Religious Studies Faculty
Contact Chris Ciocchetti, interim chair of Religious Studies.
T. L. James Eminent Scholars Endowed Chair of Religion
In 1975, T. L. James and Company, Inc. of Ruston, Louisiana, endowed a Chair of Religion in memory of T. L. James, a long-time supporter of Centenary College and the United Methodist Church. In 1993, additional gifts to the endowment were matched with an award from the Louisiana Board of Regents Endowed Chairs for Eminent Scholars Program, which was established in 1987.
Currently Unoccupied
Courses, Research, and Programming Supported by the Chair
Rabbi Dr. Jana De Benedetti
Adjunct Professor
Rabbi Dr. Jana De Benedetti has been the Spiritual Leader and Rabbi at B'nai Zion Congregation since 2006. She was the first female Rabbi in Louisiana. She has also been the Cantorial Soloist at B'nai Zion and has led services in many states and in Israel. At B’nai Zion Congregation Rabbi Jana teaches all aspects of Judaism, including: Jewish music, Hebrew and other Jewish languagues, Jewish studies, and Torah studies.
"Dr. J" has been teaching Hebrew and Jewish Studies since the mid 1970s at synagogues, other public institutions, and as a private tutor. She has taught Hebrew at the State University of New York at Albany (SUNYA), Spertus College of Judaica and the University of Illinois in Chicago, Illinois, Louisiana State University in Shreveport (LSUS) and Centenary College in Shreveport.
Tom Dolph
Adjunct Professor
A native of Shreveport, Dolph returned home after 36 years of pastoral leadership across Louisiana as an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church. Currently, Dolph serves as pastor of Grace Community United Methodist Church in South Shreveport. In addition to holding a B.A. from ULM (NLU) and an M.Div from The Iliff School of Theology, I earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from St. Paul School of Theology, focusing on Wesleyan Theology and Church Leadership. Dolph is married to Jane Freudenberger, a Social Worker for a local hospice, and together they have two adult children.