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Xi Lian serves as the David C. Steinmetz Distinguished Professor of World Christianity at Duke Divinity School and is currently a Yang Visiting Scholar at Harvard Divinity School. His scholarly work examines the complex relationship between Christianity and Chinese society across historical periods. His educational background includes: BA and MA from Fujian Normal University PhD from the State University of New York at Albany Professor Lian's research focuses on: The development of indigenous Chinese Christian movements Religious transformation in post-Mao China Christian missionary history in China Religion's role in cultural and political change He has authored several groundbreaking books including The Conversion of Missionaries: Liberalism in American Protestant Missions in China, 1907-1932 (1997), Redeemed by Fire: The Rise of Popular Christianity in Modern China (2010), and Blood Letters: The Untold Story of Lin Zhao, a Martyr in Mao's China (2018). His current research investigates how homegrown Christianity has emerged as a transformative force in contemporary Chinese public life, offering new moral frameworks in the post-Mao era. Professor Lian's scholarship bridges historical, theological, and sociological perspectives to document how Christian beliefs have been adapted within Chinese cultural contexts, challenging Western-centric narratives about global Christianity.

• World Christianity
• Chinese Christianity
• Religious History
• +3 more

Ksana Blank is a Senior Lecturer at Princeton University’s Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. She coordinates the Russian Language Program and directs the Princeton-in-Petersburg Program, fostering academic exchange and interdisciplinary research. With a PhD in Russian Literature (Columbia University, 1997) and a BA in French Philology (St. Petersburg State University, 1979), her academic career spans over two decades at Princeton, preceded by teaching roles at Hunter College and Middlebury College Russian Summer School. Education: PhD, Russian Literature, Columbia University (1997) BA, French Philology, St. Petersburg State University (1979) Her research centers on Russian literature, emphasizing stylistic analysis and interdisciplinary connections with music, visual arts, folklore, and religious philosophy. Notable works include studies on Dostoevsky’s dialectics, Gogol’s The Nose , and the interplay between Russian modernism and Western art movements. She has authored multiple books and articles, many translated into Russian, and has published in academic journals across Russia, Europe, and China. Recent publications explore Dostoevsky’s paradoxes, Gogol’s linguistic innovation, and the intersection of Russian literature with music (Shostakovich), art (Malevich), and philosophy. Her 2023 book Парадоксы классики expands traditional interpretations of classic works through interdisciplinary lenses, while her 2021 The Nose guide deciphers Gogol’s wordplay and its narrative function. Earlier works address Tolstoy’s spiritual crisis and Bakhtinian dialogism in Russian literary theory. While no scientific awards are listed, her contributions to pedagogy include advanced Russian language courses and graduate-level Tolstoy studies. She currently works on Leo Tolstoy’s The Prisoner of the Caucasus and teaches courses on Russian literature, spirituality, and translation.

• Russian Literature
• Stylistics
• Interdisciplinary Studies
• +3 more

Robert Sharf is the D.H. Chen Distinguished Professor of Buddhist Studies in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of California, Berkeley . He also serves as Chair of the Numata Center for Buddhist Studies and Head Graduate Advisor for the Group in Buddhist Studies . With a PhD in Buddhist Studies from the University of Michigan (1995), he previously taught at McMaster University (1989-1995) and the University of Michigan (1995-2003). Research Interests: Medieval Chinese Buddhism (especially Chan) Japanese Buddhism Buddhist Art and Archaeology Ritual Studies Buddhist Modernism Philosophical Paradoxes Methodology in Religious Studies Critical Buddhist Discourse Publications & Collaborations: Author of Coming to Terms with Chinese Buddhism: A Reading of the Treasure Store Treatise (2002) Co-editor of Living Images: Japanese Buddhist Icons in Context (2001) Co-author of What Can’t Be Said: Contradiction and Paradox in East Asian Thought (2021) Co-author of How to Lose Yourself: An Ancient Guide to Letting Go (2025) Editor of Chinese translations of his works: Xiafu Chanxue zixuan ji and Xiafu Mijiao Yanjiu zixuan ji (2022) Academic Leadership: Director of the Group in Buddhist Studies Director of Religious Studies Chair of the Center for Buddhist Studies

