Terry Ann Smith

My ultimate goal is to create an educational environment that encourages diversity of thought and critical reflection, an environment where students not only gain an understanding of the materials studied, but also where they appreciate the significance of listening to those who may hold views different from their own.

Bio:

Dr. Terry Ann Smith is the Associate Dean of Institutional Assessment and Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Dr. Smith oversees the assessment of the institution’s degree programs and non-programmatic areas. She teaches biblical Hebrew and courses in the Old Testament. Her area of scholarship includes various articles on the book of Daniel, Rachel and Leah, Sarah and Ishmael, and the prophet Isaiah. She is currently co-authoring a commentary on Ezra-Nehemiah. Dr. Smith holds a Ph.D. and Master of Philosophy from Drew University in Madison, NJ, a Master of Divinity from New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and a Master of Science in Information Systems and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL. She is an ordained minister serving in Newark, NJ.  

 

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CV:

Education

2011,  Doctor of Philosophy, Biblical Studies, Drew University, Madison, NJ

2007, Master of Philosophy, Drew University, Madison, NJ

2002,  Master of Divinity, Biblical Studies, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, NJ

1994,  Master of Science, Information Systems Development, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL

1986, Bachelor of Science, Business Administration/Marketing, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL

Professional/Teaching Experience

2014- Present    Associate Dean of Institutional Assessment/Associate Professor of Biblical Studies– New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, NJ  
Responsible for the development and implementation of institutional-wide assessment and reporting. Performs institutional research and data reporting for IPEDS, ATS, Middle States, Department of Education, and OSHE. Serves as the institution’s Accreditation Liaison Officer (Association of Theological Schools and Middles States Commission on Higher Education). Director of the Seminary’s Certificate Program. Design and delivery of course instruction in online and hybrid formats. Course instruction includes Introduction to the Old Testament, Biblical Hebrew, and Hebrew Exegesis I, Biblical Research and Writing, and other electives in the Doctor of Ministry, Master of Divinity, and Certificate Programs. Faculty assignments: Member Curriculum Committee, Chair of Assessment Committee, Member of Doctor of Ministry Oversight Committee, Chair of Bible Department. Perform academic advising for Certificate, Master, and Doctoral students. Other areas include grant writing, data analysis, evaluation, and other duties as assigned by the President.

2013 -2014      Affiliate Professor of Biblical Studies – New Brunswick Theological Seminary, NJ
Courses include: Introduction to the Old Testament and electives for Masters of Divinity and Certificate Programs. Member of Curriculum Committee

Fall 2012     Adjunct Professor – Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem, PA
Course: Old Testament: Literature, Religion, and Culture

2011-2012     Part-Time Lecturer, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Courses include Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, The Hebrew Prophets, and Ancient Near Eastern Religions

2008 – 2010     Adjunct Lecturer, Drew University, Madison, NJ
Taught introductory language courses on Exegetical Skills, Classical Hebrew and Hebrew Exegesis

2006 – 2007     Visiting Adjunct Professor, Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Shawnee, KS
Taught introductory courses Hebrew Bible I and Hebrew Bible II

2004 – 2007     Instructor, Cathedral Bible Institute, Cathedral International, Perth Amboy, NJ
Taught introductory courses on Biblical Interpretation, Hebrew Bible, Hebrew Bible Prophets and Bible Doctrine

2005 – 2005     Adjunct Lecturer, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, NJ
Taught introductory course on Old Testament for Biblical Studies Certificate Program

2004 – 2006      Instructor, Eastern School of Christian Ministry, Palmer Seminary Summit, NJ Campus
Taught courses on Biblical Interpretation, The Gospel of Mark, and Introduction to the Old Testament for Palmer Seminary Certificate Program

1978 – 1999     Administrative and Managerial Positions – AT&T Communications, Chicago, IL and Bedminster, New Jersey

 

Awards/Scholarships/Prizes

2011  Rabbi Dr. Sheldon J. Weltman Prize for Excellence in Biblical Studies, Drew University, Madison, NJ
2008-2009  Graduate Division of Religion Award, Drew University, Madison, NJ
2002-2006  Graduate Academic Merit Scholarship, Drew University, Madison, NJ
2002  Benjamin Lanham Rogers Prize for outstanding competence in Old Testament Studies, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, NJ
2002  Reverend Edward Lodewick Prize for excellence in preaching, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, NJ

