Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley: Gina Hens-Piazza

Professor of Biblical Studies
B.A., Canisius College; M.A., Vanderbilt University; Ph.D., Union Theological Seminary

Phone: (510) 549-5048
Email:
Office hours: Monday 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Download a syllabus for the following courses:
BS 2002: Intermediate Hebrew I
OT 2095: Pentateuch & Histories
OT 2298: History of Old Testament Interpretation-Samson Narrative
OTRS 3815: Prophets: Foundation Ministry Global Context
OT 5130: Elijah/Elisha Traditions

"Culturally contextualized ministry and theology...that's what we do here. It means we study and practice theology from the ground up...with attention to its local, particular and diverse manifestations. At the Jesuit School, we teach and learn not just from the classroom but from the community and with a kind of rigor that puts theory to real-life tests."

Dr. Hens-Piazza's teaching and writing on the Hebrew Bible, the biblical prophets and cultural, literary and feminist studies have lead her to assist parishes and RCIA directors in developing Bible study programs. At the Jesuit School, she also teaches courses like Reading and Praying the Bible in the Parish, the Old Testament as Literature in Culture and Hebrew Language.

Dr. Hens-Piazza frequently lectures at national Bible institutes, including Georgetown, College Misericordia, LA Catholic Bible Institute and the Sacred Heart Bible Institute. She serves on the editorial board for Catholic Biblical Quarterly and is the author of New Historicism--Guides to Biblical Scholarship (Fortress Press, forthcoming, Spring 2002) and Of Methods. Monarch, and Meanings--An Approach to Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation (Mercer Press, 1996.)