• Medieval Chinese Buddhism
• Chan Buddhism
• Japanese Buddhism
• +5 more

Jonathan Lee, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Asian American Studies Department at San Francisco State University. A Chinese-Vietnamese-and-Cambodian American scholar, he specializes in Asian American religious studies, folklore, and history. His family survived the Cambodian genocide and arrived in the U.S. in 1981. He earned his doctorate in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara (2009), an M.A. from the Graduate Theological Union (2002), and three B.A./B.S. degrees from UC Riverside (1999). Ph.D. Religious Studies, UC Santa Barbara (2009) M.A. Religious Studies, Graduate Theological Union (2002) B.A. Religious Studies, UC Riverside (1999) B.A. Ethnic Studies, UC Riverside (1999) B.S. Sociology, UC Riverside (1999) His research interests include Asian American religious studies and history, Chinese/Sino-Southeast Asian American Studies, and Cambodian/Vietnamese American studies. He has published extensively on these topics, including 16 books and over 500 articles. His work explores Hakka identity, Mazu worship, and Southeast Asian diasporic communities. Lee serves as editor-in-chief of Chinese America: History & Perspectives and has collaborated on projects like Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife . He advocates for anti-racist pedagogy and consults for Silicon Valley corporations on equity and inclusion. Recent research trends show emphasis on transnational religious practices (2015-2021), Southeast Asian American diaspora studies (2010-2014), and Asian American identity formation through folklore (2012-2016).

• Asian American religious studies and history
• Chinese and Sino-Southeast Asian American Studies
• Asian American folklore and folklife
• +3 more

Donald S. Lopez Jr. is the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor and Arthur E. Link Distinguished University Professor of Buddhist & Tibetan Studies at the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. He holds a PhD from the University of Virginia (1982). His research focuses on Indian Mahayana Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, and the European intellectual encounter with Buddhism. He is affiliated with multiple centers, including the Center for Chinese Studies, Center for South Asian Studies, and the Nam Center for Korean Studies. His work bridges historical scholarship and contemporary debates, such as the compatibility of Buddhism with modern science. Recent projects include translations of Tibetan and Jesuit texts, studies of the Lotus Sutra's influence, and collaborative research on medieval Christian-Buddhist narratives like Barlaam and Josaphat . Recipient of distinguished professorships, Lopez advises graduate students in Tibetan Buddhist studies and has authored seminal works such as The Tibetan Book of the Dead: A Biography (2011) and Buddhism and Science: A Guide for the Perplexed (2008). His interdisciplinary approach reflects engagement with global religious history and textual analysis.

• Buddhism
• Tibetan Buddhism
• Indian Mahayana Buddhism
• +4 more

Stephen R. Platt is a Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, specializing in modern Chinese history and Sino-Western relations. He holds a PhD in Chinese History from Yale University, where his dissertation won the Theron Rockwell Field Prize. His research focuses on 19th-20th century China, including the Taiping Rebellion, Opium Wars, and U.S.-China military and diplomatic interactions. Teaches courses on modern Chinese history, U.S.-China relations, and historiography. Recipient of the Cundill History Prize and Baillie Gifford Prize nominations. Active in public scholarship through New York Times op-eds, Atlantic articles, and media interviews. Research emphasizes transnational dynamics, analyzing how China's interactions with Western powers shaped its modern trajectory. His most recent work, *The Raider*, explores Marine Corps officer Evans Carlson's engagement with Chinese communist tactics during WWII. Platt's earlier works include groundbreaking studies of the Taiping Rebellion and Qing Dynasty decline. Awards highlight his contributions to both academic and popular history, blending rigorous scholarship with accessible narrative storytelling. His work has been featured in major publications globally and translated into multiple languages.

