Union Theological Seminary is pleased to announce that Jerusha Tanner Rhodes, Ph.D. has been promoted to Associate Professor of Islam and Interreligious Engagement without term (with tenure), by the Union Board of Trustees following the enthusiastic recommendation by the faculty’s Committee on Appointments.
“Having worked closely with Professor Rhodes in the rigorous review for promotion and tenure, I am delighted that our Board recognizes her scholarly achievements, dedication to teaching, and service within and beyond the Union community,” said Dr. Mary Boys, Union’s Vice President of Academic Affairs. “An outstanding colleague, Professor Rhodes is the first Muslim to be granted tenure at UTS, so the Board’s vote marks an historic moment in Union’s story.”
Dr. Rhodes’ first book, Never Wholly Other: A Muslima Theology of Religious Pluralism, explores the Qur’anic discourse on religious ‘otherness’. In this book, she draws upon feminist theology and semantic methodology to re-interpret the Qur’anic discourse and challenge notions of clear and static religious boundaries by distinguishing between and illuminating the complexity of multiple forms of religious difference. Her second book, Divine Words, Female Voices: Muslima Explorations in Comparative Feminist Theology, uses her unique form comparative feminist theology to engage diverse Muslim and Christian feminist, womanist, and mujerista voices
“Professor Rhodes’ groundbreaking work in fostering interreligious engagement is already powerfully shaping our Union community, preparing students to work across religious traditions,” said Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, President of Union. “Outside our walls, her work in Muslima Theology is opening up new areas of study in the academic understanding of Islam. She is truly a world-transforming scholar. Even more than this, she brings to both her teaching and her community work deep kindness and compassion. I couldn’t be more excited to watch her take the next steps in an already remarkable academic journey.”