Religious Studies Faculty
Full Time Faculty
Julie Miller, Th.D., Department Chair, Associate Professor
Glenn Ambrose, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Sister Martha Ann Kirk, Th.D., Thomas A. French Chair in Religious Studies, Professor
Adrienne Nock Ambrose , Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor
Sister Eilish Ryan, Th.D., Professor, Director of the Pastoral Institute
Adjunct Faculty
Simone Brown, M.A., Adjunct Professor
Susan Clopton, M.T.S., Adjunct Professor
Guy Hanson, M.A., M.T.S., Adjunct Professor
Ann Helmke
Sylvia Maddox, M.T.S., Adjunct Professor
Susan Roy, M.A., Adjunct Professor
Peggy Starkey, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor
Yolanda Tarango, D.Min., Adjunct Professor
Faculty Close-ups
Glenn Ambrose, Ph.D.
- Ph.D. Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley CA, 2001
- M.T.S. Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge, MA, 1992
- B.A. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 1990
- B.A. Trinity University, San Antonio
- M.T.S. Emory University, Atlanta
Areas of Interest: Systematic theology, Sacramental Theology, Philosophical Theology, Religion and Culture, Theologies of Liberation
Simone Brown, M.A.
Susan Clopton, M.T.S.
Areas of Interest: Hebrew Bible, Jewish Studies, Biblical languages
Guy Hanson, M.A., M.T.S.
- M.A. St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, TX, 2001
- M.T.S. St. Meinrad School of Theology, IN, 1991
- B.A. in Business Administration, Marquette University, 1986
Areas of Interest: Biblical theologies, Gospel of John, Apocalyptic literature, Archaeology
Ann Helmke, M.Div.
- B.S. University of Illinois, 1977
- M.Div. Lutheran Seminary of the Southwest, Austin, TX, 1990
Papers and Publications:
Jesus’ Path to Peace, (peaceCENTER, San Antonio, TX)
Peace is Our Birthright peaceCENTER, San Antonio, TX)
Areas of Interest: Study and practice of nonviolence, interfaith dialogue, peace in Israel/Palestine
Martha Ann Kirk, CCVI, Th.D.
Sylvia Maddox, M.T.S.
- M.T.S. Oblate School of Theology
- M. Ed. University of Texas
- B.A. Baylor University
Papers and Publications:
Praying with the Celtic Saints (with Mary C. Earle) (San Antonio: St. Mary's Press).
Areas of Interest: Religious Experience, Prayer and Spirituality, Christian Symbols and Worship.
Julie Miller, Th.D.
- Th.D., Harvard University, 2000
- M.T.S., Harvard University, 1988
- B.A., University of Notre Dame, 1986
Papers and Publications:
“To Remember Self, To Remember God: Augustine on Relationality, Sexuality and the Trinity,” in Feminists Re-Reading the Canon, Judith Stark, ed., Penn State Press, (forthcoming, Fall 2007).
“Rapt by God: Eroticized Violence in Medieval Women’s Literature and Law,” in The Subjective Eye: Essays in Culture, Religion and Gender, Richard Valentasis and Janet Carlson, editors. Mellon Press, 2006.
Co-editor, Verbum Incarnatum: Ethics and Social Justice. Vo1. 1, No. 1, 2006. University of the Incarnate Word, 2006.
“Education and Engagement: Striving for Success,” in Education and Engagement: Theory and Practice. University of the Incarnate Word Faculty Anthology, 2005. Julie B. Miller and Phil Lampe, editors.
“Mystical Masochism and the Spiritual Status Quo: The Limitations of Appropriation,” in The Eclectic Edition, Phil Lampe and Julie B. Miller, editors, 2004.
“Mission Matters: A Comparative Look at Mission in San Antonio,” in Mission Matters, Julie B. Miller and Phil Lampe, editors, 2003.
Co-editor, Religion and Society. University of the Incarnate Word Faculty Anthology, 2002, Phil Lampe and Julie B. Miller, editors.
“Feminist Historiography, Patriarchal Ideology and the Future of Sisterhood: A Review Essay of Sisters in Arms: Catholic Nuns Through Two Millennia by Jo Ann Kay McNamara” in The Annual Review of Women In World Religions, Arvind Sharma and Katherine Young, eds. (Vol. VI, 2002)
“Sexuality/Spirituality: The Problem of Eroticized Violence and Contemporary Eros Theology,” Ann Arbor: UMI, 2000 (dissertation).
“Eroticized Violence in Medieval Women’s Mystical Literature: A Call for a Feminist Critique,” in Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, (Fall 1999).
