Biography | Resume

I am an African American woman who grew up in inner-city Boston at a time when I was encouraged to be the best I could be, which was a noncollege-educated worker. This was perhaps because my family had very few financial resources. This bias still permeates all levels of education, particularly spiritual companioning. This is wrong-minded. It perpetuates an elitist perspective which is oppressive. Exploring the relationship between oneself and the creator should be open to all. It should not be the privilege of a few who can access traditional ways of learning.  I know this because I am someone who was taught about universal love by a woman who ran a prayer group in a storefront church.

I am a full-time church minister on an island off the MA coast. This is a small congregation that, like many, is in crisis because of a declining census, declining donations, and an aging population.

I am also a community minister and president of a nonprofit spiritual direction certificate program with a long history of working with people on “the margins.” I work spiritually with previously incarcerated women “who ask why me, God.”

Rev Dr. Althea Smith is at the beginning of her ministry, having just been in Preliminary Fellowship in June 2021.  She is a community minister which is supported by a grant from the Jubilee Foundation.  She is the Executive Director of the Joshua D Smith Legacy Project, named after her son, who was murdered in 2021. The project seeks opportunities to pair churches with community agencies in an effort to expand the definition of social justice work. She is an abolitionist.

Currently, she works with the Mass Bail Fund helping with posting bail, community outreach, and spiritual support.  She is invested in the work of Families for Justice which is a member of the National Council for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and girls.  Rev Dr. Smith has strong community ties to Dorchester, MA. She is the Chair of the Board of Directors at Brookview house, which is a transitional living program for women and children experiencing homelessness. Brookview provides a safe place to live and programs to help build self-esteem. She is on the Interfaith Committee of the Louis D Brown Peace Institute, which supports families that have experienced homicide.

She has a Doctor of Psychology from Boston University, and a Master of Divinity.  Currently, she is a Doctor of Ministry Candidate at Berkley School of Theology. In September 2021, she retired as a registered nurse after 50 years of service.

Biography

Resume

  • M.Div. – Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA 2003

    Ph.D. – Clinical/Community Psychology, Boston University, Boston, MA 1986

    M.A. – Clinical/Community Psychology, Boston University, Boston, MA 1982

    B.S.N. – University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 1972

    DMinn. --Berkley School of Theology, Berkley CA 2022—pres

    Certificate Spiritual Direction Boston, MA 2021

  • 2023-Now Contract Minister Second Congregational Meeting House Society UU Nantucket, MA

    2022-Now Affiliated Community Minister First Parish Church in Dorchester Dorchester, MA

    2023-2023 Summer Minister First Parish in Concord Concord, MA

    2022-Now Volunteer Mass Bail Fund Boston, MA

    2023-Now Co-Chair of Board Still Harbor Spiritual Direction Training Boston, MA

    2020-2023 Member Interfaith Committee Louis D Brown Peace Institute Dorchester, MA

    2022-2023 Executive Director (Grant Funded Community Minister) The Church of the Larger Fellowship Boston, MA

    2021-2022 Internship The Church of the Larger Fellowship Boston, MA

    2020-2021 Fellow The Church of the Larger Fellowship Boston, MA

    2002-2002 Clinical Pastoral Education Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center Boston, MA

  • Travel Nurse 2019-2020 Staff Nurse Beth Israel Hospital

    HRI 2016-2019

    Nursing Supervisor

    Senior clinical and administrative officer

    Advocates Inc. 2017—2018

    Nurse Manager CCS, DMH and Respite (MAP consultant)

    Behavioral Health Network (BHN) 2015—2018

    Nurse Manger OneCare

    Nurse Consultant Addiction Services

    Carlson Recovery Center

    Nurse Manager

    Providence Behavioral Health Hospital 2014--2017

    House Supervisor (Geri; Latency; Adol. Adult Units)

    Interim Nurse Manager Adult Psych.

    Blue Cross Blue Shields

    Health Coach working with members CAD, ONC, DJD 2013--2014

    Nizhoni Health Systems, LLC, Boston, MA 2008–2015

    Visiting Nurse –Med/ Psychiatric Home Care and Case Management

    Bournewood Hospital, Brookline, MA 2002–2005

    Nurse Manager – Adolescent Psychiatric Unit / Supervisor of Nursing / Staff Nurse

    St Peter’s Episcopal Church 2003-2005

    Coordinator- CommonCare Meals Program

    Brattleboro Retreat, Brattleboro, VT 1998–1999

    Adult Service Administrator Inpatient Division (Chem Depend and Psych Units)

    Jewish Memorial Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, Boston, MA 1997–1998

    Director of Nursing

    Cambridge Public Health Commission, Cambridge, MA 1995–1997

    Director of Health Promotion / Clinical Coordinator of Breast Health Project

    Charles River Hospital, Wellesley, MA 1993-1995

    Director of Nursing (Adult/Adolescent inpt. and outpt. Psychiatric)

    Alameda County Medical Center, Oakland, CA 1993

    Associate Administrator for Patient Care Services

    New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation, New York, NY 1990–1993 Sr. Vice President for Corporate Nursing Services & Special Health Initiatives (Women’s Health) 1991–1993

    Vice President for Corporate Nursing 1990–1991

    Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center, Boston, MA 1986–1990

    Center Director / Superintendent (Multi-Site Facilities and Operations)

    Area Director / Superintendent

    Associate Area Director (Outpatient Clinical Services)

    Bridgewater State Hospital (McLean Hospital/Forensic Psychiatry), Bridgewater, MA 1983–1986

    Unit Director (Maximum Security Unit) / Staff Psychologist

  • Registered Nurse – Commonwealth of Massachusetts

  • Aspirant for Ordination Unitarian Universalist Association

    Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing (Beta Zeta Chapter)

    American Psychological Association

    Certified HeartMath Trainer

  • The Nursing Research Internship Program: Providing Research Training in the Clinical Setting (co-author)

    Journal of the New York State Nurses Association (March 1993)

    Stress and the Critical Care Nurse: Its Manifestation and Ways to Cope (co-author)

    Critical Care Chronicle (April 1979)

  • Keynote Speaker — Spirituality as a component of Wellness

    LGBT Elders of Color Seasons of the Soul, Roxbury, MA (2018)

    Keynote Speaker – The Importance of Measuring Culturally Competent Clinical Outcomes

    25th Alumni Anniversary – University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (1997)

    Invited Participant – Managed Care, Managed Competition, and Changes in Delivery System Access

    Ethnic Minority Fellowship Program – American Nurses Association, Washington, DC (1996)

    Invited Participant – Arista II: Healthy People: Leaders in Partnership

    Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing Conference, Indianapolis, IN (1996)

    Invited Panelist – Health & the Public Trust: The Next 100 Years; The Future: Health Care Delivery

    National League of Nursing, Boston, MA (1993)

    Invited Participant – Managed Care/Managed Competition: A Public Health Policy Workshop

    American Academy of Nurses, Washington, DC (1993)

    Invited Panelist – Frontline – Choosing Death: A Health Quarterly Special

    WGBH/Public Broadcasting Service, Boston, MA (1993)

    Speaker – National Invitational Congress of Minority Nurse Leaders

    Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC (1993)

    Speaker – Issues for Professional Women in the 1990s

    Division of Nursing & Division of Nursing Alumni Association, New York University (1992)

    Speaker – Partnership for Quality Care: Restructuring the Nursing Environment

    Brooklyn/Staten Island Council for Nursing Education & Nursing Practice, New York, NY (1991)

    Speaker – Women and Violence

    Women Studies Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA (1990)

    Speaker – History of Black Nurse: A Literature Review

    Amherst School of Nursing, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (1990)

    Speaker – Health Issues for Third World Women; Women: Connections, Disconnections, and Violations

    Symposium – Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (1989)

    Speaker – Black Women Who Are Victimized: How to Identify and Treat

    Conference – New England Regional Black Nurses Association, Boston, MA (1988)

  • Co-Chair Still Harbor Spiritual Direction 2023–present

    Chair of the Board; Brookview House—Domestic Violence Shelter and transitional living for women and their children Dorchester, MA 2019—Present

    Interfaith Council Louis D Brown Peace Institute. 2020-2023

    Treasurer – Transition House (Shelter for Battered Women), Somerville, MA (2006)

    Committee on Health Care Practice – National League of Nursing, New York, NY (1997–1998)

    Board of Directors – Community Health Accreditation Program, Inc., New York, NY (1995–1998)

    Board of Directors (Finance Committee) – National League of Nursing, New York, NY (1995)

    1995 Convention Planning Committee – National League of Nursing, New York, NY (1994)

    Finance Committee – National Black Nurses Association, New York, NY (1991–1994)

    Steering Committee – Health Careers Task Force, New York City Board of Education (1990–1993)

    Advisory Committee – Acute Care Nursing of the Adult, NYU Graduate School of Nursing (1990–1993)

    Advisory Committee – NYU Wagner School/Graduate Nursing Program (1990–1993)

    Advisory Board – Lehman College of Nursing, City University of New York (1990–1993)

    Nominee – JCAHO Board of Governors (1992)

  • American Psychological Association

    Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing (Beta Zeta Chapter)