Two Recent Newcomers Strengthen STM Faculty

BY KATHLEEN SULLIVAN STAFF WRITER

The School of Theology and Ministry welcomed two new faculty members this academic year: interdisciplinary scholar Heather DuBois and Scripture expert Jaime Waters.

Jaime Waters

Associate Professor of Old Testament Jaime Waters teaches a seminar on the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah, who is also the subject of her forthcoming book. Jeremiah lived from late-seventh century BCE to mid-sixth century BCE and wrote about events of his time, which includes the fall of Judah to the Babylonians.

“He lived during a time of turmoil and a lot of suffering,” said Waters. During Jeremiah’s 40-year prophetic career, he was critical of how people are living and worshipping, she added.

“[The Book of Jeremiah] flips back and forth between narratives about Jeremiah’s life and his prophetic statements. It reads a little bit messy, but I think it beautifully expresses the chaos of its time.”

Waters’ book on Jeremiah will be published by Liturgical Press as part of its Wisdom Commentary series, which offers a feminist interpretation of every book of the Bible.

Waters cites her undergraduate experience at Boston College as setting her on the path to becoming a Biblical scholar, particularly the Perspectives on Western Culture course with Kerry Cronin, a professor of the practice in the Philosophy Department and director of the Perspectives Program. Prior to that class, Waters had not read much of the Bible, but soon discovered that it appealed to her theological devotion and her intellectual curiosity.

Waters took additional courses with Theology faculty members David Vander- hooft, John Darr, and Pheme Perkins that examined the historical and cultural realities surrounding when the Bible was written. That’s when she thought, “I’d like to actually do this as a career. I feel called to be a professor,” she recalled.

Waters said she was particularly drawn to teach in the STM because she liked the idea of helping people who are preparing for ministry.

She graduated from BC with a double major in theology and philosophy. She earned a master’s degree in religion with a concentration in Bible from Yale University, and holds a master’s degree and doctorate in Near Eastern Studies with a focus on Hebrew Bible/Old Testament from Johns Hopkins University.

In addition to the seminar of Jeremiah, Waters’ courses this academic year have included Core Narrative of the Old Testa- ment: Genesis to Kings; Introduction to Old Testament; and Women in Scripture.

Heather DuBois

Assistant Professor of Peace Studies, Trauma, and Spirituality Heather DuBois said her interest in constructive responses to conflict, trauma, and violence is driven by her desire to prevent suffering: “I went into justice work because I had a heart attuned to suffering. If you’re interested in suffering, you’re going to learn something about trauma.”

It is critical for people doing ministry work to understand trauma because they are dealing with other people at their most vulnerable, she explained. “If you’re a minister, how does the way that you approach the pulpit, the counseling session, the study group, shift a little bit when you’re mindful of how trauma works?”

DuBois’ expertise in trauma-informed theology and peace studies has roots in her early professional experiences. After graduating from Tulane University, she worked for the Louisiana Violence Prevention Alliance, which gave her insights into the work of social workers, teachers, mental health professionals, and first responders who dealt with violence directly or indirectly.

After earning a master’s degree in conflict resolution from the University of Bradford (U.K.), she worked at the global organization Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, which brought her in contact with peacebuilders from various religious traditions— Muslim, Jewish, Buddhism, and Christianity.

“Their work inspired me to go back to school to study theology,” said DuBois, who earned a master’s degree in theology and ethics from Fordham University and a doctorate in peace studies and theology from the University of Notre Dame.

At STM, DuBois teaches Impasse and Spiritual Transformation; Conflict Resolution and Transformation; Sociospiritual Care; and Trauma Healing and Prevention. She is writing a book, Moving Through Impasse, in which she uses the spirituality of Saint John of the Cross, a 16th-century monk, and the contemporary critical theory of Judith Butler, a well-known American philosopher and gender theorist, to put forth a vision of navigating an impasse.

As a bridge builder herself, DuBois sees Boston College as a place that puts value on building bridges across communities. “If you’re going to deal effectively with suffering, you need to be willing to think about it and approach it from different angles. No one discipline’s going to solve suffering for us. We’ve got to work together.”