Samaneh Oladi, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Religious Studies Coordinator at Virginia Commonwealth University's College of Humanities and Sciences. Her expertise spans Islamic jurisprudence, family law, and gender dynamics in religious knowledge production. Ph.D. in Religious Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara M.A. in Global and International Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara Dr. Oladi's research focuses on women as religious authorities and their challenges to patriarchal interpretations of Islamic scripture. She previously served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Bates College and a Teaching Associate at UC Santa Barbara.
Lucie Rathouzská is a Research Fellow at the Department for the Study of Ancient and Medieval Thought (University of Ostrava) since 2024. She holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy (2022) and advanced degrees in Philosophy (Mgr. 2017, B.A. 2015) from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ostrava. Specializes in medieval philosophy and Christian mystical traditions , particularly English mysticism Current research involves Hugo of St. Victor and translation of his Didascalicon into Czech Key contributions to understanding imagination in 14th-century mystical practices and its theological implications Her publications address tensions between divine unknowability and imaginative spiritual exercises in medieval mysticism. She has presented at international conferences in Nitra (2021) and Bratislava (2019). Active in interdisciplinary research connecting American philosophy (Royce studies) with medieval thought. Grants include SGS projects on: Philosophical populism and disinformation (2021) Obscurantism in public discourse (2022) White spaces of philosophy (2019) International experience includes: 12-month stay at the Thomas Institute (University of Cologne) Three-month Erasmus at the Faculty of Theology (University of Trnava) Shorter academic visits to Poland and Germany Member of: Czech Patristic Society Internationale Gesellschaft für theologische Mediävistik
Luís M. Figueiredo Rodrigues is an Associate Professor at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa , specializing in Theology and Religious Studies . He holds a PhD in Practical Theology and a Master's in Educational Sciences with a focus on e-Learning Pedagogy. His academic work bridges theology with digital culture through publications addressing faith transmission in networked societies and technological pastoral challenges. PhD in Practical Theology (Universidade Católica Portuguesa) Master's in Educational Sciences (e-Learning Pedagogy, Universidade Aberta) Canonical Degree in Catechetical Theology (Facultad de Teología "San Dámaso", Madrid) His research interests include: Digital theology and media ecology Religious education in networked environments Contemporary catechetical practices Ecclesial response to globalization Mental health in pastoral ministry Dr. Rodrigues has produced 27 publications since 1996, with recent works examining digital faith mediation, burnout in clergy, and digital identity formation. He contributes to the UCP-CITER research center and teaches modules on communication technologies in education and practical theology. Key themes in his 2024-2025 works include: Digital theological symbolism Anthropological faith transformations Religious dynamics in political contexts Fraternality in global theology His career spans both academic and pastoral roles, with a focus on adapting religious education to digital cultures while maintaining theological authenticity.
Marjorie J. Cooper is a Professor of Marketing at Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business, where she has served since 1984. She holds a PhD in Business Administration from Texas A&M University, an MBA in Marketing from Oklahoma City University, and a BA in Greek from Wheaton College. Cooper is also Editor of the Keller Center Research Report and a founding member of multiple academic and theological organizations. Education: PhD (Business Administration, Texas A&M), MDiv (Dallas Theological Seminary), MBA (Marketing, Oklahoma City University), BA (Greek, Wheaton College) Her research explores intersections of business ethics, theological principles, and marketing strategies, with a focus on constraints management and ethical frameworks in sales and promotional practices. Publications span rhetorical critiques of biblical texts, narcissism-religiosity dynamics in ethics, and innovative applications of theory of constraints to business processes. Cooper's affiliations include the Theory of Constraints International Certification Organization, Christian Business Faculty Association, Evangelical Theological Society, Mu Kappa Tau, Beta Gamma Sigma, and Pi Sigma Epsilon. She teaches foundational courses in marketing concepts, principles, and advertising procedures.
Professor Dr. Roland Rosenstock holds the Chair of Religious and Media Education at the Faculty of Theology, University of Greifswald. He specializes in the intersection of religious communication, digital media education, and media literacy development, with a particular focus on mediatization processes within theological contexts. Developed digital educational tools like the Kira the Magpie virtual church tour (active since 2004) and the CaspAR augmented reality app (2024) for Caspar David Friedrich's bicentenary Co-developed media education frameworks for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern including the Media Compass series His research examines ethical implications of digital technology in religious contexts, with publications spanning: Religious media ethics Computer game pedagogy Augmented reality in cultural heritage Awarded the 2019 University of Greifswald Teaching Prize for 'Knowledge and Technology Transfer', he leads the Computer Game School Greifswald (since 2012) and served as Faculty Dean (2012-2014). He also chairs the Greifswald Media Centre and contributed to the Northern Church's Digital Strategy 2025+ as Education and Culture working group leader.
