Education & Degrees

PhD Degree (cum laude, awarded to the top 3–5% of dissertations in the Netherlands) 
Utrecht University, Oct. 2014 – March 12, 2021

  • Dissertation: “Negotiating Paternal Authority and Filial Agency: Fathers and Sons in Early Rabbinic Parables” (part of the NWO funded research project “Parables and the Partings of the Ways,” directed by Dr. Eric Ottenheijm) (promotors: Prof. Birgit Meyer and Prof. Annette Merz; co-promotor: Dr. Eric Ottenheijm)

Research Master Religion and Culture (cum laude)   
University of Groningen, Sept. 2010 – July 2013

  • Specialization: Biblical studies, early Judaism, rabbinic Judaism, and cognitive linguistics
  • Thesis: “Evaluating Zeba A. Crook’s Model of Conversion in Graeco-Roman Antiquity: An Analysis of the Understanding of Conversion in Philo of Alexandria’s De paenitentia and De nobilitate (Virt. 175–186 and 187–227)” (supervisors: Prof. George H. van Kooten and Prof. Mladen Popović)

Bachelor Theology (cum laude)    
University of Groningen, Sept. 2007 – Aug. 2010

  • Specialization: Biblical studies, early Judaism, rabbinic Judaism, and gender studies
  • Thesis: “A Traditional Way of Retelling a Story: The Reception of the Shechem Story in the Testament of Levi” (supervisor: Prof. Jacques T.A.G.M. van Ruiten)
  • Prize: GUF-100 Prize (2009), Groninger UniversiteitsFonds. Prize: €2,500. Awarded to the best student of each faculty of the University of Groningen.

Gymnasium     
Lauwers College, Buitenpost, Sept. 2001 – Aug. 2007                

  • Specialization: Culture & Society (Profiel Cultuur & Maatschappij), with Latin and Greek
  • Thesis: “οὗτος in de Handelingen der Apostelen: Een onderzoek naar prepositief en postpositief geplaatst οὗτος in anaforische constituenten, in zowel de grondtekst als in Nederlandse vertalingen” (“οὗτος in the Acts of the Apostles: A Study of Prepositive and Postpositive οὗτος in Anaphoric Constituents, in the Original Text as well as in Dutch Translations”)
  • Prizes:
    • Honorable Mention (2006), Nederlands Klassiek Verbond & Vereniging Vrienden van het Gymnasium. Prize: a book. Awarded to places 4 to 7 at the National Translating Contest Latin.
    • Abel Tasman Art Prize (2006), Municipality of Westerkwartier. Prize: a trip of three weeks to Tasmania (Australia). Awarded to the best art work of a young adolescent in the region.