Jacob Rennaker, an adjunct professor of religion at BYU and Ph.D. graduate of Claremont Graduate University, has been named Scholar in Residence with the Widtsoe Foundation. He graduated from BYU with a degree in Ancient Near Eastern Studies and received an M.A. in Comparative Religion from the University of Washington. He earned a doctorate in Religious Studies from Claremont.
As Scholar in Residence he will develop and oversee a number of original initiatives targeting Young Single Adults and LDS members, as well as collaborative interfaith efforts. He will also provide leadership support for programs sponsored by the Foundation. Rennaker will also present scholarly papers on behalf of the Foundation at a variety of upcoming academic conferences, including those held by the American Academy of Religion, the Society of Biblical Literature, the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology, Mormon Scholars in the Humanities, and others.