• Modern Chinese History
• Sino-Western Relations
• Military History
• +3 more

Brian A. Catlos is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder and Research Associate in Humanities at the University of California Santa Cruz. He serves as Director of the CU Mediterranean Studies Group and Co-Director of The Mediterranean Seminar, an international scholarly forum with over 1,900 members worldwide. His academic appointments span multiple disciplines including Religious Studies, History, Ethnic Studies, Asian Languages and Civilizations, and Jewish Studies. Dr. Catlos specializes in Christian-Muslim-Jewish relations, Medieval Mediterranean history, and ethno-religious minorities in pre-modern contexts. His research focuses on the complex dynamics of religious and ethnic identity in medieval Europe and the Islamic world, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula. He explores how religious minorities navigated political power structures while maintaining cultural and religious identities under majority rule. His publications reveal a consistent focus on challenging simplistic narratives about religious conflict in medieval Mediterranean societies. Rather than portraying these societies as defined primarily by religious division, his work emphasizes the practical accommodations, economic interdependencies, and complex identities that characterized daily life across religious boundaries. His research demonstrates how religious identity often functioned alongside other social markers like language, profession, and regional affiliation. Catlos has received numerous prestigious awards including the Medieval Academy of America's Charles Homer Haskins Medal (2018), the Middle East Studies Association's Albert Hourani Book Prize (2014), and a 2024 Guggenheim Fellowship. His books have been translated into numerous languages including Spanish, German, Polish, Korean, Russian, and Chinese. 2024 Guggenheim Fellow Medieval Academy of America's Charles Homer Haskins Medal (2018) Middle East Studies Association's Albert Hourani Book Prize (2014) American Historical Association's James A. Rawley Prize American Historical Association's Premio del Rey Boulder Faculty Association Award for Excellence in Research (2015) As an educator, Catlos mentors MA students interested in Mediterranean Studies and Christian-Muslim-Jewish relations, with recent students securing fully-funded PhD positions at Princeton, Brown, and Rochester. He has received multiple teaching and leadership awards from the Boulder Faculty Association. His current research includes 'An Age of Convergence: Christians, Muslims and Jews in the Pre-Modern Mediterranean' and 'James the Conqueror: A Crusader King in an Age of Faith and Reason.'

• Christian-Muslim-Jewish relations
• Medieval Mediterranean history
• Ethno-religious minorities
• +9 more

M. Antoni J. Ucerler, S.J. is an Associate Professor of History at Boston College and Director of the Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Cultural History. He holds a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford and specializes in premodern Japanese history, focusing on Christianity’s intellectual history in Japan and European expansion in East Asia. His research analyzes manuscript sources, material culture, and intercultural translation from early modern missionary encounters. Notable works include The Samurai and the Cross (2022), which examines European philosophy’s translation into Japanese and the socio-political dynamics of religious persecution in early modern Japan. Professor Ucerler has taught at institutions including Sophia University (Tokyo), Georgetown University, and the University of San Francisco. He co-edits the Brill series Studies in the History of Christianity in East Asia and has published extensively on Jesuit missions, cartography, and the history of religious texts in Asia. His work bridges global intellectual history with material culture studies, exploring how religious ideas and knowledge were transmitted through books, maps, and art during the early modern period. Key themes include the interplay between European and Asian intellectual traditions, the role of missionaries as cultural mediators, and the material dimensions of religious conversion.

• Japanese history
• History of Christianity in premodern Japan
• Early modern European expansion in East Asia
• +3 more

Karrie J. Koesel is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame, specializing in contemporary Chinese and Russian politics, authoritarianism, and religion-politics dynamics. She is a Wilson China Fellow (2025-26), Public Intellectuals Program Fellow, and recipient of the Aaron Wildavsky Award for best religion-politics dissertation. Her research explores how authoritarian regimes cultivate legitimacy through religious management and political education. Ph.D. in Government, Cornell University (2009) Former faculty member at University of Oregon Her work examines: Authoritarian resilience through religious cooperation/conflict Political education strategies for youth loyalty State responses to political mobilization Comparative China-Russia regime dynamics Recent publications focus on authoritarian toolkits, political socialization, and religious regulation. She is currently writing a book about political education in authoritarian regimes. Her research has received support from Minerva Research Initiative, Spencer Foundation, and Fulbright program. Scientific awards include: Wilson China Fellowship (2025-26) Ted Jelen Best Article Award (2025) Minerva Research Initiative grant (2024-26) Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation grant (2021) Spencer Foundation grant (2016) Aaron Wildavsky Award (2010) Koesel participates in several research networks including the International Diffusion and Cooperation of Authoritarian Regimes (IDCAR) and is affiliated with Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs, Kellogg Institute, and Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion.

