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Julia Verkholantsev is an Associate Professor of Russian and East European Studies at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences, Department of History. She serves as Founder and Director of the Program in Global Medieval and Renaissance Studies and will hold leadership positions at the Wolf Humanities Center as Undergraduate Humanities Forum Director (2024-2025) and Topic Director (2025-2026). Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literatures from UCLA, an M.A. in (Indo-European) Linguistics from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a B.A. in Russian and Slavic Studies, Linguistics, and Greek Language and Literature from the same institution. Verkholantsev specializes in the medieval and early modern cultural history of Central and Eastern Europe, with research focusing on literature, linguistic culture, religion, and intellectual history across Lithuania, Bohemia, Moravia, Poland, Croatia, Hungary, and Rus. Her work examines the history of literature, language, writing, and literacy; literary and linguistic theory; Cyrillic, Glagolitic, Latin and Greek paleography and cryptography; and theories of universal language. She has made significant contributions to understanding the cultural space of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the legend of St. Jerome as a Slav. Her publications reveal a consistent focus on medieval etymology as a historiographic device, Slavic textual traditions, and the interplay between religious and cultural identities in Eastern Europe. Verkholantsev's work bridges linguistic analysis with historical context, particularly examining how writing systems and textual transmission shaped cultural identities across political boundaries. As an academic leader, Verkholantsev founded and directs the Program in Global Medieval and Renaissance Studies, serving as an undergraduate minor and graduate certificate program. She is affiliated with multiple academic units including the Graduate Group in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory, the History Department Graduate Group, and the Wolf Humanities Center, demonstrating her interdisciplinary approach to scholarship. Her current book project, Medieval Etymology and the Writing of History , challenges traditional views of medieval etymologies by examining them as legitimate historiographic devices within contemporaneous rhetorical theories and linguistic epistemology.

• Medieval History
• Early Modern History
• Slavic Studies
• +12 more

Karen L. King is the Hollis Research Professor of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University. She holds the oldest endowed chair in the United States (established 1721) and has served in academic roles since 1997, including the Winn Professor of Ecclesiastical History (2003–2009). Her research focuses on the history of Christianity, gender studies, and religion’s relationship to violence and normativity. She retired from active teaching in 2024 but continues as a research professor. Education: BA from the University of Montana, PhD from Brown University. Key works include What Is Gnosticism? (2003), The Gospel of Mary of Magdala (2003), and The Secret Revelation of John (2006). Her scholarship engages early Christian texts, gender dynamics, and debates over orthodoxy/heresy. Research interests span Gnosticism, early Christian martyrdom narratives, and intersections between religion and violence. She has received grants from the Luce Foundation, Ford Foundation, and others. Professional affiliations include the American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature. She is affiliated with Harvard’s Pluralism Project and Center for the Study of World Religions.

• History of Christianity
• Gender Studies
• Religion and Violence
• +3 more

Hannah Elizabeth Bowling is an instructor of record in the English department at Texas A&M University. She holds a PhD from Texas A&M University and a BA from Abilene Christian University. Her research focuses on African diasporic adaptations of Shakespeare, digital humanities projects, and anti-racist pedagogical frameworks. Current roles include Graduate Research Assistant with the Digital Design for Student Success (D2S2) group and Doctoral Research Fellow with the World Shakespeare Bibliography (WSB). Education background includes a MA in English from TAMU (20XX) and BA in English from ACU (20XX). Her work emphasizes open educational resources (OER) and digital tools for humanities scholarship, exemplified by her Blackspeare project and contributions to the Texas Freedom Colonies Project. She has received multiple awards including the 2021 Graduate Merit Teaching Award for innovative online instruction during the pandemic. Recent publications focus on APA/MLA style guides for OER materials and literary analyses of Shakespearean adaptations. Her current projects include developing an OER for teaching Shakespeare’s afterlives in the Black Atlantic and contributing to museum exhibits on Texas freedom colonies. She actively serves as EGSA Co-President and Honors Council member at TAMU.