Rev. Prof. Dr. hab. Marcin Wysocki serves as a Professor in the Department of Greek and Latin Patrology at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. He is a leading scholar in patristic studies, with particular focus on early Christian epistolography, eschatology, and theological interpretations of classical antiquity. Key Affiliations: Editor-in-Chief of Vox Patrum journal Vice-President of International Association of Patristic Studies (AIEP-IAPS) International collaborations with Tangaza University College (Kenya), University of Oxford, and Boston College Research Interests encompass: Analysis of Latin Christian letters from 4th-5th centuries (Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, Paulinus of Nola) Eschatological themes in persecution periods Comparative studies of Eastern and Western patristic traditions Christian archaeology and material culture Patristic mariology and its reception Interpretation of classical heritage in Christian contexts Article Trends reveal a scholarly trajectory focusing on: Epistolary forms as theological pedagogy Continuity and change in Christian fatherhood concepts Symbolism of nature in patristic writings Eschatological hope in crisis contexts Genre hybridity in early Christian texts Legal and moral frameworks in heresy debates Scientific Awards include Bronze Medal for Long Service Multiple Rektor KUL Awards for academic excellence Election to International Association of Patristic Studies Vice-President of AIEP-IAPS Academic Leadership involves Organizing 5th International Patristic Conference Managing Ministry of Science projects Co-editing volumes on patristic spirituality Supervising editorial boards of theological journals
Rev. Dr. Hab. Włodzimierz Bielak is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Church History, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. His research focuses on medieval and early modern Catholic Church structures, devotion movements, and historical book collections. Education: Habilitation in Theology (specific details not provided) Affiliation: Department of Church History, Catholic University of Lublin Research Interests: The Church's role in medieval Poland, royal coronation rituals, Latin monastic orders, and the evolution of Catholic educational institutions. He has extensively studied the Canons Regular of the Lateran and the Sacred Heart of Jesus devotion. Notable Trends: His 15 most recent works span topics from medieval parish formation to 20th-century ecclesiastical renewal, with recurring subfields in archival analysis, liturgical studies, and religious movements. Scientific Awards: Rector of KUL Award for habilitation thesis (2013), Third Degree Team Award (2008) Grants: Internal grants for historical book collection research Academic Activities: Active in national Church history conferences, editorial roles for journals like Archives, Libraries and Church Museums , and preservation of medieval parish records.
Rev. Dr. Damian Chrzanowski serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Homiletics at the Institute of Theological Sciences, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, while concurrently holding directorship of the university's Boarding School (2022-2026). His academic profile integrates priestly ministry with scholarly research in homiletic theory and practice across Catholic and Evangelical traditions. Chrzanowski's research centers on biblical actualization in contemporary preaching, with particular focus on Pope Francis' homilies and Matthew's Gospel narratives. His ecumenical approach examines preaching techniques across denominational boundaries, analyzing how sacred texts are dynamically interpreted in modern pastoral contexts. This work extends to developing practical homiletic resources like concordances of Polish synod documents and consecrated life constitutions. His publication trajectory reveals consistent specialization in homiletic theory since 2012, increasingly emphasizing ecumenical dialogue and scriptural actualization. Recent works (2024-2025) demonstrate growing international recognition through SCOPUS-indexed publications addressing current challenges in religious communication. Award highlights include: Inner Reward Award for SCOPUS-indexed journal publication (2025) First Degree Individual Award for organizational/social activity (2023) Chrzanowski manages multiple KUL-funded research initiatives including "The Concept of Expository Preaching" and "Homiletic Concordance of Constitutions of Male Institutes of Consecrated Life," while securing Erasmus+ international collaboration grants. His educational services span Catholic and Evangelical institutions across Poland, focusing on homiletic training and communication skills development.