• Contemporary Chinese Politics
• Contemporary Russian Politics
• Authoritarianism
• +4 more

Nile Green is the Ibn Khaldun Endowed Chair in World History at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he served as founding director of the UCLA Program on Central Asia (2008-2016). His research bridges global history and Islamic studies, focusing on Muslim networks across India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Central Asia, and the Indian Ocean world. Specializes in inter-Asia and Indian Ocean studies Explores Sufism, Persian & Urdu travel writing, and Islamic print history Active on global Muslim interactions with non-Muslim societies His recent articles examine topics spanning Islamicate linguistics , transcultural art history , and historiographical methods , particularly in India, Afghanistan, and China. Earlier works established connections between colonial infrastructure and Muslim pilgrimage (Hajj), while his 2016 book The Love of Strangers documented early Middle Eastern students in Europe. Scientific awards include: Guggenheim Fellowship Luce/ACLS Fellow in Religion, Journalism & International Affairs Albert Hourani Book Award (MESA) Ananda K. Coomaraswamy Book Award (AAS) Bentley Book Prize (World History Association) Sir George Staunton Prize (Royal Asiatic Society)

• Global history
• Islam & Muslims in global history
• Inter-Asia
• +6 more

Margaret Tillman serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Purdue University, specializing in modern Chinese history with emphasis on childhood studies, gender dynamics, and transnational educational movements during the 20th and 21st centuries. Educational Background: Ph.D. in Chinese History, University of California, Berkeley B.A. in English, University of California, Berkeley Dr. Tillman's research investigates cross-cultural contestations over identity formation and knowledge production in China. Her monograph, Raising China’s Revolutionaries , examines child welfare as a lens for modernization and nationalism. Current projects include Tested , analyzing Chinese youth responses to educational testing reforms and the transnational development of educational psychology during wartime. Her work bridges historical analysis with anthropology and gender studies to reveal how global influences shaped Chinese societal transformations. Analysis of her recent publications indicates sustained focus on childhood mobilization, gender in revolutionary contexts, missionary activities, and educational reform. These studies demonstrate interdisciplinary rigor connecting history with public health, visual culture, and transnational policy transfer, highlighting China's complex negotiation of modernity through everyday institutions like schools and family life. Scientific awards and grants include: American Council of Learned Societies Grant Taiwan Fulbright Fellowship Dr. Tillman teaches East Asian history courses and contributes to Purdue's Cornerstone Integrated Liberal Arts program. Her research grants indicate leadership in securing external funding for innovative historical projects examining China's integration into global systems through the lens of childhood and education.

• Modern Chinese History
• Childhood Studies
• Education History
• +2 more

Dr. Victor V. Claar serves as Associate Professor and Program Coordinator in the Department of Economics & Finance at Florida Gulf Coast University's Lutgert College of Business, holding the prestigious BB&T Distinguished Professorship in Free Enterprise. An affiliate scholar of the Acton Institute and member of the Foundation for Economic Education's Faculty Network, his academic profile uniquely bridges rigorous economic analysis with Christian ethical frameworks. Education: Bachelor's in Business and Mathematics from Houghton College (New York) Master's and Ph.D. in Economics from West Virginia University Claar's research centers on the moral and cultural foundations of economics, with seminal contributions to Christian economics, Fair Trade critique, and Keynesian theory. His influential book Economics in Christian Perspective has reached its tenth printing and Chinese translation, while The Keynesian Revolution and Our Empty Economy (2021) challenges consumption-driven economic paradigms. He examines how faith traditions inform economic behavior, entrepreneurship, and poverty solutions through a distinctive theological lens. Analysis of his 2019-2022 publications reveals sustained scholarly engagement with moral dimensions of economic systems, particularly the cultural consequences of Keynesian policies and ethical frameworks for entrepreneurial ecosystems. His work consistently connects historical economic thought with contemporary policy debates while maintaining rigorous academic standards. Scientific Awards: Fulbright Scholar (taught graduate economics in Armenia) BB&T Distinguished Professorship in Free Enterprise As Program Coordinator, Claar mentors students in economics and finance while leading curriculum development. His Fulbright experience demonstrates international scholarly impact, though specific grant details aren't documented. His teaching philosophy integrates real-world economic applications with ethical reasoning, particularly evident in his work with MBA students on entrepreneurial attitudes across cultural contexts. No dedicated research laboratories or specialized teams are documented in available sources, though his leadership in the Economics & Finance program indicates departmental administrative responsibilities.

