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Katherine Lemons is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at McGill University's Faculty of Arts. Her research focuses on Islamic family law adjudication in India, examining its implications for understanding Muslim gender and kin relations, secularism, minority politics, and legal pluralism in postcolonial contexts. She has established herself as a leading scholar in the anthropology of law with her groundbreaking work on Muslim divorce practices and their relationship to Indian secularism. Dr. Lemons earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 2010. Her academic journey has centered on the intersections of religion, law, and gender in South Asian contexts, with particular attention to how religious legal systems operate within secular states. Her research interests span multiple interconnected fields including the anthropology of law, Islamic legal studies, secularism theory, feminist anthropology, and South Asian studies. Lemons approaches these topics through careful ethnographic work in India, particularly examining how Muslim communities navigate family law disputes through non-state Islamic institutions. Her work challenges conventional understandings of the relationship between religious and secular law, arguing that Muslim divorce practices in India represent a critical site for understanding the complexities of secular governance in postcolonial contexts. She investigates how legal pluralism functions in practice, how religious legal authority is established adjacent to secular states, and how gender relations are shaped through these intersecting legal regimes. Dr. Lemons' scholarly output reveals a consistent focus on the tensions between religious legal traditions and modern secular governance, with particular attention to how marginalized communities navigate these complex legal landscapes. Her work demonstrates how legal practices often blur the boundaries between religious and secular domains, challenging simplistic understandings of secularism. She has made significant contributions to understanding how Islamic law functions in non-Muslim majority contexts, both in India and more recently in her research on sharia courts in Ontario. Michelle Z. Rosaldo Prize from the Association for Feminist Anthropology, American Anthropological Association (Honorable Mention) Critical Anthropology Book Prize from the Association for Political and Legal Anthropology (Honourable Mention) South Asian Muslim Studies Association Book Award (Honourable Mention) As an academic mentor, Dr. Lemons advises graduate students working at the intersections of anthropology, law, and religious studies. Her research has been supported by various academic grants that have enabled extensive fieldwork in India and Canada. She is currently developing two major research projects: "Traveling for Justice," which examines transnational dimensions of Islamic legal knowledge, and "Adjacent to the State," an ethnographic study of sharia courts in Ontario. Dr. Lemons is affiliated with several research centers at McGill University that focus on South Asian studies, legal anthropology, and religious studies. Her work connects with broader scholarly communities through collaborations with researchers studying legal pluralism, secularism, and Islamic jurisprudence across multiple national contexts.

• Islamic family law
• Legal anthropology
• Secularism studies
• +4 more

André Gagné is a Full Professor and Chair of the Department of Theological Studies at Concordia University, currently on research leave (July-December 2025). His work bridges theology, political science, and sociology with global recognition through 400+ media features in outlets like The New York Times, The Guardian, and Le Monde. Education: Conjoint PhD from Université catholique de Louvain and Université de Montréal M.A. from Université de Montréal B.Th. from Université de Montréal His research centers on Christian Political Thought (examining theology-state dynamics), Global Pentecostal and Charismatic movements (analyzing their sociopolitical impact worldwide), and Reception History of the Bible (tracing interpretive trajectories across cultures). This interdisciplinary approach integrates historical analysis with contemporary case studies, particularly focusing on evangelical movements in the Americas and Europe. His eight books and recent journal articles reveal consistent thematic focus: the weaponization of spiritual warfare rhetoric in politics, apocalyptic narratives in populist movements, and religious violence in Western traditions. The 2024 publications on Trump-era evangelicalism demonstrate methodological innovation through media discourse analysis combined with theological critique. Scientific awards: Newsmaker of the Week (4 times) Newsmaker of the Month (4 times) President's Opinion Leader of the Year (2016) Expert Communicator of the Year (2024) Dr. Gagné supervises MA students in Theological Studies and PhD candidates in Individualized Programs and Humanities. His policy impact is evidenced by service on Public Safety Canada's National Expert Committee on Countering Radicalization to Violence (2023-2025), where he contributed theological perspectives on religious extremism. His media engagement strategy represents a deliberate effort to translate academic research for public discourse. He co-directs the Spirit, State, and Society podcast and maintains affiliations with Concordia's Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance, Université de Sherbrooke's Centre de recherche Société, Droit et Religions, and the multi-university Political Theology Research Group (McGill, Concordia, UdeM, ULaval).

