March 3, 2020
MILWAUKEE — Paul Cizek 
and Israel McGrew, doctoral theology students and graduate assistants in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, have each been awarded the Catholic Biblical Association of America’s 2020 Emerging Scholars Fellowship.
The CBA’s Emerging Scholars Fellowship, established in 2017, is a competitive initiative recognizing graduate students who show great promise in making significant contributions to the field of Biblical studies. The fellowship allows selected students to present their scholarship at CBA’s Annual General Meeting and network with other scholars in the field.
The CBA grants only two Emerging Scholars Fellowships per year, meaning the Marquette students swept this year’s fellowship competition. Marquette is the first university to garner both fellowships in the same year.
Cizek and McGrew are both Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity doctoral students studying the Hebrew Bible.
“Receiving a CBA fellowship is an honor,” Cizek said. “Presenting my research and engaging with CBA scholars is an immense opportunity. I’m excited to make new connections, advance my work, and draw attention to the quality of Marquette’s theology program.”
Cizek’s dissertation is on the ethical functions of Deuteronomic laws in early Judaism.
McGrew’s dissertation is on the Book of Job — specifically how the poet portrays the speakers as representing various mythological, ideological and generic traditions from the Hebrew Scriptures.
“Being published at Catholic Biblical Quarterly (CBA's peer-reviewed theological journal) and awarded the Emerging Scholars Fellowship is an exciting affirmation of my ability as a Biblical Scholar,” McGrew said. “Presenting at the CBA as an Emerging Scholars Fellow will be a good opportunity to join the ongoing conversation on the Book of Job, to solicit criticism and insight as I continue my research, and to network as I prepare to enter the job market."
Dr. Danielle Nussberger, associate professor and chair of theology at Marquette, said Cizek and McGrew are exemplary doctoral students with a true dedication to their research.
“Their selection for these fellowships is well deserved and indicative of the great work they’ve done and will continue to do in the future,” she said. “The Theology Department is proud to have two students chosen for such a prestigious award.”
Cizek and McGrew join Marquette alumnus Dr. Tyler Stewart as recipients of the fellowship. Stewart, who is now an assistant professor of New Testament at Lincoln Christian University, was awarded the fellowship in 2018.
Other past fellows include students from the University of Notre Dame, University of Oxford and New York University, as well as the University of Münster and Johannes Gutenberg University, in Mainz, Germany.
More about the Catholic Biblical Association of America
The Catholic Biblical Association of America is an American learned society dedicated to the academic study of the Bible. Its mission is to promote, within a context of faith, scholarly study in Scripture and related fields by meetings of the association, publications and support to those engaged in such studies.
Shelby is a senior communication specialist in the Office of Marketing and Communication. Contact Shelby at (414) 288-6712 or shelby.williamson@marquette.edu
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