Dr Rebecca Dean
Rebecca is one of two New Testament Lecturers at Ripon College Cuddesdon, and is also the Admissions Tutor for Cuddesdon-based pathways. She has a bachelor’s degree in Theology from the University of Birmingham, and master’s and doctoral degrees in New Testament Theology from the University of Oxford. She is a member of the United Reformed Church, and prior to beginning work at Cuddesdon in 2013, she was involved in children’s ministry for the URC, and also spent some time working as a teacher and support worker for a children’s homelessness charity in Far East Russia.
Rebecca’s doctoral research focused upon the portrayal of religious experience and dream-visions in the Acts of the Apostles. Other research interests include the function of storytelling within the New Testament, and the construction of authority and identity within (religious) communities.
Within her teaching, Rebecca aims to provide a safe space for people to ask difficult questions about the Bible, and to experiment with alternative approaches to reading the Scriptures. She firmly believes that decisions about the ‘meaning' of biblical texts should not lie in the hands of scholars alone, and is passionate about equipping people with the tools and the confidence to engage with the Bible for themselves, regardless of their academic ability or background. She is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL).
Rebecca lives on site at the College with her two house rabbits, and when she is not working she can usually be found horse-riding.