Westar Institute

Institutional Affiliation
Charter Member

Mahlon Smith

Institutional Affiliation

Professor Emeritus of Religion

Department of Religion

Credentials

• A.B., Rutgers University • B.D., Drew University • M.S.L., Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies, Toronto

Biography

Mahlon H. Smith founded the program in religious studies at Rutgers College. Upon consolidation of Rutgers & Douglass Colleges, he was elected first chair of the united Department of Religion on the main campus of Rutgers—the State University of New Jersey. One of the early Fellows of the Jesus Seminar, he served as program chair, coordinating sessions related to the deeds of Jesus. His draft report on the Q sayings provided the basis for the commentary in The Five Gospels. Besides contributing many papers to Westar debates, he has pioneered electronic publication in the field of religion and is author of several award-winning academic websites.

• Cardinal Cushing Fellowship, Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies• Pilling Postgraduate Traveling Fellowship, Drew Theological School• Ezra Squire Tipple Scholarship, Drew Theological School• Henry Rutgers Scholar, Rutgers University

Academic Appointments

• Associate Professor of Religion, Rutgers University, 1978–2006• Assistant Professor of Religion, Rutgers University, 1972–1978• Lecturer in Religion, Rutgers University, 1969–1972

Professional Service

• Program Chair, Deeds Conference of the Jesus Seminar 1991–1996• Vice-chair, Department of Religion, Rutgers University 1988–present• Chair, Department of Religion, Rutgers University 1980–1985• Chair, Department of Religion. Rutgers College 1972–1975, 1978–1980• Founder & Acting Chair, Department of Religion, Rutgers College 1970–1972• Advisory Committee, Synoptic-L