EDUCATION (Degrees):

Ph.D., M.Phil., M.A.               

Yale University                                 New Testament                   1988-93

(New Haven, CT)                                                       

M.Div.                                 

McCormick Seminary                     Religion/Theology            1984-87

(Chicago, IL)

B.S.                                                       

Morningside College                       Economics                           1980-83

(Sioux City, IA)                                         

INTERNATIONAL STUDY:

American Center of Oriental Research   Islam and Middle East              January 2004

(Amman, Jordan)

Hebrew University                                     Ancient and Modern Judaism  Summer 1999

(Jerusalem, Israel)

Georg-August Universität                        Ancient Christianity                  1987-88

(Göttingen, Germany)

Goethe-Institute                                          German                                          Summer 1986

(Boppard, Germany)

Yarmouk University                                    Archaeology                               Summer 1985

(Irbid, Jordan) 

Kansai Gaidai University                           Buddhism/Japanese                   1983-84

(Osaka, Japan)

ACADEMIC HONORS AND FELLOWSHIPS: 

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL-BASED

2004                      Fellowship for Study of “Islam and Middle Eastern Culture”

                                 (through the Department of State and the Council of Independent Colleges)

2000                     Fellowship in Contemplation, American Council of Learned Societies

2000                     Exemplary Teaching Award

                                     (from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church)

1999-2000         Affiliate Fellowship for the Pluralism Project at Harvard University

1992-93              Charlotte Newcombe Fellowship

1991-92              Claude F. Lambe Fellowship

1987-88              Fulbright/DAAD Scholar (for studies in Göttingen, West Germany)

1987-88              Rotary Scholar (Goslar-Nordharz Club)

1985                   American Schools of Oriental Research/United States Information Agency                                           

                                       (USIA) Archaeology Fellowship (for work in Irbid, Jordan)

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY-BASED

2005                            Batten Distinguished Scholar Award

2004                            Batten Professor (named chair)

2004, 2001, 1996, 1994 Wesleyan Summer Research Fellowship

2002                            Ruth Jacobs Grant for Developing Service Learning

2002, 2001, 1999  Grant for Faculty Development in Computer Technology

                                              (VFIC, Virginia Federation of Independent Colleges)

1999                            Sabbatical semester (Fall semester, Virginia Wesleyan College)

1999                            Zimmerman Scholarship

                                                   (for research and study at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel)

1997                            The Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Teaching Award

                                                        (Virginia Wesleyan College)

1995                            Merit Award:  Virginia Wesleyan College

1988-92                      Yale University Fellowship

1987-89                      T. B. Blackstone Fellowship in New Testament Greek (McCormick)

1986                            McCormick Seminary International Fellowship (MTS)

1985                            The Floyd V. Filson Prize in New Testament (MTS)

1985                            The Samuel Robinson Award in Theology (MTS)

1984                            The G. Ernest Wright Scholarship (MTS)