Rodney Palmer

Dr. Rodney Palmer is the chair of the Department of Religion and Biblical Languages and Associate Professor of Religion, specializing in the areas of Homiletics and Practical Theology. He is an ordained minister, a Formative Dialogue on Teaching Faculty Colleague, a Certified Trauma Support Specialist, an AU Advisory Board member for the International Center for Trauma Education and Care, NetVUE faculty fellow and campus contact, president of the Adventist Society of Religious Studies, and chair of the Undergraduate Council.

Dr. Palmer was born in Jamaica and pastored in the Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for nine years. Before coming to Andrews University, he served three years as a Senior Pastor in the Wisconsin Conference and as a Lake Union Conference Executive Committee member.

Dr. Palmer is the lead faculty for the teaching vocational exploration initiative at AU. He is also on the team awarded a grant focused on infusing innovative pedagogical methods and trauma-informed practices into AU’s curricular offerings. His research agenda and published peer-reviewed articles focus on trauma-informed approaches to preaching, youth ministry, and higher education, multigenerational preaching, and the development of calling in first-generation college students.