Jacqueline Vayntrub is an Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible at Yale University's Yale Divinity School (YDS). Her expertise spans the Hebrew Bible, wisdom literature, biblical poetry, philology, and the reception history of biblical scholarship. She holds a PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago (2015), along with earlier degrees from UCLA and Hebrew University. Dr. Vayntrub’s research examines biblical genres within ancient Near Eastern literary contexts, focusing on how textual values evolve through transmission and reception. Her first monograph, Beyond Orality: Biblical Poetry on its Own Terms (Routledge, 2019), critiques scholarly assumptions about biblical poetry’s oral origins. Her current projects include Reframing Biblical Poetry (Yale U.P.) and Seeking Eternity , exploring transmission and mortality in biblical texts. She directs the international Renewed Philology working group and chairs SBL units in Hebrew Bible and philology. Vayntrub has published widely in journals like Harvard Theological Review and Catholic Bible Quarterly , and her work has been reviewed at prestigious institutions including Yale and NYU. She received a 2019-20 Katz Center fellowship for her Seeking Eternity project. Her academic service includes organizing conferences at Yale, Harvard, and Princeton, and editorial roles for Studies in Cultural Contexts of the Bible . Her teaching and scholarship emphasize critical engagement with ancient texts and their enduring cultural impact.
Annette Yoshiko Reed is the Krister Stendahl Professor of Divinity and Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Harvard Divinity School (HDS). She joined HDS in 2022 after roles at New York University, the University of Pennsylvania, and McMaster University. Her expertise spans Second Temple Judaism, early Christianity, and Jewish-Christian relations, with a focus on how ancient texts shape identity and difference. Key research areas include apocalypses, demonology, and the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. She has authored or co-authored books such as Fallen Angels and the History of Judaism and Christianity and Demons, Angels, and Writing in Ancient Judaism . Education: BA from McGill University, MTS from Harvard Divinity School, and MA/PhD from Princeton University. Her work integrates Biblical Studies, Patristics, Jewish Studies, and Classics. She serves on the editorial boards of Texts and Studies in Ancient Judaism and Studia in Veteris Testamenti Pseudepigrapha , and chairs the Society of Biblical Literature’s “Jewish Christianity/Christian Judaism” section. A Fellow of the American Academy of Jewish Research, her current project explores the cultural power of forgetting in ancient Jewish history. Her research highlights marginalized writings like 1 Enoch and Pseudo-Clementine literature to bridge Jewish and Christian histories. Recent publications include studies on Enochic reception, rabbinic historiography, and demonology in ancient texts. She teaches at both HDS and Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
Stephen Spector is a Professor of English at Stony Brook University since 1972, with a PhD from Yale University (1973). His work bridges medieval literature, religious studies, and language history. He has held visiting positions at the Hebrew University (Jerusalem, 1996–97) and fellowships at the National Humanities Center and Wesleyan University. His research focuses on medieval English literature, particularly mystery plays and biblical texts, alongside modern topics like Christian Zionism and the Ethiopian Jewish rescue operation (Operation Solomon). He has authored influential books such as Evangelicals and Israel (2009), which won the London Book Festival Prize, and Operation Solomon (2005), honored with the JDC-Herbert Katzki Award. Education: B.A. in English and Psychology from Penn State University (1968), M.Phil. and Ph.D. from Yale University (1973). He has taught courses ranging from the history of the English language to medieval literature and the Bible as literature. Research highlights include pioneering studies on anti-Semitism in medieval mystery plays, textual editing of the N-Town Play, and modern analyses of religious-political intersections. His recent work explores biblical prophecy’s influence on US foreign policy and contemporary grammar usage guides. Awards include the Van Courtlandt Elliott Prize (1980) for medieval scholarship, National Endowment for the Humanities grants, and SUNY Research Foundation fellowships. He has also contributed op-eds on topics like Sarah Palin’s religious influences and Israel-Evangelical relations. Grants and fellowships span decades, including directing NEH summer seminars on Jewish presence in early English literature (1993, 1996). His work often integrates historical methodologies with contemporary cultural analysis. Labs/Teams: Not explicitly listed, but his research collaborations are evident in co-edited volumes like The Olde Daunce (1991) and contributions to interdisciplinary projects like the Early English Text Society.
