Professor James McLaren is the second Vice-Chancllor of the University of Divinity.
Professor McLaren undertook a BA at the University of Melbourne, studying in the Department of History and the Department of Middle Eastern Studies, graduating with Combined Honours in 1983. He then completed a Master of Arts by Research in 1985, also from the University of Melbourne. From there he went to the United Kingdom to undertake a Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford under the supervision of Professor E.P. Sanders and Professor Martin Goodman. Returning to Australia he commenced as a Lecturer at Australian Catholic University (ACU) in 1991, the same year the University was established. As the University grew and developed, he was also provided numerous opportunities to contribute to that development. As well as serving in the role of Head of the School of Theology, Professor McLaren served in several research-related leadership roles: initially as the Associate Dean Research in the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, then the inaugural Director of the Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry, next the Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and finally as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise. At the end of 2022 he concluded his employment at ACU and was awarded the title Professor Emeritus. In 2023 he served in an honorary capacity as Chair of the University of Divinity Research Strategy Committee. He commenced in the role of Vice-Chancellor at the University of Divinity in April 2024.
Professor McLaren’s major research interests reach across several fields in the study of history, with the primary focus the social, cultural, and political history of the ancient Mediterranean world. He is one of the leading international experts in the study of the life and times of Flavius Josephus. He has an extensive track record of publications on the pivotal period of Jewish and Roman relations, the first century CE, especially in relation to the war of 66-70 and its aftermath. For his contributions to the profession, he has been awarded the prestigious Krister Stendahl Medal. He has also held numerous leadership roles within major national and international professional associations. Professor McLaren’s current main research projects include a biography of Flavius Josephus and a monograph analysing the execution of Jesus, with a particular focus on exploring the event from a Roman perspective. Further down the queue of pending activities is research on Australian military history, especially relating to the 1st AIF.