Skip to main content

A Career Dedicated to Learning and Leadership

Before working at Fuller Theological Seminary in 2025, Jeff was involved in various roles of leadership and faculty at Seattle Pacific University. As a professor, director of the University Scholars Honors Program, and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies for Seattle Pacific Seminary, he was responsible for developing curricula, writing grants, managing budgets, collaborating with other faculty members, and creating strategic plans.


Before that, he worked as Senior Lecturer and Director of the Center for Literature, Theology and the Arts at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. In this position, he developed and directed interdisciplinary research projects involving scholars across different disciplines and universities in the UK.


Throughout his career, Jeff has connected academia with administration. He has helped both educational institutions and non-profit organizations to create new ways of teaching, community involvement, and organizational growth.

Research, Innovation, and Community Impact

The impact of Jeff's leadership is extended far beyond his classroom to include the greater community.


Jeff has worked as Principal Investigator on many large-scale research projects (e.g., Pivot NW Research) — a non-profit organization that studies how young adults are involved with their faith communities, social innovation, and find purposeful employment. As part of this effort, Jeff secured approximately $2.75 million in grants for a larger $55 Million Lilly Endowment-funded initiative.


Currently, Jeff's continued research seeks to answer questions about how faith-based communities, schools, and cultural organizations can promote a sense of belonging, purpose, social involvement, and leadership development among people in today's ever-increasing complexity.

Scholarship and Writing

As an interdisciplinary scholar and theologian, Jeff's research focuses on the relationship among various aspects of society, including Literature, Theology, Culture, Philosophy, Education, Spirituality, and the Arts.


Jeff writes about issues such as Identity, Justice, Imagination, Faith, Vocation, and Community. He uses his scholarly contributions in the form of books, articles, lectures, and public talks to engage both academic and general audience(s) in thoughtful discussion about their world today.


He believes there are important questions that should be explored thoughtfully, and when these can be examined through different disciplines, they will allow for greater understanding.

Selected Books

Activism and the Literary Self in 20th and 21st Century Literature: Poetics of Justice (2025)

Exploring contemporary literary self-identification, activism, and social justice as it relates to cultural expression.

Live the Questions: How Searching Shapes Our Convictions and Commitments (2019)

Reflecting upon the role that curiosity, inquiry & searching play in shaping one's convictions and commitments.

A Poetics of Jesus: The Search for Christ in Nineteenth-Century Writing (Revised Edition, 2018)

Study of writing, theology, and imagination through the lenses of 19th-century writers.

Blur: A New Paradigm for Understanding Youth Culture (2014)

The study of emerging youth culture and the implications that this will have upon faith-based organizations and society.

Your Neighbor’s Hymnal: What Popular Music Teaches Us About Faith, Hope and Love (2011)

Thoughtful exploration of the relationship between spiritual growth and popular culture, along with the lessons learned from popular music.

Freedom of the Self: Kenosis, Cultural Identity and Mission at the Crossroads (2010)

Reflections on identity, mission, culture, and theological thinking in an ever-changing world.

Editorial and Professional Leadership

Jeff is involved in many different ways with advancing scholarly work and cross-disciplinary conversation through a variety of professional organizations and publications.


His leadership roles include:

Literature Section Chair, International Society of Religion, Literature and Culture

Editorial Board member, Literature and Theology (Oxford University Press)

Founding Chair of the Paul Ricoeur Section of the American Academy of Religion

These roles reflect his commitment to fostering conversations that bridge theology, literature, philosophy, culture and public life.

Life Beyond the Classroom

Beyond Jeff's professional commitments, he values those things that contribute to a rich and fulfilling existence.


Jeff has been married to Diana, who has taught as an adjunct professor at Fuller Theological Seminary since 1999. Together, they have three grown daughters.


In addition to the items below, some other hobbies that are important to him are:


  • Collecting vintage jazz vinyl records
  • Backpacking and exploring nature.
  • Cycling.
  • Staying fit through CrossFit.
  • Drinking great coffee.


Having meaningful conversations with friends, family, students, or fellow travelers.

 

Connect with Jeff

Stay in touch with what's new from Jeff, including recent publications, speaking events, academic roles and thoughts on faith, culture, education, and everyday living.


Professional Profiles

Fuller Faculty Profile
Learn more about Jeff’s current role, academic background, leadership, and scholarly work.


LinkedIn
Connect professionally and follow updates related to leadership, theology, higher education, and culture.


Social Media

Facebook
Follow Jeff for reflections, updates, and conversations on faith, leadership, culture, and learning.


Instagram
Explore photos, books, speaking engagements, travel experiences, and personal insights.


Featured Announcement

Installation as Dean of the School of Mission and Theology

Read about Jeff’s installation as Dean and his vision for the future of theological education, scholarship, and ministry leadership.

A Lifelong Commitment to Thoughtful Inquiry

Jeff believes deeply in one thing. It's very basic. Meaningful questions are important.


He uses this idea as a foundation to help develop learning opportunities for students, mentorship for leaders, authoring books on how to think about faith and purpose, creating presentations for conference attendees, and helping communities be places where individuals will have opportunities to ask questions, increase their knowledge, and find new ways to live out their faith and pursue life with purpose.


Scholarly research, leading, pastoring, and dialogue allow Jeff to continue encouraging others to thinkfully consider the questions that affect both an individual's life, and the life of the community.

Start a discussion on faith, culture, leadership, literature, and the ideas that define our lives.

Jeff Keuss  

Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.