Carol J. Dempsey, O.P.
B.A.,, M.A., Ph.D.
Professor of Theology (Biblical Studies)
University of Portland
Professional Bio
Carol J. Dempsey, OP is an internationally recognized and award-winning scholar with particular expertise in Prophets, feminist hermeneutics, gender studies, biblical theology, literary, rhetorical, and cultural criticism, and environmental/ecological studies.
The author of eight books and the editor/co-editor of 12 books, she serves on several editorial boards which include the Wisdom Commentary Series, Paulist Bible Commentary, CBQ, OTA, among others. She is currently working on several book manuscripts: Isaiah for the Wisdom Commentary Series, Beyond Christian Anthropocentrism: What It Means to Be catholic in the New Diaspora (Lexington Press for the New Diaspora Series); “Responding to Climate Crisis: Hope at the Margins”; Eds. Carol J. Dempsey, OP and Norah Martin (Lexington Press for the New Diaspora Series). Her latest articles include: “Catholic Androcentric Bible Translations as Global Missionary Tools?” for The Oxford Handbook of Feminist Approaches to the Hebrew Bible; ed. Susanne Scholz; NY: Oxford University Press, 2021, pp. 35-52; “Isaiah in Liberation Theology,” for The Oxford Handbook on Isaiah; ed. Lena Tiemeyer, NY: Oxford University Press, 2021, pp. 637-654; “Metaphor and the Minor Prophets,” for The Oxford Handbook of Minor Prophets; ed. Julia O’Brien, NY: Oxford University Press, 2021, pp. 85-100; “Social Justice,” for The New Jerome Biblical Commentary for the Twenty-first Century. Eds. John J. Collins, Gina Hens-Piazza, Barbara Reid, OP, and Donald Senior, CP. NY: Bloomsbury T & T Clark (in press).
Carol originally hails from New Jersey and enjoys swimming, cycling, reading, gathering with friends and family for a good meal and conversation. Her two parrotlet friends, Kelli Mae and Kristi Belle, bring her boundless joy with their sweet peeps, mischievous antics, and delightful personalities.
The author of eight books and the editor/co-editor of 12 books, she serves on several editorial boards which include the Wisdom Commentary Series, Paulist Bible Commentary, CBQ, OTA, among others. She is currently working on several book manuscripts: Isaiah for the Wisdom Commentary Series, Beyond Christian Anthropocentrism: What It Means to Be catholic in the New Diaspora (Lexington Press for the New Diaspora Series); “Responding to Climate Crisis: Hope at the Margins”; Eds. Carol J. Dempsey, OP and Norah Martin (Lexington Press for the New Diaspora Series). Her latest articles include: “Catholic Androcentric Bible Translations as Global Missionary Tools?” for The Oxford Handbook of Feminist Approaches to the Hebrew Bible; ed. Susanne Scholz; NY: Oxford University Press, 2021, pp. 35-52; “Isaiah in Liberation Theology,” for The Oxford Handbook on Isaiah; ed. Lena Tiemeyer, NY: Oxford University Press, 2021, pp. 637-654; “Metaphor and the Minor Prophets,” for The Oxford Handbook of Minor Prophets; ed. Julia O’Brien, NY: Oxford University Press, 2021, pp. 85-100; “Social Justice,” for The New Jerome Biblical Commentary for the Twenty-first Century. Eds. John J. Collins, Gina Hens-Piazza, Barbara Reid, OP, and Donald Senior, CP. NY: Bloomsbury T & T Clark (in press).
Carol originally hails from New Jersey and enjoys swimming, cycling, reading, gathering with friends and family for a good meal and conversation. Her two parrotlet friends, Kelli Mae and Kristi Belle, bring her boundless joy with their sweet peeps, mischievous antics, and delightful personalities.
Institution
University of Portland
Full Member
Education:
Caldwell University 1978
BA in English
St. Louis University 1989
MA in English; Minor in Biblical Studies
Catholic University of America 1994
Ph.D.
Awards:
1986 Yale University Research Fellow
1997 SBL National Regional Scholar
2001 University of Portland Outstanding Scholar
2012 Catholic Press Book Award
OT Books
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
OT/NT Backgrounds #1
Second Temple Studies
Hermeneutics
Modern Criticism: Feminist (OT), Modern Criticism: Post-modern (OT), Modern Criticism: Rhetorical (OT)
Languages (Ancient)
Aramaic, Aramaic (Eastern- Syriac), Greek (LXX), Greek (NT), Hebrew, Latin, Phoenician-Punic, Ammonite
Languages (Modern)
French, German, Spanish
Teaching
lit. & spirituality at Dominican Coll, Blauvelt, NY, 1984-86; Script. at Albertus Magnus Coll., New Haven, 1986-89; bibl. studies/OT at Univ. of Portland (prof.), 1994-.
Studies
Eng. & theol. at St. Louis Univ., 1981-86 (M.A.); bibl. studies at Yale Univ., 1986-89 (Research Fellow); bibl. stud. at Cath. Univ. Amer., 1989-94 (Ph.D).
Religious Affiliation
Roman Catholic
CBA Offices
Chair, Fem. Hermeneutics 1995-2005; CBQ Assoc. Ed., 2000-2004, 2018-2024; OTA Assoc. Ed. 2010-present; Visiting Scholars Com. 2010-2013; Bd. of Directors 2014-2016; Nominations Com. 2019-2022
Year Associate Member
1990
Year Full Member
1994