Grace Munthali

Grace Munthali is a Theological Studies Scholar and Mental Health Activist from Zambia pursuing an MTh in Applied Theology at the University of Oxford. She is an AfOx Scholar and a member of Regent’s Park College. She is passionate about fusing theology with mental health advocacy and eliminating the deep-seated religious and cultural stigma surrounding mental health in Zambia and across the African continent.

She graduated at the top of her undergraduate class with a Distinction from Zomba Theological College in Malawi, combining academic excellence with community service and advocacy. Her commitment to grassroots action was shaped during her time volunteering with Youth With A Mission in Bethlehem, Free State, South Africa. Alongside coordinating feeding programmes in the local South African community, she led and participated in international outreaches across Mozambique and Nepal.

Through these cross-cultural experiences, Grace worked at the intersection of faith and everyday life, witnessing how spiritual beliefs and emotional well-being are closely linked and how cultural taboos often block access to vital mental healthcare.

At Oxford, Grace hopes to deepen her research into faith frameworks and mental health, and to expand her capacity to design culturally resonant solutions for holistic well-being. She is particularly committed to engaging religious communities and leaders to ensure mental health awareness becomes an integral, de-stigmatised part of African social dialogue.

Outside her academic pursuits, Grace is a creative writer and musician, passions that ground her work and continually remind her of the power of storytelling, empathy, and human connection.