Liz Boase is a Professor of the University and the Dean of the School of Graduate Research. Liz is responsible for the higher degree by research and minor thesis programs, including oversight of candidates and supervisors, and the delivery of programs that support successful completion, including teaching a unit on research methodologies. Liz chairs the School of Graduate Research Committee and is a member of the University Executive, the Academic Board, and the Research Strategy Committee.

Liz is a Hebrew Bible/Old Testament scholar specialising in trauma hermeneutics. Her most recent publication, Trauma Theories: Refractions in the Book of Jeremiah (Sheffield Phoenix Press: 2024), examines five common trauma theories used within biblical studies, setting out the assumption and implications of each, using passages from the book of Jeremiah to demonstrate interpretive possibilities. Alongside her focus on trauma hermeneutics, Liz has published on the book of Lamentations and the book of Jeremiah. Liz’s publications have explored topics such as suffering, the characterisation of God, the place of lament in ancient and contemporary contexts, and ecological hermeneutics. She is frequently invited to contribute to international publications.

Liz moved to Melbourne in 2020 as the inaugural Dean of the School of Graduate Research. She has teaching and academic leadership experience within Uniting College for Leadership and Theology, Flinders University and taught at the University of Notre Dame. Liz completed her PhD in 2003, which was published by T&T Clark. She has been program chair and member of steering committees within the Society of Biblical Literature, and is a regular peer reviewer for a number of international publications. Liz has served on the editorial board for the Journal of Biblical Literature, and is on the advisory board for Sheffield Phoenix Press. She presents regularly at national and international conferences.

Liz supervises research in the areas of Hebrew Bible studies, biblical hermeneutics, trauma readings, contextualised biblical research and literary approaches to texts.

University Appointments

Dean, School of Graduate Research (School of Graduate Research)

External Affiliations

• Fellowship of Biblical Studies (Member)
• Journal of Biblical Literature (Editorial Board)
• Sheffield Phoenix Press (General Editor, Trauma Readings Series)
• Society of Biblical Literature (Member)