Paul Anderson serves as Professor of Biblical and Quaker Studies at George Fox University's School of Theology, where he has taught since January 1989. His academic journey includes a PhD from Glasgow University, MDiv from Earlham School of Religion, graduate studies at Trinity Lutheran Seminary and Portland State University, and a BA from Malone University. Anderson maintains significant international academic connections as extraordinary professor of religion at North-West University of Potchefstroom (South Africa) and adjunct professor at Barclay College and Portland Seminary. Anderson's research centers on the Gospel of John, Jesus studies, and Quaker theology. He pioneered cognitive-critical analysis of Johannine traditions to address Christological tensions, developing his "Bi-Optic Hypothesis" for understanding John's composition. His influential book The Fourth Gospel and the Quest for Jesus argues for John's significance in historical Jesus research, while From Crisis to Christ provides a contextual New Testament introduction bridging ancient and contemporary contexts. His work on Quaker spirituality, including Following Jesus , explores practical Christian discipleship within the Friends tradition. As a prolific scholar with over 400 published essays, Anderson has shaped Johannine studies through his founding role in the John, Jesus, and History Project (SBL 2002-2016) and co-editing of four major volumes in its series. His recent publications (2021-2024) demonstrate continued scholarly vitality, focusing on Johannine theology, historical Jesus research, and Quaker thought. These works reveal his consistent engagement with dialectical tensions in John, universalism/exclusivism debates, and the application of biblical insights to contemporary spirituality. Founding member of the John, Jesus, and History Project (SBL 2002-2016) Editor of Biblical Interpretation series (E.J. Brill) Editor of Johannine Monograph Series Editor of Quakers and the Disciplines series (FAHE) Former editor of Evangelical Friend (1990-1994) and Quaker Religious Thought (2000-2011) Anderson's academic leadership extends through visiting professorships at Yale Divinity School (where he taught 1998-1999) and Princeton Theological Seminary, along with international appointments as DAAD professor at the University of Mainz and Fulbright Specialist at Radboud University of Nijmegen. His work bridges scholarly rigor and practical spirituality, particularly in Quaker contexts, while maintaining active engagement with contemporary theological debates through his extensive publication record and editorial work.
Joe Lockard is an Associate Professor of English at Arizona State University, affiliated with African & African American Studies and Jewish Studies. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley (2000), and has taught at nine institutions across four countries, including UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, and universities in Israel, Czech Republic, and China. His research focuses on antislavery literature, 19th-century American literature, and prison education advocacy. Lockard founded the Antislavery Literature Project (2003), which digitized abolitionist texts before transitioning into global translation initiatives, notably with Xi'an Jiaotong University. He co-edited three volumes of American slave narratives in Chinese translation. Current projects explore transatlantic slavery narratives and carceral literature. Lockard is a leading voice in prison pedagogies, co-authoring works on STEM education in prisons and death row literature's role in abolition movements. His work bridges literary scholarship with social justice activism, emphasizing global dialogue and educational equity.
Isobel Hurst is a Lecturer in the Department of English and Creative Writing at Goldsmiths, University of London. Her research specializes in Classical Reception Studies, focusing on the interplay between Greek and Roman literature and 19th-century women's writing. Academic qualifications: D.Phil. (2003), M.Phil. in English Studies (2000), BA in Classics and English (1995) - all from the University of Oxford Her research explores how women writers like Elizabeth Barrett Browning and George Eliot creatively engaged with classical texts to challenge gender norms and societal constraints, particularly through reworkings of Homeric and Virgilian themes. She examines intersections between domesticity and epic traditions, feminist reinterpretations of mythology, and the role of classical education in women's authorship. Recent publications analyze Louise Glück's mythic poetry, Victorian epic traditions, and transatlantic classical dialogues. She supervises PhD students working on topics including Sapphic poetics, prophetic figures in literature, and epic subversions in contemporary forms. Isobel contributes to academic discourse through her involvement with the Decadence Research Centre and Centre for Comparative Literature, bridging classical traditions with modern literary innovations through both teaching and research.
Anna Bigelow is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Director of Graduate Studies at Stanford University. Her research focuses on Islamic Studies, South Asian and Middle Eastern Religions, emphasizing material culture and sacred spaces. She holds a BA from Smith College, MA from Columbia University, and PhD from UC Santa Barbara. Current projects include a comparative study of shared sacred sites in India and Turkey, exploring secularism's intersection with religious practices. Her notable works include Sharing the Sacred: Practicing Pluralism in Muslim North India (2010) and Islam through Objects (2021). She co-edited a special issue on Material Islam for the journal MAVCOR . Her research has been supported by the Carnegie Scholars Program and the Social Science Research Council. Bigelow advises graduate students on contemporary topics like Muslim minority populations, sacred space, and secularism. She emphasizes interdisciplinary methods combining ethnography, archival work, and cultural analysis. She collaborates with the Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies and the Center for South Asia at Stanford. Her articles analyze themes such as material religion, Sufi shrines, and postcolonial identities. She actively critiques the academic job market’s challenges, advising applicants to consider program fit and financial realities.
