• Ph.D., 1999, Duke University
• M.Div., 1992, Princeton Theological Seminary
• B.A., 1989, Lee University
• A.A. , 1986, Miami Dade Community College

Dean, School of Arts, Culture and Society & Professor of Biblical Studies

Powery joined the Messiah faculty as Professor of Biblical Studies in 2008 and C. N. Hostetter Jr. Chair of Religious Studies (2009-2011). His research includes gospel studies, cultural hermeneutics, translation, and the function of the bible in African American culture. He is the general editor of the series Early Christianity and Its Literature (SBL Press).

He served as a Visiting Professor at Asbury Theological Seminary (2004), Fuller Theological Seminary (2008), Wake Forest University School of Divinity (2010), Princeton Theological Seminary (2012), Lancaster Theological Seminary (2019), and as The Croghan Bicentennial Professor in Biblical and Early Christian Studies at Williams College (2022).
Powery’s administrative assignments include his service as Assistant Dean of SACS (2021–2023) before an appointment to serve as Interim Dean (2023–2024) and Dean (2024 – ). He works alongside chairs of twelve departments and directors of four programs.

Outside of campus, he and Kimberly have four grown sons and one daughter-in-law, with others soon to follow. The family enjoys travel, which usually includes board games of various kinds. Despite the range of their professions the brothers remain in each other’s lives in a variety of ways, including an active monthly reading group … which they occasionally allow their father to join.

• The Westminster Study Bible (executive general editor) -https://www.wjkbooks.com/Products/0664266975/the-westminster-study-bible.aspx
• The Good Samaritan: Luke 10 for the Life of the Church -https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/the-good-samaritan/392410
• The Genesis of Liberation
• Immersion Bible Studies--Mark
• CEB Common English Bible New Testament
• True to Our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentary
• Jesus Reads Scripture