EDUCATION

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

· Ph.D., 2003, the Graduate Group in Religious Studies.

· Dissertation with Professors Ross Kraemer, Robert Kraft, David Stern and E. Ann Matter entitled, “Jewish Weddings in the Greco-Roman Period: A Reconsideration of Received Ritual.”

· Completed comprehensive exams in Hellenistic Judaism, Origins of Christianity, and Rabbinic Judaism.

· Passed MA Level Dossier Requirement in Methodology and World Religions.

1983-1988 Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

· Rabbinic Ordination (1988), New York, NY

Rabbinic Thesis: “A Move Towards Character in the Plays of A.B. Yehoshua.” Thesis

advisor: Dr. Stanley Nash.

· Masters of Arts in Hebrew Letters (1986), Los Angeles, CA

1978-1983 Reed College, Portland, OR

· Bachelor of Arts in English Literature

B.A. Thesis: “’That I may be assured, I will bethink me’: Interpretation in The Merchant of Venice.” Thesis advisor: Dr. Robert Knapp.

UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING AND ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

2003- Assistant Professor of Judaic Studies and Religion in the Division of Humanities at

New College of Florida.

2002-3 Chimicles Fellow, teaching “Writing about Ritual, in the department of Religious Studies, sponsored by the Penn Writing Across the University Program.

2001 Visiting Instructor in Religion, “Rites of Passage in Early Judaism,” Haverford

College. Presented both theoretical and historical organizing principles. Writing

assignments and class discussion lead students to an integration of these concerns.

1999 Adjunct Instructor, “Rabbinic Aramaic,” Reconstructionist Rabbinical

College. Responsible for introducing students to Aramaic grammar; teaching

language skills through the reading of Aramaic texts of the Talmud; and writing

and grading quizzes and final exams.

1998-9 Co-chairperson of the Philadelphia Seminar on Christian Origins

(with Beth Pollard). Topic: “Religious Identities in Asia Minor in the First through

the Fourth Centuries CE.” Developed topic, invited speakers and made arrangements.

1998-9 Graduate Assistant to the “Power of Sight” Faculty Seminar

This Penn seminar was part of an inter-disciplinary initiative of the Provost’s office. Ten

lectures focused on the metaphorical power of sight, especially in the world of visions and

visionaries. Responsible for keeping lists, announcing sessions and distributing readings.

1998 Teaching Assistant and Writing Instructor, “Religion and Literature,” University

of Pennsylvania, taught by Dr. E. Ann Matter. Led two weekly recitation sections for

discussion of readings and professor’s lectures. Lectured on one of the novels. Offered

written and oral comments on rough drafts. Graded final papers.

1997 Instructor, “Introduction to Classical Judaism,” University of Pennsylvania.

Responsible for all aspects of this introductory course on Rabbinic Judaism, its

biblical roots, literature, beliefs and practices.

PRESENTATIONS

2007 Chaired Session: "Meals and Social Formation,"in the Greco-Roman Meals Seminar at the Society of Biblical Literature, San Diego.

2007 Paper presented: “Bourdieu’s Response to Van Gennep: Implications for Roman Period Jewish Betrothal” at The Rites of Passage of the Life Cycle in Antiquity Symposium, Getty Villa, Malibu. http://www.getty.edu/visit/events/rites_symposium.html

2006 Summary of Seminar Paper presented: “Present and Absent: Women at Greco-Roman Wedding

Meals” in the Greco-Roman Meals Seminar at the Society of Biblical Literature, Washington D.C.

2005 Paper presented: “The Grooms’ Blessing as an Extreme Makeover of Jewish Wedding Feasts”

at the Society of Biblical Literature, Philadelphia.

2005 Respondent: In the Greco-Roman Meals Seminar Session on “Women at Greco-Roman Meals” at the Society of Biblical Literature, Philadelphia

2004 Paper presented: “Weddings at the End of Days” at the Association for Jewish Studies,

Chicago.

2003 Paper presented: “A City of Gold Crown: Rabbinic Texts in Dialogue with History” at

the Association for Jewish Studies, Boston.

2002 Paper presented: “Rites of Passage, Weddings, Point of View and the Historian” in

the Ritual Studies Group at the American Academy of Religion, Toronto.

2001 Paper presented: “Households and the Making of Jewish Wedding Feasts” in

the Social History of Formative Christianity and Judaism Section at the Society of Biblical Literature, Denver.

2000 Paper presented: “The Marriage of Jewish Slaves,” in the Social History of

Formative Christianity and Judaism Section at the Society of Biblical Literature, Nashville.