• Christian Political Thought
• Global Pentecostal and Charismatic movements
• Reception of the Bible

Walid A. Saleh is a Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Toronto , holding appointments in both the Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations department and the Department for the Study of Religion . His scholarship focuses on the Qur’an , Quranic exegesis (Tafsir), Islamic apocalyptic literature , and Biblical reception in Islam . PhD from Yale University (2001) Recipient of Mellon New Directions Fellowship (2014) and Konrad Adenauer Fellow (2017) Editor of the Routledge Qur’an Series His research analyzes Quranic chronology , manuscript traditions , and Islamic intellectual history . Recent publications examine periodization in Sunni tafsir, late Ottoman book culture, and the reception of al-Bayḍāwī's Anwar al-tanzīl . Articles explore topics from Quranic death narratives to medieval Islamic cosmology . Key article themes: Quranic identity formation , Islamic manuscript studies , exegetical methodology He has edited critical texts like al-Biqa`i's Bible treatise and serves on editorial boards for the Journal of the American Academy of Religion and Journal of Qur'anic Studies . His teaching includes advanced courses in Arabic paleography and Quranic hermeneutics .

• Qur’ān
• History of Quranic Commentaries (Tafsir)
• Muslim-Jewish Interactions
• +8 more

Andrea Lanza serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Italian Studies within the Faculty of Arts & Science at the University of Toronto. Originally from Italy, he completed his academic training in France at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), earning both his Diplôme d'Études Avancées and Doctorat degrees, following his Laurea from Università degli Studi di Milano La Statale. His scholarly profile demonstrates extensive transnational engagement with French political thought while maintaining institutional affiliation with Italian Studies. Doctorat, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (Paris) Diplôme d'Études Avancées, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (Paris) Laurea, Università degli Studi di Milano La Statale Lanza's research focuses on the historical intersections between political thought and social science, with particular emphasis on Early French Socialism (1800-1850), the making of French working classes, and Contemporary French Political Thought. His scholarly trajectory follows two interrelated axes: the emergence of socialist discourse in 19th century France and historic-philosophical debates on democratic society, especially regarding French thinkers like Lefort, Gauchet, Rosanvallon, Foucault, and Rancière. His work demonstrates remarkable interdisciplinary range, connecting political philosophy with historical anthropology, sociology, and religious studies. His recent publications reveal a growing engagement with contemporary issues including decolonization debates, cancel culture, and the epistemological challenges facing social sciences today. Lanza has also held significant administrative roles, serving as Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Italian Studies during 2022-2023. Administrative Service: Associate Chair - Undergraduate, Department of Italian Studies (2022-2023) Lanza's scholarly network extends across North America and Europe, with collaborations spanning multiple disciplines. His recent editorial work on Claude Lefort's political philosophy and Marcel Gauchet's theories of democratic society demonstrates his position at the forefront of contemporary political thought scholarship.

• Early French Socialism (1800-1850)
• Political Thought
• Social Science
• +7 more

Golshan Golriz is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Queen’s University, Canada. She holds a BA in Women and Gender Studies from York University, an MA from the Women and Gender Studies Institute at the University of Toronto, and a PhD in Sociology from McGill University. Her work focuses on structural inequalities affecting Queer and Trans Black Indigenous and People of Colour (QTBIPOC), combining feminist and social scientific methods with intersectional frameworks. Current research includes LGBTQ religious activism, identity-centric social movements, and cancel culture’s relationship with structural inequality. Education: BA: York University (Women and Gender Studies + Sexualities Studies certificate) MA: University of Toronto (Women and Gender Studies Institute) PhD: McGill University (Sociology) Research Interests: Structural inequalities & QTBIPOC communities Queer/Trans Muslim marginalization Racism, capitalism, and Middle Eastern sexuality representations Social movements and comparative historical methods Current Projects: Co-edited volume on LGBTQ religious activism Comparative study of identity-centric movements Critical analysis of cancel culture mechanisms Lab/Team: Research emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating qualitative methods with activism-focused research.

