Dr. James is a public scholar who utilizes community-based research to study gendered labor. She has written articles, trained professionals, facilitated special events, and taught students at the community, undergraduate and graduate levels for over 15 years. She is dedicated to building teams, communities, and organizations that are committed to making the world a more just and equitable place to be.
Services
Commissioned Writing
• Blog Posts
• Articles
Dr. James is available to write informative, well researched, efficient, and powerful articles for your blog, newspaper, magazine, or other publication.
Speaking Engagements
• Keynotes
• Preaching
• College and University Teaching
Dr. James is available should your congregation, higher educational institution, board, or community need an insightful, down-to-earth, and potent presenter on topics including current events, justice, religion, ethics, emotional labor, women’s leadership, parenting, and food justice.
Officiating
Dr. James has experience in creating or co-creating feminist, justice-oriented weddings and other lifecycle events. Her clients speak highly of the treasured and sacred space she helped create for their ceremonies.
Facilitating Retreats
Dr. James has had years of experience directing, facilitating, and lead retreats for student leaders, youth, teachers, and others. Her events are well attended and she receives praise for her thoughtful and mindful gatherings.
Resume
Selected Program Management Experience
Vision-driven academic and administrator offering a Ph.D in Ethics and Social Theory and program management experience. Dr. James brings over 15 years of experience of leading organizations to the realization of their vision including strategic program building, board development, and fundraising. Driven leader committed to identifying, training, and supporting effective staff and volunteers to create positive change in their communities through building sustainable and collaborative institutions.
Education
PhD, Ethics and Social Theory
Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA.
MA
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Chicago, IL
May 2004
BA, summa cum laude, Major: Religion; Concentration: Youth and Family Ministry
Wartburg College, Waverly, IA.
2002
Ecclesial Affiliation
Diaconal Minister, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Consecration: November 2004
Selected Presentations and Publications
Teaching
Teaching Philosophy: Asking The “Big Questions”
Dr. Melissa James has tremendous experience in educating others centering learning on delving into “big questions” in an engaging and participatory way.
Through her teaching, Dr. James works to
· Encourage socially-critical ethical reflection as a part of our every-day lives.
· Build a community of engaged teacher/learners equipped to live ethically in the world.
· Help students develop skills necessary to succeed academically and personally with particular attention to integrating learning.
Selected Teaching Experience
Selected Educational Learning Tools and Activities
Example: Farm-Based Education Tools
Example Learning Activity: Sexual Ethics
Task Force Group 1: Cultural Understandings of Marriage
In this project, religious education students researched, proposed, implemented, & evaluated community actions in response to sexual ethics topics. The group activity pictured to the left encouraged their campus community by asking the question: "What is your definition of family?"
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