Helen Bond --- Smith Lecture Autumn 2022 Did Jesus have female disciples?

Each semester, an outstanding female scholar from any sub-discipline of Divinity is invited to St Andrews to deliver the Smith Lecture in memory of Agnes Lewis and Margaret Dunlop (both née Smith), twin sisters from Ayrshire, whose contribution to Divinity led to the award of honorary doctorates in 1901 by the University.

A Smith Lecturer addresses a wide-ranging audience of undergraduates, postgraduates and staff and also meets informally with female students who might be interested in pursuing an academic career in the discipline.

Helen Bond is Professor of Christian Origins and Head of the School of Divinity of the University of Edinburgh. Prof. Bond is originally from a small village in the North-East of England and studied for her first degree here at the University of St Andrews, where she graduated with a first in Biblical Studies.

Prof Bond went on to do a PhD at Durham University, spending a year in Tuebingen (Germany). She taught at Northern College, Manchester and the University of Aberdeen before moving to Edinburgh in 2000. Prof Bond is passionately committed not only to teaching in the academy, but also to public outreach. She has extensive media experience and has given many talks at public events.

Following the lecture, women scholars will have the opportunity to meet Prof Bond in an adjacent venue for conversation not only about her lecture but around ways of encouraging and advancing women's careers in the academy.

This event is organised by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee of the School of Divinity of the University of St Andrews.