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Michael VanZandt Collins
Theology Department
Boston College
Stokes Hall North 420C
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
vanzandt@bc.edu * Skype: vzcollins * twitter: VZCollins
Education
Ph.D.
Boston College, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Chestnut Hill, MA
Theology: Comparative Theology track, to be awarded in 2018.
A.M.
Harvard University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Cambridge, MA
Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, awarded in May 2013
Qasid Arabic Institute, Amman, Jordan
Intermediate Level in Classical Arabic Sciences & Skills, Winter–Spring 2013
M.A.
Boston College, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Chestnut Hill, MA
Theology, awarded in December 2005
University
Boston College, College of Arts and Sciences, Chestnut Hill, MA
B.A., awarded in May 2004
Academic Research
Publications:
2015
“Review of Catholics in Independent Indonesia: 1945-2010, by Karel
Steenbrink.” Journal of Jesuit Studies 3, no. 1: 143–45.
“Review of A Companion to Luís de Molina, edited by Matthias
Kaufmann and Alexander Aichele.” Journal of Jesuit Studies 2, no. 1:
161–63.
2012
“Humanity as Khalifa: A History of a Word and Its Potentialities for
Environmental Ethics.” Journal of Faith and Science Exchange (2013).
Presentations & Invited Lectures:
2016
“Witnessing the Other: Engaging Liberationist and Akbarī Perspectives.”
Paper presented at the fourteenth annual Engaging Particularities
conference, Boston College, Boston, MA, 4 April.
2015
“Spiritual Space and Christian Witness in Syria: The Case of Frans van
der Lugt, S.J.” Paper presented at the American Academy of Religion,
Atlanta, GA, 22 November.
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“Girard, Ghazālī and Disciplined Mimetic Desire: Toward a Constructive
Dialogue with Muslims.” Paper presented at the twenty-fifth annual
Colloquium on Violence and Religion, St. Louis, MO, 9 July.
Awarded the Raymund Schwager, SJ, Prize.
“Notes from a Trinitarian Tarīqah: The Study of Islam and Attaining
Fullness.” Paper presented at the Buddhist-Christian-Muslim Trialogue on
the Trinity, Universität Paderborn, Paderborn, Germany, 22 May.
2014
“On Divine (Im)-Passibility and Ecological Depredation: Islamic
Contributions to a Catholic Conversation.” Paper presented at the panel
“Interreligious Responses to Climate Change,” American Academy of
Religion, San Diego, CA, 22 November.
“Conscience and the Heart in the Kitāb al-Hikam.” Paper presented at the
Spiritual Exercises conference, Nineteenth Annual Joint Postgraduate
Conference on Religion and Theology, Bristol, UK, 7 March.
“Illuminated Ways of Teaching: The Role of a Theologian in the Writings
of Henry of Ghent and al-Suhrawardī.” Paper presented at the Engaging
Particularities Conference: Pedagogy and Practice, Twelfth Annual
Graduate Student Conference in the Areas of Comparative Theology,
Chestnut Hill, MA, 20 March.
“Corrupting the Land: The Case for Reading Surat al-Fajr Ecologically.”
Paper presented at New England-Maritime Region, American Academy of
Religion Conference, Brighton, MA, 26 April.
2012
“Sacred Mapping: Images of Paradise in Medieval Islamic Literature.”
Paper presented at Ways of Knowing Conference, First Annual Graduate
Student Conference on Religion at Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge,
MA, 26 October.
“Sacred Landscape: Images of Paradise in Medieval Qur’anic Exegesis.”
Paper presented at Honoring Earth Symposium of the Boston Theological
Institute, Boston, MA, 25 April.
Professional Experience: Education/Academia
2016–17
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2015–16
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Teaching Assistant
John Darr, Boston College, Theology Department
Apprentice for the introductory theology course, “Biblical Heritage”
Teaching Assistant
James W. Morris, Boston College, Theology Department
Apprentice for introductory theology course, “Religious Quest”
Conduct two discussion sections in style of Humanities seminar
Instruct on comparative method in religious studies
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2014–
Research Assistant, and Book Review Assistant Editor (interim)
Boston College, Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies
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Collaborate on The New Sommervogel Online project, compiling
bibliographic materials and editing contributions of correspondents
Edit articles and book reviews for publication in the Journal of Jesuit Studies
2014–15
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Book Review Assistant Editor (interim)
Coordinate review copy request with publishers, on behalf of reviewers
2013–15
Visual Resources Cataloguer for Islamic Art and Architecture
Harvard University, Fine Arts Library
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2012
Process slide materials into an online and a digitized format
Source materials out of manuscripts, ranging from Morocco to South Asia
Subsidized through the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture
Research Assistant for Rachel Greenblatt, Professor
Harvard University, Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
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2012
Compile and edit the bibliography for her book To Tell Their Children:
Jewish Communal Memory in Early Modern Prague (Stanford
University Press, 2014)
Research Assistant for Bernadette Brooten, Visiting Scholar
Harvard Divinity School, Women’s Study in Religion Program
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2011–12
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2011
Research in patristic sources (both Latin and Ancient Greek)
Edit drafts of chapters for her forthcoming book on ancient and Christian
patristic views of slavery
Posse Foundation, Boston MA
Interviewer
Interview promising students from urban backgrounds for collegiate scholarships
Tutors for All, Boston MA
Program Coordinator
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2009
2006–08
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http://www.tutorsforall.org
Organize tutorial sessions and programs at public schools
Facing History & Ourselves, Brookline, MA
Assistant Researcher and Writer, Intern
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http://www.posse.org
http://www.facing.org
Adapt primary sources into educational resources for topics of human rights
North Cambridge Catholic High School, Cambridge, MA
Teacher and Campus Minister
http://www.cristoreyboston.org
Served as Campus Minister; created, facilitated retreats for each grade
Created current student government format and advised program
Courses Taught: Introduction to Catholicism; Hebrew Scriptures; Christian
Scriptures; Morality and Society
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Professional Experience: Environmental/Organizing
2009–11
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2010–11
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2008
Archventures, Roxbury, MA
Deputy Director and Community Coordinator
Co-direct the start-up of green design-build nonprofit that serves urban nonprofits
Develop mission statement, vision, strategic planning, organizational model
Manage student interns, young professional volunteers in community development
U.S. Green Building Council, Boston, MA
Organizer; Co-Chair of Design Competition
Write the program and promotional materials after research on latest design trends
Correspond with diverse professional contacts for project management
Obama for America: Ohio for Change, Columbus, OH
Vote Corps Field Organizer
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Coordinate volunteers in large-scale events and Get-Out-the-Vote campaigns
Conducted religious outreach to Muslim Somali communities of Columbus
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