Aileen Nicolas

I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Geography from the University of Georgia. For my master’s thesis, I studied disparities in health access for undocumented people, qualitatitve and quantitative research methods, and participatory and community-engaged mapping/GIS methods. In May of 2024, I graduated with an M.Div. from Candler School of Theology at Emory University with a concentration in Catholic Studies. I recieved a certificate in Religious Education, and I also received a unversity certificate in Religion and Public Health.

My interdisciplinary background has brought a unique perspective to work in theology and religion.

I’m a practical theologian specializing in ministry with and alongside young people. My broad interests are critical youth theory, the experience of “illegality” of citizen-children, multicultural parishes and interculturalism within the church, and liberation pedagogy in religious education. More specifically, I’m exploring how identity and belonging develops within ministry. Ministry doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it's embedded within specific cultural, social, and physical environments that shape the way people perceive themselves and others in the faith community. I wonder how we can create ministry spaces that invite people to bring their whole selves, including their culture, heritage, language, and traditions. I’m also interested in the ways religious education, grounded in liberation pedagogy, can equip young people with critical theological skills, empowering them to actively engage with the church and the world.

I serve as the Assistant Director of the Youth Theological Initaitive and work for several clients in youth and young adult ministry. My work consists of curriculum development, program facilitation, recruitment, and strategic planning. See my Projects and Services page to learn more about the organizations I work for and the type of work I can assist with. Feel free to contact me if you’d like to talk about my research interests or you’re interested in my services. I am based in Atlanta, GA, but I do work around the country.