I joined York St John University in 2015, and served as Head of School of Humanities before taking on the role of Pro Vice Chancellor Education. I lead the University’s approach to Learning, Teaching and Student Experience, ensuring that these are inspirational and meet students’ needs. I direct the work of the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Team. I also lead on the University’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
A theologian and ethicist, I teach and supervise across a wide range of areas of theology, political philosophy and ethics. My research is primarily in pedagogy and theological ethics, often in dialogue with contemporary political theory. My research projects include work on political theology through the arts, and the ethics of criminal punishment. I serve on the Society for the Study of Christian Ethics Committee.
I am a Principal Fellow of Higher Education Academy; a member of AdvanceHE’s strategic advisory panel on equality, diversion and inclusion; and a member of the Steering Group for the international review of the Professional Standards Framework. I am also a trustee of York City of Sanctuary.
I teach across a variety of areas including many modules in Biblical Studies, Christianity, Christian Doctrine (patristic, medieval and contemporary), Christian Ethics, Christian Political Theology, the Ethics of War and Peace, Introduction to Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion, Religion and Contemporary Society, Religion and the Media, and Religious Ethics.
I have supervised numerous undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations in areas including:
- The Theology of Nonviolence
- Theology and Human Rights
- The Ethics of War
- Theological Bioethics
- Ethics at the Beginning and End of Life
- Theology, Sexuality and Gender
- Christian Doctrine
- Christian Political Thought
Postgraduate Supervision
I supervise across the range of Christian theology, ethics and political thought. I currently specialise in supervising research in:
- Political theology
- Public theology
- Theological and ethical accounts of criminal punishment
- Theological and ethical accounts of war and nonviolence
- Contemporary Christian thought
- Religion and Continental Political Thought
- Theology, sexuality and gender
- Theological bioethics
My current research includes two broad themes:
- A Theology of Criminal Justice and Punishment - in critical engagement with both the well-established philosophical literature on the nature and justification of punishment; and with contemporary criminological accounts of the complex nature of desire and character in criminal offending. This theology draws in particular on Christian accounts of sanctification, penance, atonement, and the education of desire.
- Consumerism, Biopolitics and Urban Discipleship - in critical dialogue with major continental thinkers deploying theological arguments in their analyses of consumerism, biopolitics and radical political action (Agamben, Esposito, Žižek and others).
Recent publications
I am a member of the following:
- Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Society for the Study of Christian Ethics (elected committee member)
- Society for the Study of Theology
- Peer Review for Journals and Publishers
- External Examiner - BEd Religious Studies - Stranmillis University College and Queen’s University Belfast - 2015-2018
- External Examiner – DMin – Spurgeon’s College, London and University of Chester – 2011-2014
- External Examiner – MA in Theology – Kings Evangelical Divinity School and University of Chester – 2011-2014
- External Examiner – BA in Theology – Kings Evangelical Divinity School and University of Chester – 2011-2014
- External Examiner – Diploma in Theology for Ministry – Theological Institute of the Scottish Episcopal Church and York St John University – 2008-2012
- External Adviser – Validation of Certificates in Christian Studies – York St John University – February 2009
- External Adviser – Validation of Foundation Degree in Evangelism – York St John University – March 2009
