I offer classes especially in the area of biblical studies, religion in antiquity, gender and religion, and classical languages. As the recipient of the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award, Distinguished Teaching Award, and the Champion Award for Mission-Informed Teaching from St. Edward’s University, and as a nominee for the American Academy of Religion Annual Teaching Award, it is clear that I esteem the call of an educator. 

My mentoring extends to working with students in the Honors Program and in the Doctorate in Leadership and Higher Education program. I've held the McCarthy Chair at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome and served as the Barnett Scholar of Jewish Studies at Brite Divinity School. My teaching repertoire ranges from introductory courses to upper level seminars and online courses (hybrid, synchronous, and asynchronous). I supervise the theses of students at the master’s level and for the Licentiate and serve as a reader of doctoral dissertations. 

In terms of curriculum review and development, I serve as an external reviewer for Religious Studies programs at institutions within the United States and I have served on the University Program Review Committee at St. Edward's University.

I support student research and encourage my students to aim high in developing–and meeting–their academic goals. To that end, I celebrate student successes and work to make further opportunities available for students. I encourage students in Central Texas to share their research with others and to attend the St. Edward’s Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE), the Central Texas Colloquium on Religion Research Conference, and the Southwest Commission on Religious Studies Annual Meeting. The Enoch Graduate Seminar and the Catholic Biblical Association also offer important opportunities for graduate students. As immediate Past President of Theta Alpha Kappa, I support the important work of honor societies which recognize student accomplishments.

In the area of Advanced Experiential Learning and career-readiness, I direct student internships, and along with colleague Dr. Georgia Seminet, I led students on the Camino de Santiago.

Select Presentations and Workshops for Communities

“Recovering Stories of the Maccabean Matriarchs,” Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, Seminars for Adult Jewish Enrichment

“Judaism before the Dead Sea Scrolls,” St. David’s Episcopal Church

“Reflections on Writing for the Paulist Biblical Commentary,” St. Austin’s Catholic Parish

“The Book of Revelation: Fitting Capstone to the Christian Canon,” The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd

“What is the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha and Why Should Christians Care?” University United Methodist Church

“Messiahs of Israel: Bridgeways Interfaith Dialogue Workshop” (scholar/facilitator on the Parables of Enoch and Psalms of Solomon), Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

“Interpreting Scripture with the Rabbis,” University United Methodist Church

“The Christmas Story and Incredible Birth Accounts in the Ancient Mediterranean World,” Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church

“Outside the Canon: the Unusual Books of Enoch, the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary,” Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church

“Judge, Maiden, Warrior, Victim: Women in the Book of Judges,” for the Ninth Annual Tapestry of Jewish Learning, the Jewish Community Center of Austin

Hoxie Thompson Lecturer on “Forced Migrations, the Fall of Jerusalem and Jeremiah,” Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary 

“The Dead Sea Scrolls,” St. Theresa’s Parish

“Jewish Women in the Second Temple Period,” Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest