Alton B. Pollard, III is Dean and Professor of Religion and Culture of Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, DC.  He holds degrees from Fisk University (B.A. with honors in religion & philosophy and business management), Harvard University Divinity School (M.Div.), and Duke University, the Department of Religion (Ph.D.).  He has held previous faculty appointments at St. Olaf College, Wake Forest University, Emory University, where he served as Director of the Program of Black Church Studies at Candler School of Theology, and various visiting lectureships including the University of Transkei (South Africa).