Brite Invests in Student Success with New Assistant Dean of Students
Shelese Moaning joins Brite as new Assistant Dean of Students to lead strategic student success initiatives beginning August 3
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – Brite Divinity School is proud to welcome Shelese Moaning as the new Assistant Dean of Students, where she will strategically lead Brite’s student success initiatives and work to foster an inclusive, supportive, and mission-centered learning environment through student advocacy, leadership development, spiritual formation, and more. Working collaboratively across Brite and its partners at TCU, Moaning will help to ensure that every student has access to the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need to succeed throughout their time at Brite.
"I am excited to join the Brite community and partner with faculty, staff, and administrators to support, challenge, and encourage students as they grow into compassionate leaders. I look forward to walking alongside students as they discern their calling, deepen their faith, and achieve their academic and personal goals," Moaning said.
Moaning joins Brite from the University of North Texas, where she served in student affairs leadership, supporting student success through residence life, crisis response, and first-year initiatives. She is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of North Texas, holds a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Texas Wesleyan University, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma.
"We are delighted to welcome Shelese Moaning as Brite Divinity School’s Assistant Dean of Students,” said Rev. Dr. Shonda R. Jones, Academic Dean and Executive Vice President. “Shelese brings a remarkable combination of student affairs leadership, clinical counseling expertise, and a deep commitment to cultivating environments where students can thrive academically, spiritually, and personally.”
“As Brite continues to strengthen our commitment to holistic student formation, I am confident that Shelese’s vision, compassion, and collaborative leadership will have a transformative impact on our students and our community,” Dean Jones added.
Throughout her career, Moaning has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to student success through leadership of student-centered programs, supervision of professional and student staff, and collaborative partnerships across campus to cultivate inclusive, supportive learning environments.
As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas, she also brings extensive experience from both inpatient and outpatient mental health settings, where she guided individuals through crisis, fostered resilience, and supported sustainable pathways toward long-term wellbeing. Her professional experiences have shaped a leadership philosophy grounded in compassion, accountability, and the belief that meaningful relationships are central to student growth.
Moaning’s research and professional interests focus on student wellbeing, resilience, and creating campus communities where every student feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. She is excited to join the Brite community and looks forward to partnering with student leaders, faculty, staff, and administrators to cultivate a welcoming environment that nurtures personal, academic, vocational, and spiritual development.
While at Brite, Moaning will work to embody the words of Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Read Moaning’s full bio here.
About Brite Divinity School
Founded in 1914, Brite Divinity School is one of the premier progressive theological institutions in the Southwest. Located on the Texas Christian University Campus in Fort Worth, Texas; Brite Divinity School prepares leaders by focusing on excellent scholarship, pastoral training, and spiritual development through ministerial and academic programs. Led by a transformative calling, Brite Divinity School seeks to educate and inspire people to serve God’s diverse world as leaders in churches, the academy, and public life.