Pacific School of Religion (PSR) joyfully celebrates the recent academic milestone of Dr. EunHye Grace So, Assistant Professor of New Testament and Rhetorical Studies, who successfully defended her doctoral dissertation last week at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU). This achievement marks the culmination of years of rigorous scholarship, teaching, and ministry-grounded academic work.
Dr. So’s dissertation, entitled “‘Become as I am, for I also have become as you are (Gal 4:12)’: Paul’s Rhetorical Use of Ethos in Galatians,” explores how Paul strategically constructs and deploys credibility and character in the Epistle to the Galatians to advance his argument about the nature of faith within a contested theological landscape. Drawing on Aristotle’s account of ethos as a historical proxy for understanding ancient rhetorical practice, the study demonstrates how Paul’s rhetorical self-presentation reasserts the legitimacy of his gospel and persuades the Galatian communities toward a life grounded in faith and new creation.
Dr. So completed her Ph.D. in Biblical Studies (New Testament) at the GTU, where she served as a Newhall Teaching Fellow. She has also served as an adjunct faculty member at San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS), Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP), and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS). Prior to her doctoral studies, she earned both her M.Div. and B.A. in Christian Education from Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary (PUTS) in Seoul, South Korea.
Her scholarly interests include:
- Pauline Epistles
- Classical rhetorical theory
- Greco-Roman backgrounds of the New Testament
- New Testament and Early Christianity
- The New Perspective on Paul
Dr. So understands teaching as ministry. She is committed to holding academy and faith in thoughtful balance and strives to be a spiritually rooted, faith-oriented instructor who integrates intellectual rigor with pastoral care and whole-person formation.
A lifelong Pres
byterian, she is currently in the PC(USA) ordination process as a candidate. She previously served in Christian Formation at First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, a foundation that continues to shape her commitment to teaching, community-building, and faith formation.
Outside of the classroom, Dr. So enjoys traveling, taking photographs, and listening to music—practices that nurture her creativity and sense o
f wonder. Dr. So is married to Yong Lee, a pastor in the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) and an aspiring adult fairy tale author. Together, they are raising their daughter, SoEun, who is already showing signs of strong and joyful leadership.
Dr. So’s successful defense is not only a personal achievement but also a moment of pride for PSR and the
broader GTU consortium. Her scholarship embodies PSR’s commitment to academic excellence, spiritual depth, and socially engaged theological education.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. EunHye Grace So on this extraordinary accomplishment. Her work enriches the fields of New Testament studies and rhetorical criticism, and her presence strengthens our community with wisdom, compassion, and intellectual vitality.
Congratulations, Dr. So!