Merryn trained as a secondary teacher and taught in Lutheran schools for over 20 years before joining the faculty at Australian Lutheran College in 2011. She works primarily in ALC’s teacher education programs, assisting in-service and pre-service teachers to better understand the way the Christian faith informs practice in schools.

Merryn has a love of learning and routinely places herself into learning situations. Her interest in the application of leadership theory and theology to education practice is reflected in her doctoral studies, which she completed at the Australia Catholic University in 2007. Her thesis considered the way in which the role of deputy principal in a Lutheran school context reflected Lutheran theological principles and contemporary leadership theory. Since completing her thesis, Merryn has gained qualifications in VET and higher education teaching. Her focus in both was on the teaching of theology and how this can benefit from, but not be limited by, current education theory.

The nationwide location of education students at ALC means Merryn’s teaching is almost entirely online. She teaches multiple units which involve gaining theological knowledge in a designated area and then applying it to an educational context. Conversely, Merryn also teaches units which start with education theory and contemporary pedagogy and equip students to apply these to teaching theology. Working in this space, part of Merryn’s role at ALC is to support the staff as they develop and enhance their teaching skills.

Merryn is a member of the Academic Board of Adelaide College of Divinity and the Academic Quality Assurance Committee at Tabor Adelaide. She remains actively involved in Lutheran education through her roles on the governing councils of St Paul Lutheran School Enfield, and until recently, Endeavour College in Mawson Lakes. In 2021 Merryn was seconded to Living Waters Lutheran School in Alice Springs to serve as interim principal.

University Appointments