معرفی
Ryan M. Armstrong is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Oklahoma State University (2022-present) and concurrently holds an Assistant Professor position in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Georgia Southern University. His research bridges ancient and modern texts, focusing on the Hebrew Bible’s interpretation within its Ancient Near Eastern context, comparative literature, and the history of religious thought. Armstrong is known for his interdisciplinary approach, blending biblical scholarship with hip hop culture and creative pedagogy to make ancient texts accessible and engaging.
Educations: Armstrong earned a PhD in Biblical Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary (2022), an MA in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and advanced theological degrees (ThM in New Testament and MDiv with a focus on Biblical Languages) from Southeastern Seminary. He holds a BA from Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow School of Communication and an AAS from Olympic Community College. He also studied at Universität Wien and Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg in Austria and Germany.
Research Interests: Armstrong’s work emphasizes how literary techniques in the Book of Job and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland subvert genre expectations to critique religious authority. He explores mediation in ancient texts, comparative language studies (including Middle Eastern languages, Akkadian, and Syriac), and the emotional dynamics of religious interpretation across communities. His recent book The Book of Job in Wonderland (Oxford University Press, 2024) exemplifies this approach, analyzing Job’s mediators through the lens of Carroll’s nonsense literature.
Teaching and Outreach: Armstrong’s courses include Introduction to World Religions, Biblical Hebrew, and thematic studies like Book of Job and Alice in Wonderland: Evil, Nonsense, Madness. He co-founded the Kids Breaking League and coaches The Mighty Geese, champion breakdance crew, integrating hip hop culture into pedagogy. As a member of the Dynamic Rockers Crew, he participates in community outreach programs and lectures on hip hop’s philosophical roots.
Labs/Teams: Armstrong is part of the historic Dynamic Rockers Crew, pioneers of hip hop dance since 1978. He collaborates with the Harlem Education Company and Hush Tours in NYC, promoting hip hop’s cultural significance. His work with the Kids Breaking League bridges generational mentorship in dance and academic scholarship.