• Gender Studies
• Sexuality Studies
• Race and Ethnicity
• +5 more

Wendy Gay Pearson serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies at Western University. Her academic work spans multiple interdisciplinary fields with a particular focus on identity, citizenship, and belonging through the lenses of gender and sexuality. Professor Pearson's research interests encompass gender and sexuality studies, queer theory, feminist theory, critical race theory, and cultural studies. She approaches these topics through postmodernist and postcolonial theoretical frameworks, with emerging intersectional approaches to race, ethnicity, and diaspora. Her work specifically investigates these issues within science fiction, Canadian literature and film, and Indigenous film, examining connections between seemingly disparate areas such as analyzing Eden Robinson's Monkey Beach through both science fiction and Indigenous studies perspectives. Professor Pearson's scholarly output demonstrates a clear trajectory toward increasingly intersectional analyses, particularly in the most recent publications that bridge Indigenous studies with gender and sexuality frameworks. Her work consistently explores how science fiction functions as a space for imagining alternative gender and sexual possibilities, while simultaneously examining how Canadian cultural production engages with queer identities. The publications reveal a growing emphasis on Indigenous perspectives in film and literature, with multiple forthcoming 2024 contributions to the Routledge Handbook of Indigenous Film . As evidenced by her extensive editorial work including The Routledge Companion to Gender and Science Fiction (2023) and Reverse Shots: Indigenous Film and Media in an International Context (2014), Professor Pearson has established herself as a significant contributor to scholarly conversations at the intersection of gender studies and speculative fiction. Her book Zero Patience (2011) with Susan Knabe demonstrates long-standing engagement with queer cinema. Professor Pearson's academic supervision extends across multiple disciplines, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach. Her work has been supported through various academic channels that enable her to explore connections between Indigenous film, queer Canadian culture, and science fiction, though specific grant details are not provided in the available information. Her research methodology combines close textual analysis with theoretical frameworks from queer studies, feminist theory, and critical race theory, creating innovative approaches to understanding how cultural texts negotiate complex identity formations. This integrative approach is particularly evident in her examination of works by authors like Hiromi Goto, Nalo Hopkinson, and Larissa Lai, where she simultaneously considers sexuality, gender, race, and science fiction elements.

• Gender and sexuality studies
• Queer theory
• Feminist theory
• +9 more

Jeremy Schipper is a Professor at the University of Toronto with a cross-appointment in the Department for the Study of Religion. His research focuses on the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, particularly examining themes of disability and race within biblical texts. Education PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary MDiv, Princeton Theological Seminary BA, Azusa Pacific University Research Interests Dr. Schipper's work bridges biblical studies and contemporary social issues, including: Hebrew Bible exegesis Disability representation in ancient scripture Racial interpretations of biblical narratives Intersectional analysis of religious texts Scientific Awards Guggenheim Fellowship for biblical scholarship

• Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
• Disability in the Bible
• Race and the Bible

Sarah Sharma is a Professor of Media Theory at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information and Director of the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology (ICCIT). Her work interrogates intersections of technology, temporality, and labor through a feminist lens. She has held leadership roles in the McLuhan Centre (2017–2022) and is recognized for advancing critical media theory. Research focuses include: • Temporality’s role in cultural politics • Feminist reimaginings of McLuhan’s media theory • Digital platforms’ socio-political impacts • Labour dynamics in gig economies (e.g., TaskRabbit). Her upcoming book Insufferable Tools: Big Tech and the Broken Machine critiques tech industry failures. Key achievements: • 2024 Desmond Morton Research Excellence Award • 2014 NCA Critical Cultural Book of the Year for In the Meantime: Temporality and Cultural Politics . Her edited volume Re-Understanding Media (2022) exemplifies feminist extensions of media theory. Recent engagements include keynote addresses at the Canadian Communication Association (June 2025) and University of Michigan’s Digital Ideas Workshop (June 2025). She critiques ‘accelerationist’ narratives about technology and advocates for rethinking media through marginalized perspectives.

• Media Theory
• Cultural Politics
• Feminist Media Studies
• +3 more

Bruce Rusk is an Associate Professor in the Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia (Faculty of Arts) and serves as the Graduate Advisor. He previously taught at Cornell University for six years before joining UBC in 2012. During the 2012–13 academic year, he was on leave at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and the National Humanities Center in North Carolina. Additionally, he is the webmaster and past president of the Society for Ming Studies, a scholarly organization focused on Ming history and culture. Bruce holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where his dissertation, The Rogue Classicist: Feng Fang (1493–1566) and his Forgeries , examined sixteenth-century classical text forgeries. Following his Ph.D., he was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University from 2004 to 2006. He also earned his B.A. (History Honours) from UBC, which inspired his return to Vancouver to join the scholarly community here. His research focuses on the cultural history of pre-modern and early modern China, particularly the Ming and Qing dynasties. Key interests include authenticity and forgery in textual and material culture, transmission of knowledge, history of philology, writing systems in East Asia, and digital humanities. He collaborates globally on the SSHRC-funded FROGBEAR project, developing an open access repository for East Asian religious studies. Current work explores authentication practices surrounding artifacts like Xuande incense burners and silver ingots, reflecting his broader study of how authenticity and deception were negotiated in late imperial China. Recent publications address intersections between forgery, material culture, and digital methodologies, including co-editing Literary Information in China: A History (2021) and analyzing Ming-Qing literary practices. His work highlights the cultural significance of textual preservation and the sociocultural dynamics of early modern Chinese scholarship. As a leader in academic organizations, Bruce has contributed to the Society for Ming Studies, advancing research in Ming culture through his roles as webmaster and past president. His advising and grants include mentoring UBC graduate students and contributing to the FROGBEAR initiative. His career bridges historical research with digital innovation, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to Asian studies.

