I am a fifth year PhD candidate in theology at the early stages of writing my dissertation. My dissertation looks to turns in queer and feminist scholarship from considering trauma to be extreme crisis or limit events to considering trauma in its structural mundaneness or ordinariness. I bring this turn to bear upon the discipline of contemporary constructive theology. This project is intended to expand the theological range of possibilities for describing and addressing traumatic harm. It is also intended to look closely at some residual metaphysical problems tied to the philosophical foundations of the turn to ordinariness. So, when I say I bring the turn to ordinariness to bear on theology, I do not intend to do so uncritically.

The interdisciplinary nature of the work I am doing in the dissertation will benefit greatly from the dialogue offered by the Marty Seminar among scholars from varying fields. I am here to learn from my colleagues and other members of the seminar. I have found that sharing and reading work in seminar settings enhances, inspires, and challenges the work I am doing. Furthermore, in line with the Marty Center’s purpose, I hope to learn how to better translate the work I am doing to public audiences.