Professional Activity 

I began teaching in the Theology Department in 2000.  I am an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and served as a parish pastor for four years in Portage, WI. 

My area of scholarly work and teaching is TaNaKh, what Christians refer to as the Old Testament.  I have a special interest in creation stories in and beyond the Bible, the prophets of ancient Israel, Israel's wisdom literature, and in classical Hebrew poetry.  I am also keenly aware of and attentive to the significance of the various contexts (social, religious, political, literary) not only in which the Bible was written and transmitted, but also in which we read and seek to understand the Bible today.  As a result, I include the study of extra-biblical texts from the ancient Near East and the use of models of interpretation from the social sciences in my work and teaching.

My dissertation, Understanding Dan: An Exegetical Approach to Dan in the Biblical Traditions, was published in 2003 by Sheffield Academic Press.  My most recent article, "From Honor Challenge to False Prophecy: Rereading Jeremiah 28's Story of Prophetic Conflict in Light of Social-Science Models," appears in Currents in Theology and Mission.  I have written book reviews for Biblical Theology Bulletin and Currents in Theology and Mission.  I have also been a presenter at the Lutheran Summer Assembly in Lakeside, OH, and written confirmation materials for Augsburg Fortress Publishers.

Community Service 

Outside the classroom and office, I am involved in the Valpo Chapter of the Archaeological Institute of America.  I participate in the worship life of a local congregation and the Chapel of the Resurrection, and serve on the admissions committee of the Lutheran Deaconess Association.

Personal Interests 

I enjoy taking in a concert or dramatic performance on campus; walking, biking and hiking with my family; woodworking; and starting various projects around the house.