Memberships/Offices/Professional Activities

Ordained Minister – Welcome Baptist Church, Newark, NJ
Member – Society of Biblical Literature (SBL)
Member – Association of Practical Theology (APT)
Member – Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education (AALHE)
Co-Chair – Biblical and Practical Theology Section (Society of Biblical Literature)
Member Steering Committee – Faith-Based Advocacy Organization for Emerging Leaders
Member – American Baptist Churches Women in Ministry
Former Member – LAMP Advisory Council
Former Member – Karuta International Governing Board
Member – Hispanic Summer Program (HSP) Board
Member – Believers’ Church Conference Continuation Committee 
Member – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated
Executive Committee Member Tri-City Branch NAACP (2004-2006)
Student Convener for Hebrew Bible, Drew University, Madison, NJ (2003)
ACT-SO (Academic, Cultural, Technical-Scientific Olympics) Chairperson and Advisor, Tri-City Branch NAACP (2003-2006)
Past President Student Society of Inquiry, New Brunswick Theological Seminary (2001/2002)
Former Student Chaplin, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, NJ (1999/2000)
Member – Association of Black Seminarians, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, NJ (2000-2002)

 

Presentations  

“Checkmate: A Queen’s Move that Makes a King,” Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) Mid- Regional Session, New Jersey (2006).

 “Into the Lion’s Den: Contesting Power in Daniel 7” Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) – (Chicago, 2012).

“Let Us Prey…Petitionary Prayer as Resistance and Protest in Daniel 9,” International Society of Biblical Literature (ISBL) – (Scotland, July 2013).

“(Un)Safe Havens: Sarah and Ishmael: Derelict Parenting in Genesis 21:9-14,” Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) – (Baltimore, November 2013).

“Under Construction: The Making, Masking and Maneuvering of a Political Activist in Daniel 1,” International Society of Biblical Literature (ISBL) – (Vienna, Austria July 2014)

“The Mourning After: Leah, Loss and Melancholia in Genesis 29” – Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) – (Atlanta, November 2015) – Co-Presenter

“Roots of Resistance: Re-imaging the Distribution of Power in the Book of Daniel” – Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) – (Atlanta, November 2015)

Making the Most of E-Portfolios for Assessment and Student Learning – Lamp 2016 Pedagogy and Technology Conference (Knoxville, July 2016)

Why E-Porfolios? – Lamp Pedagogy and Technology Conference (Banner Elk, July 2017)

Using E-portfolios and Sakai for Assessment and Accreditation, Lamp Pedagogy and Technology Conference (Banner Elk, July 2017)

Traumatic Bonds: Ruth 1:16-17 as a Mechanism of Survival, Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) – (Boston, 2017)

Liminal Spaces: Foreign women as the Creators and Killers of Culture in Ezra 9, 10 and Nehemiah 13, Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) – (Denver, 2018) – Co-Presenter

Building Quality Assignments, Lamp Pedagogy and Technology Conference (Berea, Kentucky, July 2018)

“All My Children: Grief as a Reconciliatory Agent in 2 Samuel 21:1-14?,” Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) – (San Diego, November 2019) – Co-Presenter

Panelist: Women in Biblical Literature – Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) – (San Diego, November 2019)

Re-reading 1 Samuel 17:1-11: A Champion Among Them – The Church as Repairers of the Breach, Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) (Denver, 2022)

 

Publications

 “For I Am God and No Mortal: Yahweh’s Covenantal Faithfulness in Hosea 11:1-11,” in The Practicality of Grace in Protestant Theology, Wipf & Stock, (2021), 29-42.

“Foreign Women in Ezra-Nehemiah,” in Engaging the Bible: Contemporary Perspectives, (Point of Publishing, October 2020) Kindle Edition – co-author

Turning Tragedy into Triumph: One Woman’s Vigil for Justice, She Is Called Bible Study, Volume 1, 2020 – co-author

Women and Gender-based Violence: A Prayer, Lott Carey Herald, Spring 2019: 25.

“The Mourning After: Leah, Loss and Melancholia in Genesis 29,” Sacred Space: The E-Journal of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (2017): 211-232. Co-author

“Kicking the Habit”: Helping Seminarians Avoid the “Debt” Sentence of Financing a Theological Education, in Theological Education, Volume 1 (2017):53-65.

“Warring Words in the Book of Daniel” in The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Narrative, Oxford University Press, 266-275 (2016).

“The Chronicler’s Portrait of Temple Administration” a review essay of “The Temple Administration and the Levites in Chronicles,” by Y.S. Kim, Hebrew Studies 56 (2015), 101-111.

“For I Am God and No Mortal:” Yahweh’s Covenantal Faithfulness in Hosea 11:1-11, Testamentum Imperium: An International Theological Journal (2012)

“Redemptive Love as the Ground of Obedience in Deuteronomy,” in Sacrum Testamentum: An International Theological Journal, Volume 3: The Dread of Legalism and the Delight of the Law, (May 2023).

Book (Co-Author): Ezra-Nehemiah, Volume 14, Wisdom Commentary Series, Liturgical Press, (forthcoming).