• Digital Humanities
• African diasporic adaptations of Shakespeare
• Open Educational Resources
• +4 more

Garrett L. Washington is an Associate Professor of History and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His research explores the intersection of space, religion, and social change in late 19th and early 20th century Japan. B.A., Rice University Diplome des Etudes Approfondies, Universite de Paris VIII Ph.D., Purdue University Washington specializes in Modern Japanese History, Gender Studies, Religious History, and Social Movements. His work examines Protestant church spaces, Buddhist responses to Christianity, and medical institutions as engines of cultural transformation. Recent publications focus on Tokyo's religious architecture, missionary hospitals, and women's education. Articles span 2009-2021, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with religious discourse, urban sociology, and modernization theories. Honors include the UMass Healey Research Grant (2020-21), Lilly Teaching Fellowship (2018-19), and Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship (2009-11).

• Modern Japan
• Women and Gender History
• Religion History
• +1 more

Deborah Hertz is the Herman Wouk Chair in Modern Jewish Studies and a Professor in the Department of History at the University of California, San Diego. She has previously held teaching positions at the State University of New York at Binghamton (1988–1996) and Sarah Lawrence College (1996–2003), and has been affiliated with Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley. Her research focuses on modern German and Jewish history, with a strong emphasis on gender, conversion, assimilation, and radicalism. Her work explores the lives of prominent Jewish women, the dynamics of salon culture in Berlin, and the social and political forces shaping Jewish identity in Europe from the 18th to the 20th century. Her recent publications reveal a sustained interest in radical Jewish women such as Manya Shochat and Rosa Luxemburg, as well as themes of conversion, gendered honor, and cultural patronage. Her influential book How Jews Became Germans is central to understanding the mechanisms of assimilation in Berlin. The publications demonstrate a consistent engagement with German-Jewish intellectual and social history, often through biographical and gendered lenses. She has received no explicitly mentioned scientific awards in the provided texts. Deborah Hertz has advised or mentored students in history and Jewish studies, though specific names are not listed. She has not received mention of grants, but her research is supported by major academic presses and institutions. Her work is widely published and accessible through platforms like Academia.edu. She is affiliated with scholarly communities including the Leo Baeck Institute and contributes to public history through lectures, podcasts, and public talks.

• Modern Jewish History
• Modern German History
• Modern European Women's History
• +7 more

Michael Foley, Ph.D., is a Professor of Patristics at Baylor University and serves as Assistant Director of University Scholars. His academic work focuses on the thought of St. Augustine, liturgical studies, classical political philosophy, and the interplay between comedy and tragedy in theological contexts. Ph.D. from Boston College B.S. and B.A. from Santa Clara University His research interests center on Patristics, particularly Augustine of Hippo, and extend into liturgical theology, classical philosophy, and medieval Christian thought. Recent publications explore Augustine's dialogues, Roman Rite rituals, and Renaissance theological appropriations. The articles in his bibliography reveal trends in Augustinian exegesis, liturgical historiography, and the intersection of political philosophy with religious practices. Key themes include sacramental symbolism, textual unity in patristic works, and the adaptation of classical thought in Christian contexts.

• Patristics
• Augustine of Hippo
• Liturgy
• +3 more

Fr. Timothy Clancy is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Gonzaga University , where he serves as Director of the Honors Program . His work bridges Philosophy of Religion and Philosophy of Technology , with a focus on how virtual ontologies reshape religious identity in the digital age. Education : B.A. (Gonzaga, 1980), M.A. (Loyola Chicago, 1982), M.Div./S.T.L. (Jesuit School of Theology, 1989/1991), Ph.D. (Loyola Chicago, 1999) Key Research Areas : Virtual religion, digital natives, romanticism, transhumanism, Schleiermacher studies, early Christian controversies His scholarly work examines virtual religion through lenses of hermeneutical theory and secondary orality , connecting Jesuit educational philosophy to modern digital identity formation . Publications span critiques of Technological immortality , Nazi ideology , and Catholic fideism , often engaging Schleiermacher's hermeneutics to address contemporary issues.

