Academic Appointments and Employment
Associate Professor, Department of Classical and Near Eastern Religions and Cultures, University of Minnesota, August 2021-present.
Assistant Professor, Department of Classical and Near Eastern Studies, University of Minnesota, August 2013-2021.
Associate Professor, Old Testament studies, MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, Oslo, Norway, September 2007-August 2013.
Assistant Professor, Old Testament studies, MF, January 2005-August 2007.
Doctoral scholarship, MF, August 1999-December 2004.
Assistant Professor, Old Testament studies, MF, 1997/98.
While at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion, and Society, Oslo, Norway
Visiting Researcher in the Department of Bible, Faculty of Humanities, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, 2012/2013.
Visiting Scholar at Luther Theological Seminary, Minnesota, June-September 2011, and March-April 2012.
Visiting Scholar at Duke University, Department of Religion, February-May 2011.
Visiting Professor at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, March 2010.
Education
Doctor Theologiae, MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society (June 2007).
Dissertation: Silent or Salient Gender? The Interpretation of Gendered God-Language in the Hebrew Bible, Exemplified in Isaiah 42, 46, and 49.
Visiting Student, University of Chicago, Divinity School (winter quarter 2002). Sponsored by Professor Tikva Fymer-Kensky.
Intermediate Biblical Hebrew, Hebrew University, Jerusalem (summer 2000).
Degree in Practical Theology, MF (December 1998).
Candidata theologia [Comparable to Master of Theology] MF (June 1997).
Studies at Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany (summer semester 1995).
Examen Philosophicum, University of Oslo (December 1992).
Academic Distinctions
Canadian Society of Biblical Studies book award: R. B. Y. Scott Award, 2023.
International First Book Award, John Templeton Award for Theological Promise, University of Heidelberg, 2008 ($20,000).
American Academy for Jewish Research, Workshop for Early Faculty (refereed competition), May 20-23, 2013, New York University (workshop and accommodation).
International Scholarship, Cultural Agreement Norway-Israel, the Norwegian Research Council, summer 2000 (tuition, accommodation, and stipend).
Graduate Research Fellowship, Spring 1999,MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society ($ 6,000)
Graduate Visiting Student’s Fellowship, Summer Semester 1994, Gerhardt Uhlhorn-Konvikt, Göttingen, while student at Georg-August-Universität (tuition, accommodation, and stipend)
Languages
Ancient: Hebrew, Greek, Latin.
Modern: Norwegian, German, Danish, and Swedish.
Teaching (see also: Courses)
PhD Committees
External reader and member of PhD committee for Lance R. Hawley. Metaphor Coherence in the Book of Job. Hebrew and Semitic Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2013–2016.
Chair of PhD evaluation committee for Varhaug, Jørn. Reapplication of Cultic Language in Psalms 22, 23, and 24. MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, 2010.
Member of PhD evaluation committee for Rogn, Marit. Det liturgiske møte. En studie av språk og gudsmetaforer i Den norske kirkes høymesse. [The Liturgical Meeting. A Study of Language and Metaphors for God in the Liturgy of the Church of Norway.] University of Bergen, 2008.
Service to the Profession
Steering Committees
Chair of the Society of Biblical Literature program unit: Metaphor Theory and Hebrew Bible, 2012-2016.
Member of the Steering Committee of the Society of Biblical Literature program unit: Metaphor Theory and Biblical Texts (the unit changed name to Metaphor Theory and Hebrew Bible in 2012), 2009-2019.
Member of the Steering Committee of the Society of Biblical Literature program unit: Formation of Isaiah, 2008-213.
Member of the Steering Committee of OTSEM, Old Testament Studies: Epistemologies and Methods. A Nordic-German Network for Old Testament Studies. 2005- 2008.
Member of the Steering committee of NKTF Norsk kvinnelig teologforening [Norwegian Society for Female Theologians] research representative, 2006.
Member of the steering committee of Norsk gammeltestamentlig selskap [Norwegian Society for Old Testament Scholars] 2001-2004.
Editorial Boards
Editorial board of Dictionary of Nature Imagery in the Bible. Supplement Monograph Series, Bloomsbury T & T Clark. (2017-present)
Editorial board of Teologisk Tidsskrift [Journal for Theology], 2012.
Editorial board of St. Sunniva: Tidsskrift for feministisk teologi [ St. Sunniva: Journal of Feminist Theology], 1999-2001 and 2012-present.
Editorial board of Ung Teologi, [Journal published by students at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society.]1994/95.
Professional Memberships
Society of Biblical Literature.