Michelle Becka

Prof. Dr. Michelle Becka is Professor of Christian Social Ethics at the University of Würzburg's Faculty of Catholic Theology, a position she has held since July 2016. She previously served as Academic Dean of the Faculty from 2018-2021 and has established herself as a leading voice at the intersection of theological ethics and contemporary social challenges. Her institutional affiliations include significant roles in the German Commission Justice and Peace, where she chairs the Human Rights working group, and as co-editor of the international theological journal CONCILIUM.

Her academic journey began with studies in Catholic Theology at the University of Tübingen and Cochabamba, Bolivia (1992-1998), followed by doctoral research culminating in her 2004 dissertation on intercultural philosophy. She completed her habilitation in 2015, receiving the Venia Legendi for Christian Social Ethics. Her scholarly development reflects deep engagement with both European and Latin American theological traditions.

Prof. Becka's research consistently addresses ethical challenges at societal margins, with particular focus on prison ethics, migration, human rights, and postcolonial discourse. Her work demonstrates a distinctive integration of Latin American theological perspectives with European social ethics frameworks, emphasizing intercultural dialogue and practical application. She brings theoretical rigor to pressing questions of justice while maintaining commitment to transformative ethical practice in institutional settings.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals intensifying engagement with planetary challenges while maintaining her longstanding commitment to prison ethics and migration ethics. Her scholarship shows increasing attention to structural dimensions of ethical problems, particularly regarding vulnerable populations and institutional accountability, with notable multilingual publication output reflecting her global perspective.

Her scientific recognition includes the Leopold-Lukas Award for young scholars from the University of Tübingen (1999) and the Lorenz Werthmann Award from Caritas Germany (2016), acknowledging both her early promise and sustained contribution to social ethics.

Prof. Becka maintains extensive advisory roles connecting academic theology with practical social ministry. She serves on the Scientific Advisory Boards of the Catholic Social Scientific Central Office in Mönchengladbach, the International School of Intercultural Philosophy, teologanda (women doing theology, Argentina), and the Institute for World Church and Mission. Her leadership as Chair of the Working Community on Christian Social Ethics since February 2022 demonstrates her influence in shaping contemporary theological ethical discourse.

Her institutional engagement extends beyond academia to include consultation with the Episcopal Committee for Latin America (Adveniat) of the German Bishops' Conference and participation in the Scientific Advisory Board of EIFI (Escuela internacional de filosofía intercultural). This network reflects her commitment to bridging theoretical scholarship with practical ministry concerns across cultural contexts.