Growing up in both South Philadelphia and suburban Lower Merion helped University of San Francisco professor Aaron J. Hahn Tapper’s career. His multifaceted upbringing was foundational to his ability to view individuals’ differences as a catalyst for either conflict or connection. Hahn Tapper’s unique view — and the benefits it precipitated — was profiled in a staff report for the Harvard Divinity School News.

One distinction came from the different religious identities of the Hahn Tapper family.

“My mom converted before she married my dad, so I grew up with two grandparents who were Jewish and two who were nominally Christian,” he said.

During his days at Harvard Divinity School, Hahn Tapper explored the historical nature of Judaism, “in large part by looking at how other religions developed.”

Afterward, he traveled around the globe, including to the Middle East and Australia. His research and teaching focused on marginalized communities, identity formation, and social in/justice.

He believes that even if it may seem counterintuitive, when holding a conversation about conflict and peace-building centered on a shared humanity, “emphasizing the complexities of situations can help students deepen their understanding of their own conflicts.”

Read more about Aaron J. Hahn Tapper in Harvard Divinity School News.