Rev. Dr. hab. Jacek Kucharski is an Assistant Professor at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin , affiliated with the Faculty of Theology and the Department of Exegesis of the Gospels and Apostolic Scriptures . His academic work focuses on biblical interpretation, particularly the Gospels and their theological implications. Institute of Biblical Studies 20-950 Lublin, Al. Racławickie 14 Research interests: Jacek Kucharski specializes in New Testament exegesis, with a particular emphasis on the Gospel of Luke. His work explores narrative structures, gender roles in early Christian traditions, and historical interpretations of resurrection accounts. Publication trends: Recent research centers on the Lukan empty tomb narrative , analyzing the identity and theological significance of female figures in this passage. This reflects broader interests in biblical hermeneutics and early Christian community dynamics.
Rev. Dr. Andrzej Megger serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Liturgy at The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, where he contributes to theological education and liturgical scholarship. His institutional affiliation includes active participation in the Institute of Liturgics and Homiletics, evidenced by annual reports on academic activities spanning 2015-2020. Megger's research centers on liturgical theology with emphasis on historical movements, Eucharistic theology, and post-conciliar hermeneutics. His work examines the American Liturgical Movement through Virgil Michel OSB, logocentrism in Ratzinger/Benedict XVI's theology, and continuity in Roman Missal editions. He explores practical dimensions through Eucharistic processions, lectionary interpretation, and confirmation theology, bridging historical analysis with contemporary liturgical renewal. His publication trends reveal deep engagement with Polish liturgical renewal (e.g., Bishop Kowalski's work) and international ecumenical dialogue, particularly through Eastern Christian liturgical theology. Megger's projects frequently integrate historical scholarship with pastoral application, as seen in his National Science Centre-funded research on the liturgical movement as a social phenomenon. 4th degree individual award for outstanding organizational-social activity and science popularization (2020) Membership in Association of Polish Liturgists (2014) Scientific supervision of doctoral theses including Robert Dorau's work on Ratzinger's liturgical mystagogy Megger actively organizes major academic events including the Ecclesiological Week conferences and international symposia on liturgy and new evangelization. His international collaborations include teaching internships at Eichstätt-Ingolstadt University (Germany) and research visits to Notre Dame and Tbilisi universities, focusing on liturgical eschatology and Eastern Christian traditions. He serves as editor for "Studia Liturgiczne" and has led National Science Centre projects examining the liturgical movement as a social phenomenon.
Rev. Dr. Hab. Roman Sieroń, Assistant Professor at the Department of Detailed Catechetics and Contemporary Forms of Transmission of the Faith, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, specializes in biblical theology and Christian education. His work bridges biblical hermeneutics with modern pedagogical challenges, focusing on postmodern anthropology, ecological theology, and Pauline pedagogy. Biblical Anthropology Christian Pedagogy Eco-Theology Pauline Theology Over the past decade, Sieroń has published extensively on biblical education models, including The Ecological Message of the Bible (2019) and Outline of Biblical Thanatology (2010). His research explores joy (chara) in Pauline epistles, suffering pedagogy in Job, and the educational potential of biblical narratives. Scientific Honors: Medal of the National Education Commission (2013) As an organizer of Sandomierz Bible Weeks and international conferences, Sieroń contributes to Catholic educational initiatives. He serves as editorial board member for journals like Society and Family and reviews habilitation procedures for Polish biblical scholars.
Chen Dandelot is a Lecturer in Hebrew and Academic Advisor at the Faculty of Theology, University of Geneva. She earned a doctorate in Theology (Old Testament), a Master's in Theology, and a Bachelor's in both Theology and Literature (History of Religions and History of Art). Education : Doctorate in Theology (Old Testament), University of Geneva; Master's in Theology; Bachelor's in Theology and Literature. Her research focuses on the Book of Habakkuk, exploring connections between scriptural prophecy, psalms, and liturgy, alongside sociohistorical and literary analysis of Ancient Israel. Her publications address topics such as divine imagery in Habakkuk 3, pragmatic approaches to biblical texts, and the role of cultic material in scriptural expansion. She has contributed to scholarly discourse through edited volumes and book chapters, including Approaches and methods in biblical sciences: what’s new? (2022), which examines interdisciplinary methodologies in biblical studies. Her work also integrates feminist theology and gender studies, as seen in Women’s Words, God’s Discourse (2018). Scientific awards include the Stella Genevensis Prize (2022, 2013) and participation in the Mentoring for Young People program (2018-2019). Scientific Activities : Member of the Romand Institute of Biblical Sciences (IRSB) and European Association of Biblical Studies (EABS); co-organizer of the EABS research unit 'Ancient Apocalypses and Their Contexts' (2024-2026).
