
Mrs Salome Namrata Simeon, an alumnus of SAIACS (MA, Theological Studies), serves as Faculty in Training in the Department of Practical Theology and Counselling, while she pursues her PhD in Psychology from Christ University. She joined SAIACS as a teaching trainee in 2015. Before joining SAIACS, she was involved in counselling. Her doctoral research aims to explore the experiences and the social relationships of first-time mothers who are transitioning to motherhood. Following this study and research, she hopes to be able to focus her counselling work in the area of perinatal care. She is passionate about caring for women as they journey into motherhood.
Areas of Focus:
- Psychology
- Counselling young adults, women, and families
- Research in Social Sciences
- Motherhood Studies
Education:
- PhD Candidate, Christ (Deemed to be) University, Bangalore
- MPhil in Psychology, Christ (Deemed to be) University, Bangalore
- MSc in Counselling Psychology, University of Madras, Institute of Distance Education, Chennai
- MA in Theological Studies, SAIACS
- BSc in Psychology, University of Madras, Women’s Christian College, Chennai
Her hobbies include working on small creative projects, road trips with the family, exploring the beauty of the natural world through travel, watching nature and ecology documentaries, and baking with her pre-schooler.
Salome is married to Philip Yalla, also a graduate of SAIACS (MTh, Old Testament). Together they have 2 sons, Elijah and Ezrah.

Mr Joshua George completed both his MDiv and MTh (Pastoral Theology and Counselling) at SAIACS and currently serves as Faculty in Training in the department of Practical Theology and Counselling while completing his PhD, entitled: A Study of The Attitude of Urban Indian Millennials Towards Preaching in English-Speaking Churches in Bangalore Using Practical Theology.
He teaches classes in critical thinking, research writing skills, theology of church practices, an introduction to pastoral theology and care, and the integration between psychology and theology.
He was a Tearfund Asia region consultant in a global research project on issues in gender theology in 2018. He formerly worked in human resources in Accenture and TCS.
Areas of Focus:
- Practical / Pastoral Theology
- Church Practices
- Interdisciplinary Research
- Research & Writing Skills
Education:
- PhD Candidate in Practical Theology at Malyon College, Brisbane, part of the Australian College of Theology (ACT).
- MTh in Pastoral Theology and Counselling, SAIACS
- MDiv Pastoral Theology and Counselling, SAIACS
- BSc Life Sciences and Biochemistry, St. Xaviers College, University of Mumbai
Joshua’s non-academic interests include science-fiction (books and movies), cooking, reading, and playing cricket. Joshua is married to Priyanka, and they have three children, Joel, Anaiya, and Viaan.

Mrs Karishma Paul, a SAIACS alumnus (MDiv and MTh, New Testament), serves as Faculty in Training in the Department of Biblical Studies (New Testament), while pursuing her PhD studies on the Historical Jesus from an Asian perspective.
Before joining SAIACS, she worked in the rural belt of Koraput district with Asha Kiran Society for three years. Alongside teaching at the school, Karishma received training in editing theological works with Langham Publishing.
Her area of research for her MTh thesis was on the Historical Jesus in the Gospel of Mark through the method of Memory Studies and Traditio-historical perspective. Currently, she is engaged in teaching Introductory and Intermediate Greek.
Area of Focus:
- Historical Jesus
- Synoptic gospels, particularly Gospel of Mark
- Memory Studies
- Asian hermeneutics of the gospels
Education:
- PhD Candidate, SAIACS
- MTh (New Testament), SAIACS
- MDiv, SAIACS
- Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, Psychology and Journalism at St. Joseph’s College for Women, Vizag
Karishma is married to Samuel Johnson, who works as a Product Consultant in an IT firm. Together they enjoy watching stand-up comedy and spending time with family.