Gina Messina-Dysert

Gina Messina, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Religion and Gender Studies at Ursuline College where she formerly served as Dean. She has taught at multiple universities and is also Co-founder of Feminism and Religion, the global project that explores the “F-word” in religion and the intersection between scholarship, activism, and community; now with readers in 181 countries.

Gina earned her doctorate degree at Claremont Graduate University with a dual focus in women studies in religion and theology, ethics, and culture.

She is the author of Rape Culture and Spiritual Violence (Routledge, 2014), and co-editor of the highly acclaimed Faithfully Feminist: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Feminists on Why We Stay (White Cloud Press, 2015) and Feminism and Religion in the 21st Century (Routledge, 2014). Gina also writes for the Huffington Post and MariaShriver.com. She has given serious attention to issues faced by women in relation to religion, politics and social justice and is also recognized as an expert on Catholicism and Pope Francis.

Gina is a widely sought after speaker and has presented across the US at universities, organizations, conferences, and in the national news circuit including appearances on Tavis Smiley, MSNBC, Boston Public Radio, and the TEDx Stage.

She has also spoken at the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations to discuss matters impacting the lives women around the globe. She is active in movements to end violence against women and explores opportunities for spiritual healing for those who have encountered gender-based violence.

Sub-specialties: Pope Francis, Catholicism, Feminism, Motherhood, Women’s Rights, Reproductive Justice, Rape and Sexual Violence, Domestic Violence