Julia Cassaniti

Julia Cassaniti is a Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia, part of the College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on the intersections of mind, culture, and religion in transnational Asian contexts, particularly Theravāda Buddhist practices in Northern Thailand. She examines how embodiment, gender, sexuality, and cultural ideologies shape health, well-being, and perceptions of reality.

Her notable works include Remembering the Present: Mindfulness in Buddhist Asia (2018), Universalism Without Uniformity: Explorations in Mind and Culture (2017), and Living Buddhism: Mind, Self, and Emotion in a Thai Community (2016), which received the Stirling Prize. Current research explores temporality, attention, and perception’s impact on mental health and daily life in Thailand, Japan, and globally.

Her publications frequently analyze Buddhist frameworks for understanding social and personal challenges, such as environmental crises, pandemic responses, and economic shifts. She critiques secular mindfulness movements while advocating for culturally grounded interpretations of spiritual practices.

• Awards: Stirling Prize (2016), Richard G. Condon Prize (2006)
• Labs/Teams: Active in UVA’s Religious Studies research network and international collaborations on Southeast Asian studies