Education

  • University of California–Los Angeles, Ph.D., History - Christian Origins, 2013 [begins this fall]
  • Fuller Theological Seminary, M.Div., 2008 [in progress]
  • Messiah College, B.A., Bible, 2002

Teaching and Research Experience

  • Teaching Assistant, to Brian Pounds in “Beginning Greek,” Fuller Theological Seminary, Winter 2008
  • Teaching Assistant, to Professor James T. Butler in “Exegesis of Jeremiah,” Fuller Theological Seminary, Fall 2007
  • Teaching Assistant, to Professor Michael R. Cosby in “Fundamentals of Greek I” and “Fundamentals of Greek II,” Messiah College, 2001-2002
  • Research Assistant, to College Pastor Dennis P. Hollinger on subsequently published book, Choosing the Good: Christian Ethics in a Complex World, Messiah College, Spring 2001.

Academic Volunteer Experience

Ministry Experience

  • Hunger Advocacy Intern, Bread for the World (Pasadena, Calif.), Summer 2007
  • Pastoral Intern, Pasadena Mennonite Church, 2006-2007
  • Pastoral Intern, Grantham Brethren in Christ Church (Grantham, Pa.), 2001-2002
  • Chaplain (for Junior class), Messiah College, 2000-2001

Professional Experience

  • Claim Benefit Specialist, Aetna Healthcare (Seattle, Wash.), 2004-2005
  • Integrated Service Specialist, Coventry Healthcare (Harrisburg, Pa.), 2002-2004

Recent Publications

  • Review of Stanley Hauerwas, Matthew (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible). Brethren in Christ History and Life [forthcoming].
  • Review of Brian McLaren, A New Kind of Christian; The Story We Find Ourselves in; The Last Word and the Word after That. Brethren in Christ History and Life 29, no 1 (2006): 96-100.
  • Assorted articles in the SEMI (Fuller Theological Seminary community publication)
  • Assorted articles in The Swinging Bridge (Messiah College student newspaper)

Presentations

  • “Judging Compassionate Acts: Matthew 25:31-46 in Light of Second Temple Literature,” paper accepted for presentation at WECSOR (Western Commission for the Study of Religion, Pacific Coast regional meeting for SBL) (Pasadena, Calif.), March 30-31, 2008.

Associations

  • American Academy of Religion, 2005-Present
  • Anabaptist-Mennonite Scholars Network, 2005-Present
  • Society of Biblical Literature, 2005-Present

Research Interests

Social issues in the New Testament and Christian origins, including family structure, gender roles, slavery, social cohesion, violence, and Jewish-Christian relations; apocalyptic discourse in early Christianity and Second Temple Judaism; history and texts of Second Temple Judaism; history of biblical interpretation; ethical/social implications of biblical hermeneutics