Ben Durheim

What is your current position at the SOT?

​I am a visiting assistant professor of theology at CSB/SJU.

How has your experience been so far?

It's been wonderful! The faculty and administration have been very welcoming, and the students are as outstanding as ever. The setting and community are warm and inviting, and I hope to do my part helping all students feel that way about our institutions.  

Where did you earn your undergraduate degree from? Graduate degree(s)?

I earned my B.A. in chemistry and theology from CSB/SJU, my M.A. in theology from the SOT and my Ph.D. in theology from Boston College.  

Why did you choose SJU School of Theology? What year did you graduate from SOT?

I graduated from the SOT in 2009 (CSB/SJU in 2007), and I had chosen the SOT as a kind of discernment period. At that time I was deciding whether to pursue medical school or theology, and I did the M.A. to help me decide. That experience won me over in a big way, and here I am.  

What are your interests and what is your field of study?

​My field of study is systematics, and I work specifically on the connection between liturgy and justice. In this vein, most of my research interests are in liturgical/sacramental theology, the church's social teaching, theological anthropology and ecumenism.  

What advice would you give to students considering enrolling in SOT?

It's a fantastic experience, and one that can be intensely enriching, academically, personally and spiritually. Keep an open mind, don't be afraid of intense study and be willing to listen — a lot — to both your classmates and professors. Education can be far more potent the more one is open to its potential sources.  

Anything else you would like to add?

​If prospective or current students would like to contact me, I'd welcome a conversation via email or in person. Community happens within conversation.