Brief Biography

The Rev. Jaco J. Hamman, Ph.D. is Director of Program in Theology and Practice and Associate Professor of Religion, Psychology and Culture at Vanderbilt University. He received his theological training at The University of Port Elizabeth (BA in Theology and Psychology), at Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Theology (South Africa; B.Th; M.Th) and at Princeton Theological Seminary (PhD). At Princeton Seminary he completed a dissertation on the Biblical figure Job’s emotional, spiritual, and relational experiences. Dr. Hamman was a hospital chaplain prior to pursuing doctoral studies. Before coming to Vanderbilt Divinity School, Dr. Hamman spent three years in New York City working as a pastoral psychotherapist, group therapist, and marriage and family therapist at the Blanton-Peale Graduate Institute and eleven years as Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Western Theological Seminary. He has a special interest in the confluence of theology and psychology in the lives of individuals, families, and groups. Dr. Hamman has lectured internationally and has written numerous articles. He published When steeples cry: Leading congregations through loss and change in 2005, Becoming a pastor: Forming self and soul for ministry in 2007, A play-full life: Slowing down and seeking peace in 2011 (All from The Pilgrim Press), Becoming a pastor: Forming self and soul for ministry. Revised and Updated in 2014 and Growing Down: Theology and Human Nature in the Virtual Age in 2017.Dr. Hamman is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and is a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. He's partnered to Michelle, a sustainability analyst. Together they parent two daughters.

The places I call my Alma Mater

• Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ, USA
  (Ph.D. Dissertation Title: The Restoration of Job: A Study Based on D.W. Winnicott's Theory of Object Usage and its Significance for Pastoral Theology)
• Blanton-Peale Graduate Institute, New York, NY, USA
  (Certificates in Pastoral Psychotherapy, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Group Psychotherapy)
• Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
  (M.Div; Th.M in Clinical Pastoral Care (Cum Laude )
• The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
  (B.A. Majors in Theology & Psychology)

I am a member of the following professional organizations:

• The American Association of Pastoral Counselors (Fellow)
• The American Academy of Religion
• The Association for Practical Theology

Links to my employer and my denomination

• I am the Director of the Theology and Practice Program at Vanderbilt Divinity School and Associate Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture, Vanderbilt University,
• I am an ordained minister in The Presbyterian Church (USA)