• Chinese Cultural History
• Material Culture
• Textual Studies
• +5 more

Professor Jinhua Chen (PhD, McMaster University, 1997) is a leading scholar in East Asian Buddhism at the University of British Columbia’s Department of Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts. Holding a Canada Research Chair (2001-2011) and inducted into the Royal Society of Canada (2020), his work spans trans-regional Buddhist narratives, monastic institutions, relic veneration, and technological innovations in medieval Asian religions. Key Affiliations: UBC Buddhist Forum (Director), Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies (Resident Scholar), and editorial roles in Brill Book Series on East Asian Religions and Studies in Chinese Religions . Research Themes: Combines textual analysis with interdisciplinary methods to explore Buddhist sacred sites, doctrinal transmissions, and church-state dynamics. His projects include From the Ground Up (SSHRC Partnership Grant 2016-2023), examining East Asian religions through multi-media sources, and studies on ruixiang (propitious signs) in medieval Chinese prognostication. Scientific Awards: Royal Society of Canada Fellow, Canada Research Chair, SSHRC Insight Grants, Humboldt Research Fellowship, and Max Planck Institute funding. Publications: Over 30 book chapters and journal articles (2000-2016), including monographs on Fazang, Shingon-Tendai conflicts, and Buddhist sacred geography. Teaching: Courses on Chinese thought, Chan/Zen Buddhism, and Buddhist text interpretation, emphasizing methodological rigor and cross-cultural analysis. Projects: Directed international collaborations on Buddhist manuscripts, palace chapels, and relic cultures, with grants totaling over $4 million CAD.

• East Asian Buddhism
• Buddhist Transmission Narratives
• Church-State Relationships
• +6 more

Yigal S. Nizri is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream at the University of Toronto, cross-appointed between the Department for the Study of Religion and the Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies (ATCJS), where he serves as Undergraduate Director. His research focuses on Jewish-Moroccan history, diaspora studies, and Mizrahi cultural identity in Israel. Nizri holds a PhD from New York University and specializes in the emergence of Jewish Moroccan scribal culture within trans-Mediterranean diasporic networks. His work examines Maghribi halakhic traditions, Jewish-Muslim cultural intersections, and Mizrahi identity formation. His publications demonstrate consistent focus on Jewish textual traditions in North Africa, cultural memory in diaspora communities, and the representation of Mizrahi identity in Israeli society. Recent works explore themes of return migration, disaster narratives in Jewish book culture, and the evolution of Moroccan rabbinic print traditions. Nizri teaches courses including History of the Jewish People The Arab Jew: A History of a Concept Mizrahim in Israel: History, Politics, and Culture focusing on Jewish historiography and identity formation across diverse cultural contexts.

• Jewish Studies
• Modern Jewish History
• Maghribi Halakhic Traditions
• +4 more

Kajri Jain is a Professor of Indian Visual Culture and Contemporary Art at the University of Toronto . She holds undergraduate appointments in the Department of Visual Studies (UTM) and graduate appointments in the Department of Art (St. George) , with cross-appointments at the Institute for Cinema Studies and the Centre for South Asian Studies . Education: PhD, Art History and Theory, University of Sydney MA, Art History and Theory, University of Sydney PEP, Visual Communication, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad Research Interests: Jain’s work explores how images derive meaning not just from their visual content but from their production, circulation, and material use. Her research spans modern and contemporary Indian visual culture , including bazaar icons, monumental statues, theme parks, and representations of nature in religious and popular contexts. She employs ethnographic methods to examine the intersections of religion, politics, commerce, and aesthetics in postcolonial India. Her teaching and writing critically interrogate the legacies of European Romanticism and secular modernism in art history and visual studies. Publications & Themes: Jain has authored two major monographs— Gods in the Time of Democracy (2021) and Gods in the Bazaar (2007)—and numerous essays on topics such as mass reproduction, political iconography, urban nature, and postcolonial aesthetics. Her articles consistently engage with image theory, postcolonial critique, and the sensory politics of caste and religion in visual culture. Scientific Awards: No specific awards listed in the provided text. Advising & Affiliations: While no specific students are named, Jain teaches a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses and is affiliated with multiple research centers at the University of Toronto. Her work bridges departments and disciplines, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue in South Asian visual studies. Labs & Teams: Jain is associated with the Graduate Department of Art History and the Centre for South Asian Studies at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto.

