Westina Matthews, PhD is an author, a public speaker, spiritual director, professor, and workshop/retreat leader whose practice reflects contemplative living through “holy listening”. For the past twelve years, Westina taught contemplative spiritual direction at General Theological Seminary in the Center for Christian Spirituality. Through her thoughtful, poignant, humorous, and authentic writings, she has found a way to connect with audiences around the world.

Her most recent books are Soul Food: Nourishing Essays on Contemplative Living and Leadership (2023); This Band of Sisterhood: Black Women Bishops on Race, Faith, and the Church (2021); and Dancing from the Inside Out: Grace-Filled Reflections on Growing Older (2019).

After living and writing in New York City for more than 30 years, she is now writing along the banks of the Wilmington River in Savannah, Georgia.