Born 22 August 1963 in Schwäbisch Hall, married, two children
- 1984–1992 Studies in Protestant Theology at Tübingen, Cambridge (Massachusetts/USA, on Fulbright Scholarship), and Münster
- 1992 First church exam in Tübingen
- 1992–1995 Research assistant at the Institute for Practical Theology, University of Kiel (Christian-Albrechts-Universität)
- 1996 Doctorate, dissertation title: “Pastoral care in the modern world: A critical review of psychoanalytically oriented pastoral care theory” (summa cum laude); First assessor: Prof. Dr. Reinhard Schmidt-Rost; Second assessor: Prof. Dr. Reiner Preul; Faculty prize
- 1995–1997 Vicar in Reutlingen-Betzingen (Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Württemberg); 1997, second church exam and ordination
- 1997/1998 Pastor (without tenure) in Bad Friedrichshall
- 1998–2000 Postdoctoral grant from the German Research Foundation
- 2000 Postdoctoral qualification (Habilitation), Faculty of Protestant Theology, University of Bonn (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität), with the thesis “Pastoral ministry as a profession: A vocational theory in the context of modern society”. Assessors: Prof. Dr. Reinhard Schmidt-Rost, Prof. Dr. Eberhard Hauschildt, Prof. Dr. Werner Gephart (Seminar for Sociology)
- 2000/01 Pastor in Stuttgart
- Since 13th November 2001 Professor for Practical Theology, with special emphasis on Homiletics, Liturgics and Poimenics, at the Ruhr University, Bochum
- 2003–2009 Member of Specialist Commission I (Pastoral ministry study programme) of the Joint Commission of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD)
- Since 2003 University Preacher at the Ruhr University, Bochum
- 2006–2009 On the Advisory Committee for Higher Education of the EKD
- 2009–2011 Dean of the Faculty of Protestant Theology of the Ruhr University, Bochum
- 2011–2013 Vice dean
- 2014/2015 Offered the Chair of Practical Theology with the priorities Homiletics and Cybernetics at the Theological Faculty of the Humboldt- University, Berlin (as successor to Wilhelm Gräb)
- 2015-2019 Member to the Presidential Assembly of the German Protestant Kirchentag
- Since 2015 Director of the newly founded Institute for Religion and Society
- 2015-2021 Appointment Commissioner of the Ruhr University Bochum
- Since 2016 Member of the Academic Advisory Board of the Faculty of Protestant Theology at the University of Vienna
- Since 2016 Member of the Directorate of Gender Studies
- 2017-2021 Member of the Board of the Women Professors Forum
- 2017-2021 Member of the Standing Conference for Pastoral Care in the EKD
- 2019-2021 Member of an advisory board of Prime Minister Kretschmann
- Since 2021 Vice-Rector for Diversity, Inclusion and Talent Development
