Patricia Anne Outlaw, Ph.D., D.Min. serves as an Associate Professor of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University: Birmingham, Alabama. She is the first African-American woman and the first African Methodist Episcopal clergy person to be appointed to the interdenominational faculty of Beeson Divinity School.

Dr. Outlaw is the author of Soul Food for Hungry Hearts published by Gateway Press, 2005. She has recently written a chapter, “God the Father and Prayer” in Giving Ourselves to Prayer, compiled by Dan Crawford, Released by PrayerShop Publishers, July 2008.

A native of Baltimore City, Dr. Outlaw attended the Baltimore City Public Schools. She received her Associate of Arts Degree (1966) from Mount Providence Junior College; she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree (1968) and Master of Arts in School Psychology (1971) from Towson State University. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Human Development (1977) from the University of Maryland, College Park. She earned a Master of Arts Degree in Theology (1985) from St. Mary's Seminary & University. Dr. Outlaw completed her second doctoral degree, the Doctor of Ministry Degree in 2002 from Beeson Divinity School, Samford University and is the first woman to obtain the Doctor of Ministry Degree from that institution.