J. Ross Wagner is an Associate Professor of New Testament at Duke University's Divinity School since 2013. He holds a Ph.D. from Duke University (1999) and previously taught at Princeton Theological Seminary for 15 years. His research focuses on Pauline epistles, Septuagint studies, and theological exegesis, emphasizing how scriptural interpretation shaped early Jewish-Christian communities. Key works include Reading the Sealed Book (2013) and Heralds of the Good News (2002). Professor Wagner's teaching spans courses like New Testament Interpretation , Old Testament in the New , and Philippians/Philemon . He has co-investigated the Wabash Center grant Fostering a Culture of Teaching (2017–2022). His work bridges biblical scholarship with missional and contextual interpretation, as seen in studies applying Romans to post-hurricane Honduras. His scholarship intersects with Karl Barth Center collaborations and includes engagements with religious education initiatives. Current research continues exploring Paul's use of scripture, intertextuality, and the theological implications of Septuagint translation practices.
Professor Hugh N Kennedy is a distinguished academic at SOAS University of London, holding dual affiliations with the School of History, Religions and Philosophies and the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics. As a Professor of Arabic, he specializes in Early Islamic History (600-1100 CE), with particular focus on Arabic historiography, Islamic archaeology, and the historical geography of the Middle East. His research also examines castle building in the region and the history of al-Andalus. He holds a PhD (Cantab) and has supervised doctoral candidates including Ummugulsum Kurukol and Zhicheng Ye. His publications span authored books, edited volumes, and numerous articles exploring topics like the Abbasid Caliphate, Islamic economic systems, and comparative political histories. He is based at the Russell Square campus and can be contacted via hk1@soas.ac.uk. Research Interests: Kennedy’s work bridges textual analysis and material culture, investigating how political structures, military campaigns, and cultural exchanges shaped the early Islamic world. He examines themes such as the evolution of governance systems, the role of pilgrimage economies, and the interaction between religious and temporal authority. His scholarship frequently engages with primary sources like al-Baladhuri’s Futuh al-Buldan and Ibn Wāḍiḥ al-Yaʿqūbī’s writings, contextualizing them within broader historical narratives. Key Publications: Includes seminal works on the Abbasid Caliphate, the conquests of the Arab armies, and comparative analyses between Islamic and Byzantine governance. Teaching: Contributes to SOAS’s MA History program, focusing on the Global South through decolonial and interdisciplinary approaches. Professional Affiliations: Active in academic networks promoting the study of pre-modern Middle Eastern history and cultural heritage.
Susannah Heschel serves as the Eli M. Black Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies and Chair of the Jewish Studies Program at Dartmouth College, holding a faculty appointment in the Religion Department. Her academic leadership extends through elected memberships in the American Academy for Jewish Research and American Society for the Study of Religion, with visiting professorships at Frankfurt, Cape Town, and Princeton Universities. Her educational background includes: A.B. from Trinity College M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Heschel's research centers on 19th-20th century Jewish and Protestant intellectual history, with groundbreaking work on Christian theologians in Nazi Germany, Jewish scholarship on Islam, and the theological roots of antisemitism. Her scholarship uniquely bridges biblical studies, feminist theory, and Holocaust research, examining how religious frameworks shape identity and persecution. Current projects explore European Jewish scholarship on Islam through a Guggenheim Fellowship. Her recent publications reveal persistent engagement with prophetic tradition across Jewish-Christian contexts, Holocaust memory studies, and the intersection of race/gender in theological ethics. Works consistently analyze how religious texts are weaponized for oppression while recovering marginalized voices in interfaith dialogue. Honors include: National Jewish Book Award for Abraham Geiger and the Jewish Jesus Mendelssohn Prize from Leo Baeck Institute Five international honorary doctorates Guggenheim Fellowship Research support spans major foundations: Current: Guggenheim Fellowship (2023-2024) Maimonides Institute Fellowship (University of Hamburg, Winter 2024) Previous: Rockefeller Fellowship (National Humanities Center) Wissenschaftskolleg Berlin Fellowship (2011-2012) Carnegie Foundation grants Ford Foundation grants Though not directing formal labs, Heschel collaborates internationally through fellowships at Hamburg's Maimonides Institute and Berlin's Wissenschaftskolleg, advancing comparative research on Jewish-Muslim-Christian intellectual history while mentoring junior scholars through Dartmouth's Jewish Studies Program.