• Economics
• Christian Ethics in Economics
• Keynesian Economics
• +3 more

Sarah Lee is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Baylor University's College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on religion and politics in authoritarian regimes, particularly China's treatment of Protestant churches. She holds a PhD and MA from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MA from Peking University. Education : Ph.D., Political Science, UC Berkeley (2022) M.A., Political Science, UC Berkeley (2016) M.A., International Relations, Peking University (2014) B.A., Government, Dartmouth College (2010) Research Interests : Examines how authoritarian states manage religious communities, focusing on China’s selective repression of Protestant churches. Uses mixed-methodologies including fieldwork in 15 Chinese cities, interviews with pastors, and text analysis of sermons. Key themes include civil society dynamics, policy implementation, and adaptive strategies of religious groups under repression. Awards : National Science Foundation Grant (2018-2019) Global Religion Research Initiative Fellowship (2020-2021) China Scholarship Council Fellowship (2012-2014) Teaching & Service : Teaches Comparative Government and International Relations at Baylor. Previously served as a Graduate Student Instructor at UC Berkeley. Professional service includes reviewing for Politics and Religion , and organizing academic workshops.

• Religion and Politics
• Authoritarian Regimes
• State-Society Relations
• +5 more

Dr. Jonathan M. Watt is a Professor of Biblical Studies at Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Linguistics from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.Div. from Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and a B.S. in Magazine Journalism from Syracuse University. Expertise in Linguistics, Biblical Languages, Archaeology, and Middle Eastern Studies. Teaches courses in Biblical Studies, Greek, Linguistics, and Religious Ministry Studies. Co-editor of the Baker Encyclopedia of Biblical Greek Language and Linguistics and the Linguistic Biblical Studies Series . His research bridges Linguistics and Biblical Studies , focusing on language policy , sociolinguistics , bilingualism in early Christianity , and language ideology in ancient cultures . Recent publications analyze Greek diminutives , anti-language in James , and appraisal theory in Hebrews . Selected publications include Colossians and Philemon commentaries (2024), Greek Phonology and Morphology (2022), and chapters on Pauline ecclesiology (2021). He has presented globally, including conferences in Canada, China, and Austria. Scientific Awards: Excellence in Scholarship Award, Geneva College (2005) Moderator of the 174th Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church (2005) Affiliated with the Society of Biblical Literature and Evangelical Theological Society , Dr. Watt integrates language theory with religious studies , emphasizing intercultural communication and biblical hermeneutics.

• Linguistics
• Biblical Studies
• Archaeology
• +7 more

Zhiru Ng is a Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Pomona College, where she has been a faculty member since 2000. Her research and teaching focus on Chinese Buddhist history, art, and religious practices, particularly the cult of Dizang (Jizo) Bodhisattva and the interplay between texts and images in Buddhist traditions. Her academic background includes a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona, an M.A. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a B.A. from the National University of Singapore. Ph.D., University of Arizona M.A., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor B.A., National University of Singapore Dr. Ng's research interests span Chinese Buddhist history, Buddhist art, Dizang Bodhisattva, cross-cultural Buddhist interactions, and modern Taiwanese Buddhism. She explores how Buddhist doctrines are materialized in art and ritual, and how religious diversity is navigated in Chinese intellectual history. Her work bridges textual analysis with visual and material culture, offering deep insights into the lived dimensions of East Asian Buddhism. The trend in her scholarly publications reflects a sustained engagement with medieval Chinese Buddhist cults, scriptural authority, healing practices, and the visual representation of doctrine. Her articles and book chapters examine the evolution of savior bodhisattvas, the integration of Indian Buddhist traditions in China, and the dynamics of religious diversity. She frequently contributes to major academic presses and journals in Buddhist and Asian studies. Her scientific awards and honors include: Outstanding Global Bhikṣunī Award, Taiwan (2016) Outstanding Women in Buddhism Award, Bangkok (2010) Visiting Research Fellow, University of Heidelberg (2012) Senior Fellow, Harvard University Center for the Study of World Religions (2003–04) Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation Scholar Grant (2008–09) Graves Award for Excellence in Teaching (2004–05) Dr. Ng has advised various academic projects and secured research grants from foundations such as the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation and Harvard’s Center for the Study of World Religions. While no formal lab or research team is mentioned, her collaborative work with institutions like the Kuroda Institute and participation in international research projects indicate active scholarly networks. She teaches courses on East Asian religions, the Lotus Sutra, death and afterlife, and the life of the Buddha through art and text.

• Chinese Buddhist History
• Buddhist Art
• Dizang (Jizo) Bodhisattva
• +11 more