Ph.D. from the Religion and Social Ethics Program of the School of Religion at the University of Southern California, 2000. Focus of work was on ethical issues surrounding war and peace, legal ethics, and church and state issues. Dissertation, An Ethic of Nonproliferation, under the direction of Professor Henry B. Clark II, develops an ethic of nonproliferation by drawing from pacifist, feminist and liberationist theological and ethical voices. Served as President of the Religion Graduate Student Association.

Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary (New York City), 1990. Academic emphasis was in the field of Christian Ethics. Master's Thesis, Violence and Nonviolence : Latin American Liberation Theology's Challenge to North American Pacifism, under the direction of Professors Beverly Harrison and Larry Rasmussen, explored the implications of Latin American Liberation Theology for the ethical evaluation of the use of violence and nonviolence in social change. Involved in community life as a Student Senate member for two years and served on the seminary's financial governing committee.

Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1982. Double Major: Social Sciences (History and Political Science) and Speech/Theatre. High academic record: Graduated with a Certificate of Superior Scholarship, GPA of 3.677 on 4.0 scale. Activities: Student government; honor societies; technical theatre work and three years of intercollegiate debate.

Adjunct Professor of Philosophy, Marian University, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin (2013-2017). Taught courses including "Examined Life," "Philosophy and Values," "Business Ethics," and "Philosophy of Love and Friendship."

Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Curriculum and Instruction, National Louis University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin & Chicago, Illinois (2005-2012). Taught cohort groups in three terms lasting nearly two years. The curriculum consisted of three courses in action research, two courses in curriculum and instruction, and one course in each of the following: group process, educational foundations, human development and cross- cultural education. Served as reader for other cohort action research projects and as a mentor to adjunct and new faculty members. Served on a university committee including representing the interests of National Louis’ remote center faculty, Under-Graduate Council, Graduate Council and co-chair elect of college faculty. Headed a departmental committee exploring issues around institutional review board procedures for student action research.

Lecturer in Religion and Philosophy, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, California (1996-1997). Served in a one-year replacement position as a full-time faculty member. Taught six sections of a Senior Seminar in Social Ethics, one section of a Freshman Writing Seminar, and one section of Introduction to Philosophy.

Graduate Student in Residence, The Graduate School of the University of Southern California (1995-1996). Served as ombudsperson for the graduate student body. Assisted Graduate School dean in formulating policy and served as liaison between the Graduate School and the Graduate and Professional Student Senate.

Interim Co-Pastor, Wilshire Christian Church of Los Angeles, CA (Jan.-July, 1995). Responsible, with Co-Pastor, for entire church operation including worship, educational programming, and administration. Supervised a staff that included a church secretary, financial secretary/operations manager, custodian, preschool director, and preschool staff. Coordinated the use of facility with both a Korean and a Hispanic congregation and their pastors.

Teaching Assistant in World Religion Courses, The School of Religion of the University of Southern California (1991-1994). Consistently received high evaluations.

High School Teacher at Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska (1982-1987). Taught: Government, Sociology and Debate. Coached a large and successful debate program (One State Championship and two second place finishes). Named Nebraska High School Speech and Debate Coach of the Year in 1987.

Joel J. Heim. An Ethic of Nuclear Nonproliferation: Steps Toward a Nonnuclear World. Diss. University of Southern California, 2000.

Joel J. Heim. "Review of Discipleship Between Creation and Redemption: Toward a Believers’ Church Social Ethic by Philip LeMasters" in Encounter. 60.2 (1999): 244-246.

Joel J. Heim. "Review of Facing AIDS: The Challenge, the Church’s Response by the WCC" in Encounter. 59.3 (1998): 438-439.

Joel J. Heim and Nelia Beth Scovill. “A Spectrum Approach to Christian Ethics: Respecting Difference Without Resorting to Relativism” presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion, Philadelphia, PA, November 2005.

Serve as national moderator of Disciples Peace Fellowship (1999-2003), denominational organization promoting peace. My role included coordination of all of the organization’s activities including a quarterly newsletter, a summer intern program, and major events at denominational meetings. Member of DPF’s executive committee (1995-2003).

Served as a member of the national decision team of Disciples Justice Action Network of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (1998-2001) helping to organize the justice work of the church.

Served as representative (2000-2001) to Protestant Justice Action an ecumenical organization seeking to coordinate the justice work of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church USA, United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church. This included meetings with the representatives of the Congressional Black Caucus, Washington denominational officers, and the National Religious Roundtable for Gay and Lesbian Concerns.

Joel J. Heim. “Peace Advocates in the Church” a workshop presentation at JusticeWorks a national conference convened by Protestant Justice Action and Eden Theological Seminary, St Louis, MO March 28-30, 2003.

Served as a referee for The Annual of the Society of Christian Ethics, January 2002.

Joel J. Heim. “Staying Strong in the Peace Movement” presented at First Christian Church, Olathe, Kansas, February 4, 2001.

Served as a referee for The Annual of the Society of Christian Ethics, January 2000.

Joel J. Heim. “The Nuclear Threat,” presented at the Pre-Assembly Gathering of Disciples Peace Fellowship, Cincinnati, Ohio, October 8, 1999.

Joel J. Heim. “Stopping the Nukes: A Just-War Analysis of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Efforts,” presented at the Annual Meeting of the Western Chapter of the American Academy of Religion, San Diego, California, March 1996.

Joel J. Heim. “Liberation and Realism: Convergence or Divergence,” presented at the Annual Meeting of the Pacific Section of the Society of Christian Ethics, Loma Linda, California, February 1996.

Joel J. Heim. “Lincoln Douglas Debate” lectures. University of Nevada, Las Vegas High School Forensics Workshop, Las Vegas, Nevada, September 1993-1997.

Joel J. Heim. “Rule 11: Can the Federal Courts Continue To Be Used As A Tool For Social Change?” presented at the Annual Meeting of the Western Chapter of the American Academy of Religion, Redlands, California, March 1995.

Joel J. Heim. “Transferring A Sheltered Environment to the Actual Classroom: A First- Year Perspective,” presented at the Annual Meeting of the Central States Communication Association, Lincoln, Nebraska April 1983.