Dr. Kathy Thomas McFadden was born and raised in Washington, D.C.  She was educated in the D.C. Public School System.  She received a B.A. in Communications from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina; a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Her ministerial work includes serving as a Mental Health Chaplain for twelve years both for the D.C. Commission on Mental Health Services at Saint Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C. and as Associate Director of Pastoral Care and Education at John Umstead Hospital in Butner, North Carolina.  She has also served in the United States Air Force as a Chaplain Candidate.  Dr. McFadden has served as Associate Minister at Galbraith A.M.E. Zion Church in Washington, D.C. and Shaw Temple A.M.E. Zion Church both in Atlanta and Smyrna, Georgia.  Dr. McFadden also worked as a Spiritual Care Coordinator for Kindred Hospice. She currently serves as the Pastor of the historic Old Ship A.M.E. Zion Church in Montgomery, Alabama, the city’s oldest Black church and as the Presiding Elder of The East Montgomery District, Central Alabama Conference of the AME Zion Church.  She made history when she was appointed in 2002 as the church’s first female pastor in the church’s 150-year history and again in 2018 when she was appointed the first female Presiding Elder of the 125 year old District.

Dr. McFadden has served as an Adjunct Professor for Hood Theological Seminary, serving the extension site at Lomax-Hannon in Greenville, Alabama. She is the Dean for Leadership Education and the Episcopal Director For Spiritual Formation for The Alabama-Florida Episcopal District of The A.M.E. Zion Church. She serves as the Executive Director for 400 Years Celebration, Inc. She is the CEO of MYQ Enterprises, which hosts an array of businesses geared towards the personal, spiritual and professional development and transformation of people, including Coaching 4 Divine Solutions where she serves as a life coach. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc.

She is the proud mother of two adult sons, Marcus and Maurice.