Areas of Interest: Feminist theology and ethics, sexual theology and ethics, environmental theology and ethics, women in Christian tradition, medieval mysticism
Adrienne Nock Ambrose, Ph.D.
- Ph.D. Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA, 2005
- M.T.S Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge, MA, 1994
- B.A. University of Cincinnati, 1988
Areas of Interest: History of Christianity, Mary, Religious Symbols and Images
Susan Roy, M.A.
- B.S. University of Texas at Austin
- M.A. University of the Incarnate Word
Areas of Interest: historical development of spirituality, spirituality and technology, developmental nature of faith, community and justice
Dr. Eilish Ryan, CCVI, Th.D.
- Th.D. University of St. Michael's College/Toronto School of Theology, 1994
- M.A. (Mental Health Counseling) St. Mary's University, San Antonio, TX, 1984
- M.A. (Religious Studies) Pastoral Institute, Incarnate Word College, 1976
- B.A. Incarnate Word College, 1968
Papers and Publications:
"Spirituality: the Living Heart of Religion Education," National Catholic Educational Association Annual Convention, Los Angelos, 1998
"Rosemary Haughton: Witness to Hope," in Proceedings of the Symposium on Christianity and Society. University of Metz, 1998.
Review of Christianity Spirituality: Themes form the Tradition, by Lawrence Cunningham and Keith Egan, in Horizons 24:2 (Fall, 1997), 318-319.
Rosemary Haughton: Witness to Hope. (Kansas City: Sheed and Ward, 1997).
Areas of Interest:Contemporary Christian Spirituality, History of Christianity, Pastoral Theology, Feminist Theology
Dr. Peggy Starkey, Ph.D.
- Ph.D. Union Theological Seminary
- M.Div. Union Theological Seminary
- S.T.M. Union Theological Seminary
- M. Phil. Union Theological Seminary
- B.A. Southern Methodist University
Papers and Publications:
"The 1997 Annual Meeting of the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies," Buddhist-Christian Studies 18 (1998), 209-311.
"Biblical Interpretation as a Bridge Between Evangelicals and Non-Evangelicals with Regard to Religious Plurality," Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, Chicago, 1994.
Voices from World Religions: Peace in Our Time: A Review. Edited by Henry O. Thompson. Delhi: ISPCK, 1993, in Journal of Ecumenical Studies Vol. 31/3-4 (1994).
"Agape: A Christian Criterion for Truth in the Other World Religions," International Review of Mission 74 (October 1985), 425-463.
"Biblical Faith and the Challenge of Religious Pluralism," International Review of Mission 71 (1982), 66-77.
Areas ofIinterest: World Religions, Buddhist-Christian Dialogue, Ecumenism
Dr. Yolanda Tarango, CCVI, D. Min.
- D.Min. Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 2004
- M.Div. Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, 1983
- B.A. Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, 1973
Papers and Publications:
Bridging Boundaries: The Pastoral Care of U.S. Hispanics, co-edited with Kenneth G. Davis. (Scranton, PA: University of Scranton Press, 2000).
"Don't Give Up Suffering for Lent," U.S. Catholic vol. 65 no. 3 March 2000.
"Faith and Community: Hispanic Women and the Church," vol. 18 no. 2 (Spring/Summer) 1996.Texas Journal of Ideas, History and Culture
Perspectivas: Hispanic Ministry, co-edited with Allan F. Deck and Timothy m. Matovina (Kansas City: Sheed and Ward, 1995).
"A Hispanic Woman's Spirituality," in Asi Es, eds. Arturo Perez, Consuelo Covarrubias and Edward Foley (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1994).
Hispanic Women, Prophetic Voice in the Church, co-authored with Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz (Harper & Row, 1988/Fortress, 1992).
"Las Hermanas," co-authored with Timothy Matovina, Hispanics in the Church: Up from the Cellar, ed. Philip Lampe (San Francisco: Catholic Schlors Press, 1994).
"The Hispanic Woman and Her Role in the Church," New Theology Review vol. 13 no. 4 (November) 1990.
"La Vida Es La Lucha," Texas Journal of Ideas, History and Culture vol. 12 no. 2 (Spring/Summer) 1990.
"The Church Struggling to be Universal: A Mexican American Perspective," International Review of Mission vol. LXXVIII no. 310 (April) 1984.
"'Las Marias' of the Feminist Movement," Women's Spirit Bonding vol. 6 no. 1 (Fall) 1980.
Areas of Interest: Latino/a theology, Feminist theology, religion and culture, spirituality

