Professional Memberships and Activity

I am an active member of different professional societies for the study of the Bible and ancient texts. In addition to presenting papers, I have served in various ways on standing committees and have helped with the planning and steering of the program units.

Society of Biblical Literature (SBL)

-Steering Committee of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls (2025-2028)
-Co-chair of the Prayer in Antiquity Program Unit (2017-2021)
-Co-chair Religious Experience in Antiquity (2012-2014; 2015-2017)
-Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession (2017-2019; 2020-2022)
-Professional Conduct Committee Member (Jan 2022-2024)

I have attended the SBL annual meeting every year since 1997, the year that I became a member. This year the SBL is meeting virtually and in-person in San Antonio, TX (2021). In addition to chairing, presenting a papers, and serving as a respondent at the meetings, I have co-chaired the Religious Experience in Antiquity Program Unit, and I am currently the co-chair of the Prayer in Antiquity Program Unit. I am serving my second term as a member of the standing committee on the Status of Women in the Profession (CSWP). Recently, I have been invited to represent the CSWP on the relatively new Professional Conduct Committee. 

International Society of Biblical Literature (ISBL)

Co-chair of the Qumran and Dead Sea Scrolls Program Unit

After serving on the steering committee of the Qumran and Dead Sea Scrolls Program Unit, I served two terms as co-chair of this group (2019-2022; 2023-2026).

Catholic Biblical Association (CBA)

Chair of the Professional Conduct Committee (2021 ongoing)

-Co-convener of the Second Temple Judaism and early Christianity Continuing Seminar of the CBA (2024-present) with Archie Wright and Ron Herms.

I served as co-chair of a Continuing Seminar known as the “Scripture in Early Judaism and Christianity” with John Endres SJ (2008-2012). This group presented a series of studies on the ancient fallen angels myths, many of which were edited and published as The Watchers in Jewish and Christian Traditions , edited by A.K. Harkins, Kelley Coblentz Bautch, and John Endres, SJ (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2014). 

I was recently invited to serve as chair of the newly created Professional Conduct Committee. For more information about the work of this committee, see this link.

Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (SNTS)

Elected to membership in July 2020.

The SNTS is an international scholarly society founded in 1938.

In 2026, I presented an invited paper in the Seminar 10: Cognitive Disciplines and New Testament Narratie in Dialogue, chaired by Elizabeth Shively and Jan Rüggemeier, and convened at Durham University, England.

Enoch Seminar (http://enochseminar.org)

Co-Vice Director (2026-2030)

Co-chair with Isaac Oliver and Shlomo Zuckier, “Sacrifice and Atonement,” Lugano, Switzerland, June 6-9. 2027.

The Enoch Seminar was founded in 2001 by Gabriele Boccaccini (University of Michigan). The primary mission of this organization is to foster inclusive conversations among scholars of Second Temple Judaism, NT, ancient Judaism and Christianity, Rabbinic Judaism and Islam.