Eleonora Cappuccilli is a Researcher at the Department of Philosophy, History of Ideas and Art, and Classical Languages at the University of Oslo . Her academic interests focus on English political thought in the early modern period, particularly women's political discourse based on the public sphere , constitutional history , prophecy as a concept , and early modern European political theology . She also explores current feminist theory . Education: PhD in Politics, Institutions and History (2016) from the University of Bologna, MA in International Relations (2012), and BA in International Studies (2009). Experience: Post-doctoral fellow at I Tatti (2022-2023), University of Oslo (2018-2021), Edith Saurer Foundation (2018), and Filippo Burzio Foundation (2018). Her research examines prophetic women in early modern Europe, analyzing their roles in religious reform and political theology . She investigates gender and authority through case studies like Mary Ward, Domenica da Paradiso, and Caterina da Racconigi. Her recent works explore cross-confessional practices , spiritual discipline , and transnational prophetic networks . Her publications span topics from 16th-century prophetic encounters to 17th-century gender conflicts , with a focus on Italian and English Renaissance contexts . She collaborates with scholars like Roberta Ferrari on intersections of feminist theory and Marxist critique , particularly concerning patriarchal structures and social movements . Projects include “Women's prophecy in early modern European religion” , analyzing the subversive expressions of female prophets. Her work appears in journals like Renaissance Studies and edited volumes from Amsterdam University Press and Brill .
Michael Cook is the Class of 1943 University Professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University. He specializes in Islamic history, thought, and religious values, with a focus on medieval Islamic civilization and the role of religious obligations like al-amr bi’l-ma'ruf. Cook earned degrees from Cambridge and SOAS in London, later teaching at SOAS before joining Princeton in 1986. His research spans Ottoman population history, Islamic legal and ethical traditions, and comparative studies of ancient religions and modern politics. Notable works include Commanding Right and Forbidding Wrong in Islamic Thought and Ancient Religions, Modern Politics . He has supervised over 30 doctoral dissertations, covering diverse topics such as medieval Islamic law, sectarian identities, and cross-cultural historical comparisons. Cook’s teaching emphasizes Arabic textual analysis and graduate mentorship, including seminars on dissertation writing. His publications reflect a commitment to interdisciplinary approaches, bridging history, theology, and comparative politics.
Dr. Aaron Ghiloni serves as an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in Religious Studies at the School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, at The University of Queensland. He is the author of Islam as Education: Pedagogies of Pilgrimage, Prophecy, and Jihad (2019) and John Dewey among the Theologians (2012), and editor of World Religions and their Missions (2015, 2nd ed. 2022). He also serves as Associate Editor for the journal Religious Education . Dr. Ghiloni earned his Doctor of Philosophy from The University of Queensland. His educational background forms the foundation for his interdisciplinary approach that bridges philosophy, theology, and educational theory. Dr. Ghiloni's research focuses on the intersection of religion and education, with particular expertise in Islam, Christianity, and interreligious studies. His work explores how John Dewey's pragmatist philosophy can inform religious education and interfaith dialogue. He examines educational approaches to supernaturalism, religious formation, and the role of religion in democratic societies. His scholarship addresses critical questions about how religious traditions can be taught respectfully in pluralistic contexts while maintaining academic rigor. Dr. Ghiloni's scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on religious education from multiple perspectives. His work bridges theological inquiry with educational theory, particularly through the lens of John Dewey's pragmatism. Recent publications emphasize interfaith education, comparative approaches to religious missions, and the challenges of teaching religion in pluralistic societies. His research shows an evolving trajectory from examining specific religious traditions to broader questions about religious education methodology and philosophy. Dr. Ghiloni actively supervises doctoral students working in religion and culture. He has served as Associate Advisor for at least one completed PhD dissertation on Wide-Awake In God's World: Bible Engagement For Teenage Spiritual Formation In A Culture Of Expressive Individualism (2018). His teaching portfolio at UQ includes subjects such as History of the Supernatural , Belief and Unbelief , World Religions , Spirituality in the Everyday , and Western Religious Thought from the Middle Ages to the Present .
