Office Location:
Turner Center
EDUCATION
Vanderbilt University
Ph.D., 1998;
M.A., 1990
Major: Bible (Area of specialization, Hebrew Bible)
Title of Dissertation, “Violence, Tradition, and Ideology: A Study of the Hebrew Terms בצע, חמס, and שׁוד”; Director Douglas A. Knight; committee members Walter Harrelson, James Barr, Renita J. Weems, John R. Fitzmier, and Laura Junker.
Minor: Church History; advisor, John R. Fitzmier
University of Tennessee
M.I.S., 2015
Member, Gold Key International Honor Society
Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio
Bachelor of Arts, 1983, Magna cum Laude (GPA 3.855)
Majors: Accounting, Religion
ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT AND EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Instructor in Religion, Martin Methodist College, 1992—present
- “Introduction to the Old Testament” (1993, 1995, 1996; 2010; online, 2013, 2014, 2015)
- “Introduction to the New Testament” (1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001)
- “Introduction to Philosophy” (2002-2015), 1-3 sections per year
- “The Writings of Paul” (1996)
- “World Religions” (1994)
- “Freshman Composition” (2012)
Adjunct Instructor in Religion, Belmont College, 1993—1996
- “Introduction to the Old Testament” (1 section; 2 independent studies)
- “Introduction to the New Testament” (1 section)
Adjunct Lecturer, the Divinity School, Vanderbilt University, 2000—2002
- “Biblical Criticism” (DIV2513), four sections
Participated in the archaeological dig at Tel Megiddo, Israel, 1998; directors Israel Finkelstein, David Ushishkin, and Baruch Halperin.
Teaching Assistant, Vanderbilt Divinity School, 1985—1989
- “Theology of Worship,” taught by David R. Buttrick, Vanderbilt Divinity School” (1989)
- “Literature, Religion, and Faith of Ancient Israel,” taught by Renita J. Weems (1988)
- “Literature, Religion, and Faith of Ancient Israel,” taught by Douglas Knight (1985)
PUBLISHING EMPLOYMENT
The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, Nashville, TN
1996-2012
Managing Editor, Upper Room Books, 2010–2012
- Supervised and coordinated editorial development for assigned manuscripts and cover development for projects.
- Completed content and copy editing of assigned manuscripts and communicated with authors regarding content questions and revisions.
- Oversaw the Upper Room Books blog site and participated in Social Media campaign.
- Coordinated with free-lance editors to input corrections and verifications and communicated rights and permission needs to authors.
- Hired free-lance designers and free-lance proofreaders.
- Delivered electronic files to Production and proofread page proofs for accuracy.
- Contracted with independent designers to provide cover designs for selection of final cover for Marketing.
Managing Editor, Alive Now magazine, 2009–2010
- Supervised and coordinated editorial development for each issue of Alive Now to insure high quality content.
- Performed editorial planning, determined themes, and oversaw editorial layout for each issue.
- Directed the content development by assigning articles to free-lance writers and by evaluating and selecting articles from free-lance submissions.
- Researched, selected, and secured reprint rights for pre-published material; wrote articles and developed special features for each issue.
- Oversaw the development and maintenance of the Alive Now website.
- Worked with the Marketing Department and Customer Care to monitor and provide input and feedback for marketing plans.
- Oversaw all rights and payments for authors.
- Supervised and coordinated the design of each issue with an independent designer to insure high quality format, layout, and design.
- Worked with the Production Department to proofread and approve galleys of each issue to ensure the completion and delivery of each issue within the prescribed deadlines.
- Managed the Alive Now editorial unit to insure the ongoing viability.
Associate Editor, Alive Now magazine, 1996–2009
- Worked with the editor of Alive Now in all aspects of the editorial development, including editorial planning and layout, and assisted with content development.
- Worked with the editor of Alive Now and an independent designer in choosing or commissioning illustrations and photographs, tracking corrections and changes, and proofreading and approving galleys.
- Oversaw the development and maintenance of the Alive Now website.
The United Methodist Publishing House, Nashville, TN, 1991–1996
Assistant Editor of Reference Books, Abingdon Press
- Responsible for assigned features of The New Interpreters Bible, a twelve-volume commentary series published at six-month intervals. Worked on six volumes.
- Served as member of a team that designed all aspects of the product.
- Created and oversaw a schedule to circulate manuscripts among members of the Editorial Board, Product Manager, Production Manager, and authors so that manuscripts were read, critiqued, revised, and copyedited and ready for publication by prescribed deadlines.
- Originated, wrote content for, and worked with the designer to oversee the creation of charts and graphs in each volume.
- Contracted with outside company to design maps; proofed design and accuracy.
- Input all Hebrew and Greek fonts and transliterations; hired and supervised freelance proofreader for ancient texts.
- Coordinated the bi-annual meeting of the Editorial Board, including reserving meeting space, arranging meals, contributing to the agenda, and ensuring that all bills were paid.
U.S. ARMY, 1972–1976
- Army Security Agency, MOS 05H20 (Morse Code Intercept Operator);
- Top Secret Security Clearance
- Served primarily at Field Station Augsburg, Germany;
- Awarded Good Conduct Medal
- Received Honorable Discharge.