Mary-Gabrielle Roth-Mouthon serves as a Research Fellow in the Department of Biblical Studies at the Faculty of Theology, University of Fribourg, contributing to academic research and teaching within biblical scholarship. Her research centers on Biblical Studies with specialized focus on textual analysis of the Old and New Testaments, hermeneutical methodologies, and historical-critical examination of religious narratives. This work integrates theological frameworks with interdisciplinary approaches to scriptural interpretation.
Dr. Brandon Watson serves as a Research Associate in the Department of Systematic Theology at the Faculty of Protestant Theology, University of Münster. He completed his doctoral studies (Dr. theol.) at Heidelberg University (2018-2022) with a dissertation on Karl Barth's Trinitarian Ontology of Faith. Currently pursuing his habilitation under Professor Hans-Peter Großhans with the working title 'Religious Language, Metaphor and Narrative: The Quest for (Self-)Discovery,' Watson has established himself as a significant scholar in contemporary theological discourse. PhD (Dr. theol.) from Heidelberg University (2018-2022) MA and MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary (2014-2018) BA in Humanities from The College at Southwestern Seminary (2009-2014) Watson's research focuses on metaphor and religious language, faith and ontology, hermeneutics, and philosophy of religion. His work demonstrates deep engagement with Karl Barth's theology, particularly examining Barth's understanding of faith, salvation, and divine ontology. He has developed a distinctive approach to theological language that explores how metaphor functions in religious discourse and contributes to theological understanding. His scholarship bridges systematic theology with philosophical inquiry, particularly in the area of theological ontology. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a consistent focus on Karl Barth's theology, with particular attention to Barth's understanding of faith, salvation, and divine ontology. His work demonstrates increasing sophistication in handling complex theological concepts while maintaining accessibility. Watson's publications span multiple languages and appear in both German and international theological journals, showing his ability to contribute to theological discourse across cultural boundaries. His interdisciplinary approach incorporates insights from philosophy, biblical studies, and cultural analysis. Watson is actively involved in several academic societies: Karl Heim Gesellschaft (since 2019) Scripture and Theology (Chair since 2019) European Academy of Religion (EuARe) (since 2018) Karl Barth Society of North America (since 2017) Presbyterian Church (USA) (Ordination candidate since 2017) He teaches multiple seminars at the University of Münster, including introductory courses on systematic theology, hermeneutics, and specialized seminars on Eberhard Jüngel's theology and Paul Tillich's work. His teaching reflects his research interests while providing students with foundational knowledge in systematic theology. Watson also presents regularly at international conferences, demonstrating his active engagement with the global theological community.
Prof. Roland E. Fischer serves as Rector of Friedensau Adventist University since 2016 and teaches Practical Theology at the institution. An ordained Seventh-day Adventist pastor since 1988, he holds a doctorate in Religious Studies from the University of Bayreuth (2007) and brings extensive pastoral counseling experience to his academic role. His educational journey spans Marienhöhe Seminary (Darmstadt), Andrews University (USA), and Friedensau Adventist University. Key milestones include: Adventist Theology studies at Marienhöhe Seminary Advanced theological training at Andrews University Doctoral research at University of Bayreuth Ordination and pastoral ministry (1988) Fischer's research centers on Pastoral Theology and Homiletics within Adventist contexts, with specialized focus on pastor training, sermon analysis, eschatological preaching, and Bible study methodologies. His work critically examines gender dynamics in Adventist theology and integrates performance theory into homiletic practice, revealing how humor and theatrical elements enhance religious communication. Recent publications increasingly address volunteer ministry structures in free churches and contemporary challenges in congregational leadership. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications shows dominant trends in Adventist identity negotiation, practical sermon evaluation frameworks, and the intersection of eschatology with everyday pastoral practice. His scholarship consistently bridges academic theology and church application, particularly through assessment methodologies for ministerial interns and cross-cultural preaching analysis. Prof. Fischer actively mentors pastoral interns and appraises doctoral dissertations externally, including works on Adventist ecclesiology in Pentecostal contexts (Wogu, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) and educational philosophy in Austrian Adventist institutions (Müller, University of Vienna). His teaching portfolio spans Bachelor's courses in Homiletics and Master's programs in Pastoral Theology, Church Sociology, and Worship Leadership.
