Whitley College is delighted to announce that Dr Nuam Hatzaw has been appointed as Whitley’s Lecturer in Practical Theology, commencing January 2027. Dr Hatzaw is a Zomi theologian whose research sits at the intersection of practical theology, migration studies, and World Christianity. She joins Whitley bringing significant expertise in research methodologies, World Christianity, migration and diaspora studies, missiology, and feminist and contextual theologies. She has served as a Lecturer in Asian Christianity for Church Mission Society and was Research Development Fellow at the Centre for Theology and Public Issues at the University of Edinburgh. Her doctoral thesis (University of Edinburgh) examined the lived experiences of 1.5 generation migrant Zomi women to construct a theology of in-betweenness for minoritized and diasporic contexts. Nuam also serves as a mentor and consultant for the Chin State Academic Research Network. She was a Visiting Scholar at Whitley in May 2026.
Whitley’s Acting Principal, Associate Professor Sean Winter welcomed Nuam’s appointment:
“Nuam will bring to the Whitley Faculty a breadth and depth of experience and skills that will strengthen our commitments to theological education shaped by the contextual realities of the Asia-Pacific region. As a teacher, she is committed to supporting students from a range of cultural and education backgrounds. Her research addresses many of the fundamental questions facing our churches and our society in Australia. This is an important appointment not just for Whitley and the University of Divinity to which we belong, but also for the churches of the Baptist Union of Victoria as they seek to respond to God’s call to flourish on mission.”
Dr Hatzaw says:
“I am excited to be joining Whitley College – an institution firmly rooted in Baptist heritage while also engaged, open-minded, and responsive to contemporary questions and issues. Its reputation for excellent theological education combined with genuine commitment to the personal and spiritual formation of students aligns well with my own values and sense of calling. My research and teaching examine questions of identity and belonging, and I can’t imagine a better place to learn and grow than Whitley College and Melbourne’s diverse and vibrant context. I look forward to contributing to the life of the College and wider Baptist community.”
Whitley College is a college of the University of Divinity from the Baptist tradition, based in Melbourne, Victoria.
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