Sarah A.

Thomas
Boston College
Department of Theology
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
sarah.thomas.2@bc.edu
(608) 509-5447

EDUCATION
Boston College May 2018 (expected)
Ph.D., Systematic Theology, minor in Theological Ethics

Written and Oral Comprehensive Exams: Passed

Dissertation: Karl Rahners Theology of Love and the Science of Empathy
Dissertation Committee: Stephen J. Pope (advisor), Richard Lennan, S.J., Brian D.
Robinette, Michael Spezio (Scripps College)

Villanova University May 2010

M.A., Theology and Religious Studies

Written and Oral Comprehensive Exams: Passed with Distinction

Masters Thesis: Gain the World and Lose Your Soul? Reconsidering Soul Talk in
Christian Anthropology
Masters Thesis Committee: Michael J. Scanlon, O.S.A., S.T.D. (advisor), Anthony J.
Godzieba
Independent Study: Religious Pluralism and the Church: Analysis and Theological
Reflections, Bernard P. Prusak, S.T.L., J.C.D. (advisor)

Johns Hopkins University May 2001

B.S., Electrical Engineering, minor in Computer Science

PUBLICATIONS
Book Review: The Source of All Love: Catholicity and the Trinity (Orbis, 2017) by Heidi
Russell, Reading Religion (A publication of the American Academy of Religion), August 23,
2017. http://readingreligion.org/books/source-all-love.

Life in the Kingdom: Meal as Symbol of Jesus Mission Concept [Online], (30 November
2007). Published as Sarah Sahu

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LECTURES AND PRESENTATIONS
Mercy in Cyberspace: Pope Francis as Model for a Theological April 2018
Anthropology forthcoming
For the conference, Pope Francis, A Voice Crying Out in the World:
Mercy, Justice, Love, and Care for the Earth, Institute for Catholic
Social Thought, Villanova University

Karl Rahners Theology of Neighbor Love and C. Daniel Batsons June 2018
Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis forthcoming
For the annual convention of the Catholic Theological Society of
America, themed Grace at Work in the World

Karl Rahner's Theology of Friendship and the Science of Reciprocity December 2017
For the Boston College Systematic Theology Colloquium forthcoming

Response to Annie Selaks Inheriting Climate Controversies: April 2017

Reception in a Polarized Church
For the Boston College Systematic Theology Colloquium

Christian Spirituality and the Science of Love October 2016

For the Boston University Catholic Graduate Students Group

Response to Jeremy Wilkins Our Conversation is in Heaven: October 2016

Conversion and/as Conversation in the Thought of Frederick Lawrence
For the Boston College Systematic Theology Colloquium

Karl Rahners Theology of Love: An Overview February 2016

For the Boston College Systematic Theology Colloquium

Response to Jessica Coblentzs Initial Thoughts for Theological February 2015

Reflections on Depression: Demons, Death, and Salvation
For the Boston College Systematic Theology Colloquium

Resurrecting Roger Haights Theological Method March 2014

For the Boston College Systematic Theology Colloquium

Cyberspatiality and Being: A Phenomenological Analysis January 2014

For the Boston College Philosophy and Theology Working Group

Ever More Perfect Eyes Re-Envisioning Teilhardian March 2013

Cosmology through Hildegard of Bingen
For the Boston College Systematic Theology Colloquium

Response to Robert J. Daly, S.J.s Phenomenology of Redemption? November 2012

Or Theory of Sanctification?
For the Boston College Systematic Theology Colloquium

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Response to Joseph C. Collins Thomas Aquinas Biblical March 2012
Theologian: A Study of Grace, Faith, and Charity in His
Commentary on Saint Pauls Epistle to the Galatians
For the Boston College Systematic Theology Colloquium

TEACHING
Boston College Sep. 2017-
Teaching Assistant, International Studies Program
Course: Ethics, Religion, and International Politics, serving Erik C. Owens

Boston College Jan. 2017-May 2017

Teaching Assistant, International Studies Program
Course: Ethics, Religion, and International Politics, serving Laura Johnston

Boston College Sep. 2016-Dec. 2016

Teaching Assistant, Department of International Studies
Course: Ethics, Religion, and International Politics, serving Erik C. Owens

Boston College Sep. 2015-May 2016

Teaching Fellow, Department of Theology
Course: Exploring Catholicism I and II

Boston College Sep. 2014-May 2015

Teaching Assistant, Department of Theology
Course: Personal and Social Responsibility I and II, serving Rev. James Weiss
Substituted for professor during 3 weeks leave of absence

Boston College Sep. 2013-May 2014

Teaching Assistant, Department of Theology
Course: Exploring Catholicism I and II, serving Mary Ann Hinsdale, I.H.M.

Mentoring at Boston College

Letters of recommendation written: 7

Professional Development:

Certification, Apprenticeship in College Teaching Program May 2018 (expected)

Center for Teaching Excellence, Boston College

Additional Courses:
Re-Imagining the Lecture
Teaching through Disruption (strategies for designing and conducting an online course)
Teaching Students with Disabilities
Creating your ePortfolio

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TEACHING (continued)
Professional Development (continued):

Digital Scholarship Incubator Oct. 2017 (expected)

Boston College Libraries Digital Scholarship Group

SERVICE TO THE DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY, AND ACADEMY

Convenor, Concurrent Session: Oh Say Can You See?: Womanist January 2018
Ethics, Sub-rosa Morality, and the Normative Gaze of Postmodernism,
Stacy Floyd-Thomas (Vanderbilt University), annual meeting of the
Society for Christian Ethics

Convenor, Concurrent Session: Virtues Defined: Perspectives from March 2017

Philosophy and Literature, New England Regional meeting of
the American Academy of Religion (NEMAAR)

Involvement at Boston College

Panelist, Teaching Fellows Panel at the Graduate Student Teaching August 2016
Conference, Center for Teaching Excellence
Volunteer webmaster for the Faith, Peace, and Justice Program February 2016-
Planning Committee, Faculty/Student Retreat, Department of Theology December 2015-
Co-facilitator, Faculty/Student Retreat, Department of Theology December 2015
Faculty panel on Mentorship and Collegiality
Online Registration, Meditation, Interfaith Learning, and Sep. 2013-Nov. 2013
Social Service: Deep Learning Across Religious Boundaries
with Paul F. Knitter and John Makransky, Department of Theology

Professional Academic Society Memberships

Society of Christian Ethics (provisional until January 2018) March 2017
Catholic Theological Society of America (Associate) September 2015-
American Teilhard Association September 2013-
International Society of Hildegard von Bingen Studies July 2013-
College Theology Society September 2012-
Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences July 2010-Dec. 2014
Metanexus May 2010-May 2012
American Academy of Religion September 2005-

LANGUAGE COMPETENCIES
French: reading
German: reading
Spanish: reading

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SERVICE TO CHURCH AND COMMUNITY
Rosies Place, Boston, MA Jan. 2014-Jan. 2016
Kitchen Volunteer

Boston College Neighborhood Center, Brighton, MA Sep. 2011-May 2012

Instructor, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Genocide Awareness Group, Philadelphia, PA Sep. 2010-Mar. 2012

Founder, Event Organizer, Facilitator

Old St. Joseph Parish, Philadelphia, PA Sep. 2010-May 2011

Religious Education, Family Retreat Organizer/Facilitator

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Wilmington, DE Sep. 2005-May 2006

Religious Education Teacher (6th grade)

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Wilmington, DE Sep. 2005-May 2006

Christian Formation Committee (adult education)

Prince of Peace Parish, Edgewood, MD Sep. 2002-May 2003

Religious Education Teacher (sacramental preparation, 3rd-6th grades)

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE

Graduate Assistant Jun. 2016-Dec. 2016
Boston College, Office for Research Protections

Freelance Web Design/Webmaster March 2014-

http://www.gaillardetz.com, website of Professor Richard Gaillardetz

Webmaster/Social Media Manager Sept. 2012-

Boston College, Department of Theology

Web Assistant May 2013-Feb. 2015

Boston College, Advancement Communications and Marketing

Placement/Recruiter Assistant, IT Support Oct. 2006-Aug. 2011

The Philadelphia Nanny Network, Inc., Ardmore, PA

Software Engineer Dec. 2003-Dec. 2005

Lockheed Martin, King of Prussia, PA

Software Engineer/Consultant June 2001-Dec. 2003

Information Security Engineer, Software Developer
Booz Allen Hamilton, Mclean, VA and Linthicum, MD

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