Melanie A. Howard

Dr. Melanie Howard is Associate Professor of Biblical & Theological Studies at Fresno Pacific University where she also serves as the Chair of the Biblical and Religious Studies Division. She formerly taught at Valparaiso University, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Messiah College. Having completed her PhD (2015) at Princeton Theological Seminary with a dissertation on mothers in the Gospel of Mark, she previously received a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree in biblical studies at the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree with a major in Bible and minor in peace and conflict studies at Messiah College.

Dr. Howard has taught several courses including Jesus and the Christian Community, Women and the Bible, Introduction to the New Testament, the Gospel of Mark, 1-2 Corinthians, the General Epistles, Sermon on the Mount, Koine Greek, Biblical Theology, Biblical Interpretation (18th-21st Centuries), and Non-Traditional Hermeneutics. Her research interests include the Synoptic Gospels (especially Mark), literary approaches to biblical interpretation, and non-traditional biblical hermeneutics (including feminist and disability approaches to biblical interpretation).

Dr. Howard has published several articles. These include a review of recent feminist approaches to interpreting the New Testament (Currents in Biblical Research), an article on reading the Sermon on the Mount from an immigrant perspective (Soundings), a series of articles on pedagogical strategies that can be gleaned from the book of Acts (Didaktikos), an article on interpreting Jesus's healing miracles through a cultural model of disability (Conrad Grebel Review), and an article on female agency and conversion in Joseph and Aseneth (Journal of Religion and Popular Culture). She has presented several papers at annual meetings of the Society of Biblical Literature, and she was the winner of the 2013 Word & World essay prize for doctoral candidates. She has published book reviews in the Review of Biblical Literature, Princeton Theological Review, Biblical Interpretation, Mennonite Quarterly Review, Conrad Grebel Review, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, and Biblical Theology Bulletin. She is also a regular contributor to non-academic publications such as Anabaptist World, Christian Leader, and Working Preacher.

A Mennonite (a member of MCUSA), Dr. Howard serves on a planning committee for the Mennonite Scholars and Friends Forum held at the annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature. She also serves as the elected President of the Society for the Future of Higher Education.