Jim attended Pacific Lutheran University, and finished his B.A. at St. Olaf in English and Religion. He went on to receive the Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary, which included a year of study in Germany and a year-long internship in Brooklyn, NY. He completed his graduate work at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he earned a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian/Jewish Origins. His areas of teaching and scholarly interest include the literary, historical, and theological interpretation of the Gospels and Paul’s letters; Jewish-Christian relations and dialogue; and religion and the arts. He served as Associate Dean of Students from 2005 – 2009, and continues to be actively involved in student life issues.

When not pursuing these interests, Jim enjoys music and theatre (both as audience member and performer), taking to the skies in small planes, viewing the heavens through a telescope, and keeping up with the latest films.