Lisa I. Knight

Lisa I. Knight is the Alva and Beatrice Bradley Professor of Anthropology, Asian Studies, and Religion at Furman University, where she chairs the Department of Anthropology. She specializes in feminist ethnography, gender studies, and cultural dynamics in South Asia.

• PhD in Anthropology from Syracuse University
• B.A. in Religion from Oberlin College

Her research explores the intersections of religion, gender, and marginalization through the lens of Baul traditions in India/Bangladesh and the experiences of exiled secular Bangladeshis in Nordic countries. Current projects include a book on migrant ethics and a platform for freedom of expression, Shuddhashar FreeVoice.

Recent publications examine religious extremism in Bangladesh and the challenges faced by secular exiles. Her work bridges academic scholarship with activism, focusing on social justice and trauma narratives.

• Fulbright Fellowship
• American Institute for Bangladesh Studies Fellowship
• Furman Standard

Knight has directed fieldwork in rural West Bengal and Bangladesh, contributed to NGOs, and published extensively on Baul women. She currently edits Shuddhashar FreeVoice, a platform amplifying marginalized perspectives on secularism and social justice.