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Profiles

Ryan Cumming

Senior Lecturer

Education
  • Ph.D. and M.A. in Christian Ethics from Loyola University Chicago
  • Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design from Bowling Green State University
  • B.A. in Religion and Psychology from Capital University                    

Cumming has taught courses in American religions, Christology, and Christian ethics at Loyola. He currently teaches the Ignatian Traditions (THEO 190) course at SCPS. In addition to teaching, he directs the education and engagement portfolios for Lutheran Disaster Response and ELCA World Hunger, faith-based dvelopment arms of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He is the author of The African American Challenge to Just War Theory (Palgrave, 2012), and contributor to and co-editor of the Forgotten Luther book series from Fortress Press.

Why do you enjoy working with professional degree students?

I enjoy working with professional degree students for many of the same reasons I enjoy working with all students, namely, the classroom (virtual or in-person) creates a space where we, together, can learn from one another, dive deeply into ideas or questions, and create a space that models inclusive justice, where each voice and perspective matters. With professional degree students specifically, I enjoy being challenged to make my teaching relevant to the real-world circumstances that students bring to the conversation. There is a responsibility in all teaching to do that, but it comes into sharper focus - my teaching must matter to them, to their lives, right now. I am also encouraged and enriched by students who bring a wealth of life and professional experience, with all its ambiguity, messiness, and uncertainty, to the process of education. Their ideas, questions, and opinions remind me that learning is truly a lifelong process, and that discernment of who and how we are called to be as people in the world is a journey, not a destination.

Courses Taught

"The teacher was sincere in his teaching approach and information he conveyed; he maintained an impartial point of view, a good thing. Prof. Cumming helped the four hours pass painlessly by holding my attention. The course was very informative and presented relevance and importance of the subject matter in my life and the local and global communities."

Professional & Community Affiliations

  • Society of Christian Ethics
  • Alpha Sigma Nu, Jesuit Honor Fraternity
  • Board member, Center for Climate Justice and Faith, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (California Lutheran University)