The Reverend Dr. Sonja R. Dawson, a native of Compton, California, currently serves as the Senior Pastor of the historic New Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, co-founded by her father and mother, the late Reverend Dr. Lonnie and First Lady Emeritus Mamie P. Dawson, which serves the South Los Angeles community.
Dr. Dawson is the founder and chief executive officer of Sisters in Ministry Incorporated, which brings together women in ministry to encourage one another for the perfecting of the ministry and glorification of the kingdom.
Dr. Dawson holds a BA from UC-Irvine, a Master in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a Juris Doctorate degree from Southwestern University School of Law. An avid student, she has completed coursework at Fuller Theological Seminary, Southern California School of Ministry, and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.
A bi-vocational leader, Dr. Dawson is a member of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of California. She has had a long and rewarding career with the City of Los Angeles. She also is the creator of the City of Los Angeles Prostitution Diversion program for first-time offenders. This program allows an opportunity for rehabilitation and education. As a leader in social and civic organizations, Dr. Dawson’s professional memberships include Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and the Los Angeles board of the United Negro College Fund.
Dr. Dawson continues to be active in communities, women’s ministries, cross-denominational churches, and professional and paraprofessional ministry groups, both nationally and internationally, seeking justice and transformation for the kingdom of God.