• Indian Visual Culture and Contemporary Art
• Modern and Contemporary India
• Image Theory
• +7 more

Kate Sterns is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at Concordia University, specializing in creative writing and 19th-century literature. She coordinates the Creative Writing Program and explores interdisciplinary themes at the intersection of religion, science, and cultural history. Education: MFA in Creative Writing, University of Texas at Austin (1998) MA in Writing Seminars, The Johns Hopkins University (1996) BA (Honours) in English Literature, Queen’s University (1983) Certificate in Stage Management, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (1985) Kate's research spans 19th-century drama and literature , botanical gardens , medical history , and anatomical waxworks , often blending historical and contemporary themes. Her work Come Into the Garden, Maud (2002) examines religion-science dynamics in botanical gardens, while her book reviews (2002) analyze postcolonial narratives and gender studies. She has secured significant grants, including an SSHRC Research-Creation Grant (2005-2008) and an FQRSC award (2005-2008), both supporting her project Catalogue of the Eden Musée . Kate has also acted as a juror for the Alberta and Quebec Writers Federation. Her creative practice includes radio drama, with works like Once in a Blue Moon (1993) and A Happy State (2007), focusing on historical figures such as Arthur Clough and Florence Nightingale.

• Creative Writing
• 19th Century Drama & Literature
• Anatomical Waxworks
• +3 more

Kevin Schut, a Teaching Professor at Trinity Western University's School of the Arts, Media + Culture, is a Game Studies scholar with expertise in video games, religion, ethics, and media ecology. He earned his PhD in Communication Studies (2004) and BA in Communication Arts & Sciences, History (1996), and has held leadership roles including Associate Dean and Chair of Media + Communication. His 2013 book Of Games & God explores Christian perspectives on gaming. PhD, Communication Studies, University of Iowa (2004) BA, Communication Arts & Sciences & History, Calvin College (1996) His research focuses on moral decision-making in games, media's cultural impact, and technology-religion intersections. Recent projects include analyzing procedural generation in No Man’s Sky and faith-based game design frameworks. Key awards include the 2013 Word Guild Best Book award and TWU's 2009 Provost’s Innovative Teaching Award. He teaches courses like Video Games and Culture and Media, Culture, and Criticism .

• Game Studies
• Media Ecology
• Video Games and Culture
• +3 more

Nevin Reda serves as Associate Professor of Muslim Studies and Director of the Muslim Studies program (MPS) at Emmanuel College, Victoria University within the University of Toronto. Her academic leadership spans Qur'anic scholarship, Islamic legal theory, and interfaith education, with active teaching in courses such as Surat al-Baqara, Islamic Law, and Bible-Qur'an Dialogue. Her educational foundation includes: BSc, Cairo University (1989) MA, University of Toronto (2003) PhD, University of Toronto (2010) Dr. Reda's research centers on Qur'anic poetics and narrative structure, integrating literary theory, Islamic spiritual care, and Biblical Hebrew studies. She pioneers spiritually integrative approaches to Islamic ethical-legal theory (uṣūl al-fiqh) and develops interreligious pedagogies that bridge theological divides. Her work critically engages gender justice, domestic violence interpretations, and democratic theology through Qur'anic exegesis, emphasizing contextual hermeneutics and feminist perspectives. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2024-2010) reveals dominant trends in Qur'anic narrative analysis, gender-ethics intersections in Islamic law, and postcolonial interfaith dialogue frameworks. Key subfields include spiritually integrative readings of verse 4:34, reform of uṣūl al-fiqh for marriage ethics, and comparative Torah-Qur'an exegesis, demonstrating consistent methodological innovation across disciplines. No scientific awards were documented in the source material. As MPS Director, Dr. Reda mentors graduate students in Muslim Studies while advancing curriculum development for intercultural theological education. Her scholarly output—including two monographs and collaborations with institutions like Women and Memory Forum—reflects sustained research leadership, though specific grant details remain unreported. Current projects focus on Qur'anic structure theory and decolonizing epistemologies in religious studies.

• Qur'anic Studies
• Islamic Ethics and Law (Usul al-Fiqh)
• Interreligious Pedagogy
• +3 more