Holly Walters

Holly Walters serves as a Lecturer in Anthropology at Wellesley College, specializing in cultural, psychological, medical, and linguistic anthropology with a regional focus on South Asia, particularly the Nepal Himalayas.

Her academic credentials include:

• B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• M.A. from Brandeis University
• Ph.D. from Brandeis University

Dr. Walters' research examines pilgrimage politics, material culture, divine personhood, and ritual practices in South Asia, with emphasis on sacred landscapes and digital religious revival. She investigates interfaith dynamics among Hindus, Buddhists, and Bonpos regarding Shaligram fossils, while her teaching explores technology's impact on religion through courses like Digital Religion: Virtual Gods and Automated Adoration and Divine Madness: Dreams, Visions, Hallucinations. Her work bridges anthropology, religious studies, and science and technology studies (STS) to analyze intersections of traditional practices and contemporary digital culture.

She maintains affiliations with South Asia Studies and teaches cross-listed Religious Studies courses (REL 236/238).