In 1978, Curry became an ordained deacon at St. Paul's Cathedral in Buffalo, N.Y. He moved around much of the East Coast for the next 20 years, preaching in a variety of locations. As Rector of the St. Stepben's Episcopal Church (1978-1982) in Salem, N.C., Curry established an ecumenical summer day camp for children, as well as the Baltimore branch of the NAACP. As Rector at St. Simon of Cyrene Episcopal Church in Cincinnati, Ohio (1982-1988), Curry created a network of family day care providers, a summer day camp for children, a Saturday Church School, and an outreach alternate to Sunday School. At the St. James Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Md. (1988-2000), Curry was influential in restoring and renovating his parish and the surrounding inner city neighborhood. The refurbishment efforts received architectural and construction awards for historical restoration, contemporary liturgical innovation and craftsmanship. As well as an outstanding citizen, Curry has also been a devoted alumnus serving on the HWS Board of Trustees for four years.
In 2000, Curry became Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, making him the first African-American Bishop to serve as the head of an Episcopal diocese in the south. Curry currently resides in Raleigh, N.C., with wife Sharon Clement and daughters Rachel Clement and Elizabeth Strayhorne.
Contribution: First African-American Episcopal Bishop of North Carolina
Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.
College Activities: First African-American ever elected president of the Hobart Assembly (Hobart Student Association), Honors Student, President of the Third World Coalition
Major: Religion
Other Education: Yale Divinity School, New Haven, Conn. (M.Div., 1978); The College of Preachers; Princeton Theological Seminary; Wake Forest University; The Ecumenical Institute at St. Mary's Seminary; Institute of Christian Jewish Studies