Dr. Nancy R. Howell

Professor of Theology and Philosophy of Religion and Oubri A. Poppele Professor of Health and Welfare Ministries

Phone: 913-253-5012
Email:
Curriculum Vitae

Disciplinary Interests

• If you had to write a thesis next semester based on your current theological, historical or biblical interests, what would the topic/title be?
• If a student contacted you to be their advisor on a research project, what area/s would excite/interest you enough to say yes?

Meet Dr. Nancy Howell

Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean To Be Human?

Education

PhD, MA, Claremont Graduate School
ThM, MDiv Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
BS, College of William and Mary

"The general principle shaping my decisions about courses and pedagogy is that
students must learn to think deeply and theologically in order to respond
effectively to the needs of the church and local community."

Denomination

United Methodist Church (UMC)

Discipline or Specialty

Science (genetics, ecology, primatology), philosophy of religion and theology
Feminist, womanist, mujerista theory and theology
Cultural diversity and philosophy of religion and theology
Whiteheadian philosophy and theology

Representative Courses Taught

Advanced Praxis Seminar: Theology in Black and White (Recipient of the Faith as a Way of Life Award from Yale Divinity School, 2007)
Prophetic Ministry (Doctor of Ministry Program)
Seminar in Theological Studies: Process Theology
Science, Theology, and Ministry
Introduction to Systemic Theology

Recent Publications

“Engaging Indigenous Epistemology, Decolonizing the Western Worldview,” Religious Studies Review (2023, online).

“Scientific Data, Ecological Conversion, and Transformative Affect.” HST Teologiese
Studies/Theological Studies 77, no. 3, Art. #6518, 2021: 8 pages.
https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/6518;
https://doi.org/10.4012/hts.v77i3.6518.

“Lessons from the Breakroom.” In Open and Relational Leadership: Leading with Love, edited by
Roland Hearn, Sheri D. Kling, and Thomas J. Oord, 57-60. Grasmere, ID:
SacraSage, 2020.

“Have You Ever Wondered What It’s Like to Be a Chimpanzee?” In Putting Philosophy to
Work: Toward an Ecological Civilization, edited by John B. Cobb, Jr. and Wm. Andrew
Schwartz, 43-61. Anoka, MN: Process Century Press, 2018.

“God and Nature.” In Gender: God, Macmillan Interdisciplinary Handbooks, edited by Sian
Melvill Hawthorne, 351-365. Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan Reference USA, 2017.

“Locating Nature and Culture: Pan-Homo Culture and Theological Primatology.” Verbum et
Ecclesia 36, no. 3, Art. #1440, 2015: 9 pages.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4012/ve.v36i3.1440.

Creating Women's Theology: A Movement Engaging Process Thought, edited with Monica A. Coleman and Helene Tallon Russell (Wipf and Stock, Pickwick Publications, 2011).

"Embodied Transcendence: Bonobos and Humans in Community," Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 44:3 (September 2009).

"Gordon Kaufman: From Agency to Creativity," American Journal of Theology and Philosophy 29:1 (January 2008), 34-43.

"Uniqueness in Context," American Journal of Theology and Philosophy 28: 3 (September 2007), 364-377. Reprinted in Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 42:2 (June 2008), 493-503.

A Feminist Cosmology: Ecology, Solidarity, and Metaphysics (Amherst, NY: Prometheus Press; Humanity Books, 2000).

Dr. Nancy Howell