M. Shawn Copeland is associate professor of systematic theology at Boston College and (adjunct) associate professor of systematic theology and Associate Director for the Master's Program in Pastoral Theology at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies, Xavier University of Louisiana. She received her Ph. D. in Systematic Theology from Boston College. Her academic research and publications include the areas of theological and philosophical anthropology, political theology and philosophy, and embodiment, with special attention to gender and race. Copeland has authored more than 60 articles, reviews, and book chapters, and along with Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza has co-edited two volumes of the international theological journal Concilium: Violence Against Women (1/1994) and Feminist Theologies in Different Contexts (1996/1).