Department Hires Helen Buckwalter

Dr. Helen Buckwalter will join the Department of Philosophy & Religion as a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Religion in the upcoming academic year.  Buckwalter completed her PhD in Religious Studies at the University of Virginia in 2025 with a specialization in ancient Judaism.  Her research areas include the Hebrew Bible and Rabbinic Judaism, focusing on the reception history of the Hebrew Bible and the theological questions arising from early biblical interpretations.  In addition to her PhD, she holds a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School, a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia, and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from New Saint Andrews College in Idaho.  She is originally from the Shenandoah Valley and is looking forward to returning here for work.  At JMU, Dr. Buckwalter will teach courses in world religions, ancient Judaism, and the Hebrew Bible.  When asked what she is most looking forward to doing at JMU, she said she is excited to teach alongside other excellent faculty in the department and to learn to know the students and university culture.  Congratulations and welcome, Helen!