Erik Waaler is a Professor of Theology, Religion and Philosophy at NLA University College in Sandviken, Bergen, Norway. He holds a prominent position in biblical studies with a particular focus on the New Testament, intertextuality, and the intersection of biblical scholarship with archaeology and historical context. His educational background includes: 1984: Cand. Theol. from Det teologiske Menighetsfakultet (MF) 1997: Master in Missiology from Fuller Theological Seminary - School of World Mission 2005: Dr. Theol. in New Testament from Det teologiske Menighetsfakultet (MF) Professor Waaler's primary research interests center on New Testament studies, particularly intertextuality and re-contextualization in First Corinthians and the Gospel of Matthew. His work bridges biblical scholarship with archaeological evidence, especially regarding Hebrew inscriptions from sites like Ketef Hinnom and Khirbet Qeiyafa. He has made significant contributions to understanding Pauline theology, particularly how Paul reinterprets Old Testament texts in his writings. His secondary expertise lies in applied Jewish studies, history, archaeology, and paleography related to the Levant. This interdisciplinary approach allows him to examine biblical texts within their historical and cultural contexts, providing fresh insights into early Christian interpretation of Jewish scripture. Waaler's scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on how New Testament authors, particularly Paul, engage with and reinterpret earlier biblical texts. His work spans from detailed analysis of specific passages like the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4 as reinterpreted in 1 Corinthians, to broader studies of intertextual methods. More recently, he has collaborated on technical archaeological projects using spectral imaging to analyze ancient inscriptions, showing his willingness to engage with cutting-edge methodologies to illuminate ancient texts. His research bridges the gap between traditional biblical scholarship and archaeological evidence, creating a more robust historical understanding of early Christian interpretation. Professor Waaler has been actively involved in projects examining Matthew's use of the Old Testament, Jewish use of the Old Testament with focus on Qumran and Josephus, inscriptions from Khirbet Qeiyafa, and Pauline Theology. His work demonstrates a sustained commitment to understanding the historical and textual foundations of early Christianity through meticulous analysis of both textual and archaeological evidence.
Hakan Coruh is a Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation, Charles Sturt University. He joined the university in 2015 as a lecturer and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in November 2021. Dr. Coruh has served as the Higher Degree Research Coordinator (HDR) for master's and PhD candidates at the center from 2020 to 2022. He is actively involved in multiple academic associations including the Australian Association of Islamic and Muslim Studies (AAIMS), CRES (Centre for Religion, Ethics and Society), and PAPER (Practical and Public Ethics Research group) at Charles Sturt University. Dr. Coruh obtained his Bachelor of Divinity (Ilahiyat) degree from the Faculty of Divinity at Sakarya University. In 2007, he completed his master's degree in Qur'anic exegesis (tafsīr) at the same university. Between 2003 and 2008, he actively participated in academic circles and centers such as İSAM (Centre for Islamic Studies) in Istanbul. In 2015, he successfully earned his PhD from Australian Catholic University, focusing his research on the early modern exegesis of the Qur'an, specifically studying the works of Said Nursi, Muhammad 'Abduh, and Sir Ahmad Khan. Dr. Coruh specializes in Qur'anic exegesis (tafsīr) and actively teaches and writes on subjects related to Qur'anic studies, classical exegesis, and contemporary approaches to the Qur'an and Islam. His academic interests encompass various fields, including classical and modern Qur'anic exegesis, contemporary Islamic thought, Islamic Legal Theories (usul al-fiqh) and Jurisprudence (fiqh), Islamic Ethics (akhlaq), Islamic theology, Medieval Classics (Islamic, Christian, and Jewish), and Comparative Theology. His teaching includes subjects such as Usul al-Tafsir, Usul al-Fiqh, Islamic Family Law and Society, and Islamic Jurisprudence of Five Pillars. Dr. Coruh's research output shows a strong focus on Qur'anic hermeneutics, particularly examining the works of key figures like Bediuzzaman Said Nursi and Muhammad 'Abduh. His publications demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches, connecting Islamic studies with contemporary issues such as religious freedom, science and religion dialogue, bioethics, and interfaith relations. He has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between traditional Islamic scholarship and modern contexts, especially regarding topics like religious freedom (Qur'an 2:256), the methodology of Qur'anic exegesis, and Islamic responses to contemporary challenges. Dr. Coruh supervises multiple research students, including PhD candidates David Drennan, Sarkhan Gasimov, and Nadia El-Mouelhy (as co-supervisor), as well as Master's students Ikramullah Ahmad and Ensar Cutahija. His supervision topics cover diverse areas such as Islamic legal theory, interfaith relations, and contemporary Islamic thought. Dr. Coruh is actively engaged with various academic communities, serving as a member of the CISAC Research Team, CISAC School Board, Sufi Studies Network at Monash University, and the Comparative Theology Reading Group at Australian Catholic University. In 2023, he held a visiting research fellow position at the Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar.
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