Sylvia Ross Talbot, Ed.D.
Former Episcopal Supervisor

Dr. Sylvia Ross Talbot is the spouse of Retired Bishop, Frederick Hilborn Talbot, the 90th Bishop.

A trained Health Education Specialist, Dr. Talbot has gained international recognition through her leadership in regional, national and international religious organizations for more than twenty years. She was the first African American woman and first member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church to be elected Vice Moderator of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches and one of its four officers. She has also served as Moderator of the Christian Medical Commission of the World Council of Churches and National President of Church Women United/USA.

Born in Frederiksted, St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, she graduated from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico (summa cum laude); received a Master of Science in Public Health from Yale University and a Doctorate in Health Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Dr, Talbot has had varied experiences in community health in the United States and Guyana. She once served as Minister of Health in Guyana heading a government department responsible for the country's hospitals, pharmacies and public health service and acting as the chief spokesperson and advocate for public health in Parliament. She was elected President of the Pan American Health Organization. Later, she served as delegate to the United States General Assembly from Guyana.

As an Episcopal Supervisor over a 32 year period, she served in the 16th District comprising churches in nine countries in the Caribbean, Guyana and Suriname in South America and London, England; in the 6th, the state of Georgia; in the 12th, Arkansas and Oklahoma; and in the 13th, Kentucky and Tennessee.

She has inspired and guided women and young people to address issues related to health, education, poverty and leadership development.

She has traveled extensively through North and South America, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. She has authored several books, the most recent being, Finding My Voice.