Bethany College Welcomes Megan Case as New Assistant Professor of Religion
LINDSBORG, KS. JULY 18, 2025 — Bethany College is pleased to announce the appointment of Megan Case as the new Assistant Professor of Religion. Case earned her doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin in 2016 in Ancient Mediterranean Religions with a graduate portfolio in Women's and Gender Studies. She had previously received degrees from Gettysburg College (2006, B.A. in Anthropology and Religion), Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (2011, M.Div.), and the University of Texas at Austin (2013, M.A. in Religious Studies).
Since graduation, she has taught at several institutions, including Elon University, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Drury University, and Luther College. Her main area of research is the Hebrew Bible, especially questions involving gender and sexuality in the Deuteronomistic History. Case has published articles in Vetus Testamentum, Biblical Interpretation, and the Journal of Religion and Popular Culture, as well as in various edited volumes. She is currently the editor of the Poetical and Wisdom Books for the upcoming King James Version Study Bible from Oxford University Press. Her first book, “The Productive and Disordered Bodies of Judges 19–21: Pre-Monarchic Israel as a Somatic Society,” is in its final stages with Sheffield Phoenix Press.
Case’s appointment comes at a time when Bethany College is deepening its engagement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Since taking office in May, President Dr. Laura Crawley has been actively reconnecting the college with ELCA partners across the region and nationally. Her recent activities include:
- Speaking with the Swedish Friendship Group at Bethany Lutheran Church
- Speaking about Bethany College at the Central States Synod Assembly back in June, at the request of Bishop Candea
- Participating in the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities (NECU) Presidents Summer Seminar and the Vocation of Lutheran Higher Education Conference in July at Augsburg University
- Planning visits with Pastor Melissa to ELCA congregations across Kansas this fall and spring
- Attending the upcoming ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix at the end of July
These efforts underscore Bethany's ongoing commitment to its Lutheran identity and mission, particularly in welcoming faculty whose scholarship and vocation align with values of faith, service, and social responsibility.
“Dr. Case brings a wealth of teaching experience to Bethany College, along with a depth of biblical study,” said Rev. Melissa Woeppel, Campus Pastor. “Her engagement in the classroom will serve our students well and we are excited to welcome her!”
In her free time, Case enjoys tabletop games, reading, playing the flute and piano, and being annoyed by her nephews.
Bethany College is excited to welcome Megan Case to the faculty and looks forward to the contributions she will bring to the religion program. For more information about our religion program, please visit www.bethanylb.edu/religion-philosophy.
Bethany College is a liberal arts institution located in Lindsborg, Kansas, and was established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881. For over 140 years, Bethany has been dedicated to educating, developing, and challenging individuals to pursue truth and excellence while leading lives of faith, learning, and service. At Bethany, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who support them as they discover, explore, and navigate their purpose. Bethany College is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
