comes to Vanderbilt from the Emory University Winship Cancer Center, where he provided care to staff and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. With experience in the Office of Student Life at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Chaplain Major has also engaged and developed programming for students while fostering an environment of hospitality, care, and vocational discernment. As a student leader at Candler, he was instrumental in highlighting the concerns of persons of color to the administration. As a result, the school administration committed to intentional diversity and inclusion training and programming. “His experience as a pastoral caregiver and higher education leader, his perspective on and commitment to diversity and inclusion, and his open and generous spirit make Rocky a great fit for Religious Life at Vanderbilt,” said University Chaplain Chris Donald.
Chaplain Major is an alumnus of Morehouse College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in religion. He received his Master of Divinity at Emory University Candler School of Theology with focus on pastoral care, Black church studies, and Faith and Health. Chaplain Major completed both an internship and residency in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA.