Shanda R. Short 

Rev. Shanda R. Short is an Itinerant Deacon in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and is presently serving as Executive Minister at St. Matthew AME Church, Orange, NJ and the Supply Pastor for St. Thomas AME Church in Newark, NJ.  Rev. Short is also a member of the Mental Health Counseling Advisory Board for Fairleigh Dickinson University and a member of a the founding board for the Arête Academy Charter School for Students in Orange and East Orange.  

Rev. Short worked for the Financial Management Corporation for over 10 years as an Accounts Service Manager and provided consultant services, while transitioning into the field of Social Services.  She has worked as a Primary Care Counselor, a Clinical Team Leader and a Chemical Dependence/MICA Coordinator, providing services for persons that were homeless, mentally ill and chemically addicted.  While completing her Master of Divinity, she served as Social Services Outreach Manager for Resource And Promotion of Health Alliance, Inc., where she established and maintained relationships with other faith and community based organizations while researching and analyzing member and community needs in an effort to assist in the determination of program directions and goals. 

Rev. Shanda R. Short was born and reared in East Orange, New Jersey where she was educated within the East Orange Public School System, graduating from East Orange High School. Her academic pursuits led her to Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1995 and a Master of Arts in Addictions Counseling in 1998. Additionally, Rev. Short completed the Master of Theological Studies Drew Theological School in 2002 and the Master of Divinity with honors from Turner Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in 2010.  She continues to seek continuing education credits and other opportunities to engage in and with academia.  Her excellence in academics has earned her many honors to include induction into the International Society of Theta Phi, an honor society for theological students, scholars in the field of religion and outstanding religious leaders.