Corinne Dempsey

Corinne Dempsey is a Professor and Chair of the Religious Studies Department at Nazareth College, where she has taught since 2011. Her work bridges cross-cultural religious practices, with a focus on Hinduism, Christianity, and spirit traditions in South India, North America, and Iceland.

• Education: B.A., Oregon State University; M.A., Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley; Ph.D., Syracuse University

Her research explores the intersections of religion and culture, particularly in 'out of place' contexts like Hindu temple worship in North America and Icelandic spirit practices. She emphasizes experiential learning, leading students to Kerala, India, for immersive studies in religious pluralism and conducting comparative analyses of aging women’s spiritual narratives globally.

While her publications, including the 2016 essay Icelandic Uncanny, highlight her comparative methodology, her teaching spans courses such as Hinduism Practiced: Yoga, Emotion, and Devotion; Mysticism and Spirits: Altered States across Cultures; and War and Peace in World Religions.

• Scientific Awards: Rosemarie Beston Chair in International Studies

Dempsey’s work extends beyond academia, fostering partnerships with institutions like the Hickey Center for Interfaith Study and Dialogue, and integrating interdisciplinary approaches to humanize religious 'Others' in a globalized world.