Dr Merryn Ruwoldt
Dean, Lecturer in Education, Coordinator of Education Studies
Research areas: Education, Educational Theology (Minor Thesis only)
About
Merryn grew up in Melbourne’s outer north-east and routinely returns there to visit family and read newspapers that acknowledge more than two AFL teams. After attending Luther College, Merryn completed her secondary teacher training in Adelaide in the days when Lutheran Teachers College students still lived predominantly on campus. She then taught at Nhill Lutheran School, Luther College (Croydon) and St Martins Lutheran College (Mount Gambier) before finding herself back at Australian Lutheran College in 2011.
Merryn has always had an interest in the history of the relationship between the LCA and its schools and the impact of Lutheran theology on Lutheran schools. These interests led her to pursue postgraduate study exploring the dialogue between theology and education, and were ultimately responsible for leading her to teaching at ALC.
In more recent years Merryn has also become more fully and formally involved in the broader learning and teaching discussions at the University of Divinity. This focus on adult learning has led to an increased interest in and passion for creating ways ALC can provide theological education to those pursuing it for interest rather than vocation. In 2021 Merryn was seconded to Living Waters Lutheran School in Alice Springs to serve as interim principal. She was appointed as Dean in 2022 and as such she also serves on the University of Divinity Academic Board.
Teaching areas
- Capstone Project
- Education and Theology in Dialogue
- Ethics, Values and Decision Making for Educators
- Introduction to Lutheran Education
- Introduction to Teaching for Ministry
- Leadership for a Christian Context
- Lutheran Perspectives on Schooling
- Principles and Context of Lutheran Schooling
- Reflective Practice for Vocation
- The Christ-Centred School
Research supervision
Research areas: Education, Educational Theology (Minor Thesis only)
Community engagement
- Adelaide College of Divinity Academic Board Member
- Tabor (Adelaide) Academic Quality Assurance Committee Member
- Chair, St Paul Lutheran School Board
Qualifications in detail
- Bachelor of Arts (University of Adelaide, 1987)
- Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary) (Adelaide College of Advanced Education, 1988)
- Graduate Diploma of Theology in Education (Lutheran Teachers College, 1993)
- Graduate Diploma in Business (Monash University, 1993)
- Master of Education Studies (Luther Seminary, 1998)
- Doctor of Education (Australian Catholic University, 2007)
- Graduate Certificate in Education (Higher Education) (Flinders University, 2019)
- Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE Training Academy, 2020)
Papers and publications
2017
(with Andrew Jaensch) ‘The gift of Lutheran theology: unwrapping the present.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 51, no. 1 (May): 28–36.
2013
‘A still small voice: is church and school dialogue sufficiently loud?’ Lutheran Theological Journal 47, no. 2 (Aug): 140–148.
2010
‘Teaching science and/or ethical issues policy.’ St Martins Lutheran College.
2007
‘To lead or not to lead—that is the question: an exploration of understandings of leadership in the context of the deputy principal in the Lutheran secondary school.’ EdD dissertation, Australian Catholic University.