2000 Paper presented: “Buried in her Bridal Gown: Death Imagery and Jewish Brides in the

Greco-Roman World” for the Jewish Feminist Research Group of Ma’yan, New York.

1997 Paper presented: “Non-Christian Celibacy as Autonomy,” as part of “Gender and Sexuality in the Apocryphal Acts: A Panel Discussion,” for the Philadelphia Seminar on Christian Origins.

PUBLICATIONS

Marks, Susan. “Women in Early Judaism: Twenty-five Years of Research and Reenvisioning.” Currents in Biblical Research 6.2 (2008), 290-320.

Marks, Susan. Post-biblical Commentary on “Mishpatim.” Pages 445-6 in The Torah: A Women’s Commentary. Edited by Tamara Cohn Eskenazi. New York: Union of Reform Judaism Press, 2008.

Marks, Susan. Post-biblical Commentary on “Shoftim.” Pages 1158-60 in The Torah: A Women’s Commentary. Edited by Tamara Cohn Eskenazi. New York: Union of Reform Judaism Press, 2008.

Marks, Susan, review of Richard Kalmin, Jewish Babylonia between Persia and Roman Palestine. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2007.05.33.

Marks, Susan. “Present and Absent: Women at Greco-Roman Wedding Meals.” Meals in the

Greco-Roman World SBL Seminar Paper, 2006. http://www.philipharland.com/meals/GrecoRomanMealsSeminar.htm

Kraft, Robert A., Susan Marks, Debra Bucher, Sigrid Peterson, Beth Pollard and Todd Krulak, review of Martin Goodman, ed. Jews in a Graeco-Roman World. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2005.08.10.

EDITORIAL WORK

Ayala, F.J. and W. Pannenberg. Creation and the Theory of Evolution. Edited by Susan Marks. Philadelphia: Department of Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania, 1998.

Lipner, J. Capturing Gods: The God of Love and the Love of God in Christian and Hindu Tradition. Edited by Susan Marks. Philadelphia: Department of Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania, 2000.

MEMBERSHIPS

· Society of Biblical Literature-American Academy of Religion.

· Association for Jewish Studies and Association for Jewish Studies Women’s Caucus.

ACADEMIC FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS

2007 Wabash Center Teaching and Learning Workshop for Pre-Tenure Faculty at Colleges and

Universities.

2002 Chimicles Fellowship in the teaching of writing.

2001 Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture Dissertation Scholarship.

2000 The Brenner Fellowship, awarded by The Jewish Studies Program for assistance to travel to

Turkey and in support of dissertation research.

1998 The Merle Saunders Schaff Memorial Award, honorable mention for essay entitled “The Law as

‘Pedagogue’ in Paul and Other Early Jewish and Subsequent Christian Sources.” This Award

recognizes creative thinking on a subject related to Judaic Religious Thought.

1997 Boardman Fellowship, including responsibility for editing and publishing the Boardman lecture.

1987 Samuel J. Levinson Prize, HUC-JIR.

1987 Mrs. Arthur Hays Sulzburger Prize, HUC-JIR.

1987 Louis and Dorothy Sperling Memorial Prize in Modern Hebrew Literature, HUC-JIR.

1986 National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods Centennial Prize.

1983 Phi Beta Kappa.

1983 American Association of University Women Award.

SELECTED ADULT EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS

2007 Lecturer, “Betrothal Ritual: From Abduction to Caring Community” at Jewish Family

and Children’s Services, Sarasota, FL.

2006 Lecturer, “A Question of Inclusion: Did Jewish Women Participate in Ancient Wedding

Feasts? Finding and Interpreting Evidence” at Kobernick House, Sarasota, FL.

2005 Lecturer, “Jews and Slavery during the Greco-Roman Period” at Kobernick House,

Sarasota, FL.

2005 Lecturer, “Judaisms and Christianities: The Early Years” at the Penn Club,

Sarasota, FL.

2004 Lecturer, “Women and Men as Synagogue Office Holders – Revisiting the Year 200CE” at

The JCC “Kallah” Adult Festival of Living and Learning, Sarasota, FL.

2001 Instructor, “Philo Dough: Considering Challah (Numbers 15:19) and Allegorical

Readings,” Torah Study for the National Board of Trustees Meeting of the Union of

American Hebrew Congregations, Philadephia, PA.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1991-1997 Assistant Regional Director, Pennsylvania Council of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Philadelphia, PA.

1991-1998 Teacher, Isaac Meyer Wise Program of the Jewish Community High School, Gratz College, Melrose Park, PA.

1988-1991 Rabbi, Emanuel Jacob Congregation, Mansfield, OH.

LANGUAGES

· Hebrew (Classical and Modern), Aramaic, Greek, Latin, French and German.