• Philosophy Of Religion
• Philosophy of Technology
• Romanticism
• +5 more

Kevin Brown, Ph.D., is a Lecturer and the Director of the Graduate Program (Master of Arts in Leadership and Theology) in the Department of Religious Studies at Gonzaga University, part of the College of Arts and Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Boston College with a minor in Theological Ethics and holds an M.A. and B.A. from Loyola Marymount University. His academic focus includes ecclesiology, Catholic sexual abuse, feminist and liberation theologies, and the theology of Sandra Schneiders. His research interests span Ecclesiology (with emphases on ministry, authority, synodality, clericalism, and anti-Judaism), Missiology & Discipleship , Liberation & Feminist Theologies , the theology of Sandra Schneiders and Jon Sobrino , ecumenism , Christian spirituality , and Pope Francis . His recent publications explore clericalism as social sin, ecclesial reform, and the intersection of racism and colonialism with Catholic abuse crises. His scholarly output shows a strong trend toward justice-centered theological critique, particularly in confronting institutional sin, white supremacy, and colonial legacies within the Church. He frequently publishes in peer-reviewed theological collections and serves as editor of the Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of America . Fordham University’s Taking Responsibility Grant (2020), co-awarded with Drs. Megan K. McCabe and Michelle Wheatley, to host a seminar on racism, colonialism, and white supremacy in Catholic sexual abuse cases Dr. Brown advises and contributes to theological discourse through invited lectures, conference presentations, and editorial leadership. He has been involved in faculty and staff formation at Gonzaga’s Office of Mission and Ministry and has taught courses such as Catholicism, Global Christologies, and Principles of Christian Ethics. He leads initiatives that foster dialogue on race, justice, and ecclesial reform, particularly through Jesuit educational networks. He is actively involved in academic and ecclesial communities, presenting at major theological conferences including the Catholic Theological Society of America and the American Academy of Religion. His leadership in editing conference proceedings and organizing interdisciplinary seminars underscores his role in shaping contemporary Catholic theological discourse.

• Systematic Theology
• Ecclesiology
• Catholic Sexual Abuse
• +16 more

Andrew Lucius is an Assistant Professor and Director of Music and Worship Leadership at Charleston Southern University since 2023. He bridges theological scholarship with practical worship leadership, focusing on music's role in spiritual formation and church ministry. Education: B.A. in Guitar Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi (2008) M.Div. in Worship Leadership from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2013) Ph.D. in Theology and Worship at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (in progress) His research spans early Christian liturgy, Baptist hymnody, liturgical theology, and biblical spirituality, emphasizing how historical worship practices inform contemporary church life. His dissertation explores the spiritual formation potential of Joseph Stennett’s hymns. His publications and presentations reveal a focus on integrating music with theological rigor, exploring denominational identity in Southern Baptist traditions, and reimagining worship as a catalyst for ethical development through practices like the Lord’s Supper. Professional Affiliations: Evangelical Theological Society Guitar Foundation of America The North American Patristics Society Society for Christian Scholarship in Music Lucius prioritizes Christ-like character development in students, combining advanced theological discourse with musical excellence. He and his family actively serve at Friendship Baptist Church, reflecting his commitment to practical ministry.

• Early Christian Liturgy
• Baptist Hymnody
• Liturgical Theology
• +2 more

Craig Gallagher is an Assistant Professor in the School of Business & Social Sciences at Colby-Sawyer College since 2024. A historian of the Colonial and Revolutionary eras, he earned his Ph.D. at Boston College, M.A. in transnational history from Central Michigan University, and B.A. (Hons) from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, UK. His scholarship bridges Atlantic history with themes of capitalism, religion, and identity. Education: Ph.D. (Boston College), M.A. (Central Michigan University), B.A. (University of Strathclyde) Prior Affiliations: New England College, Saint Anselm College, Boston College Gallagher's research focuses on Scots' influence on religion and economy in the Americas , with particular emphasis on capitalism's entanglement with Protestantism . His work traces networks of Scottish traders and settlers in colonial North America, examining how religious ideologies shaped economic practices and vice versa. Current projects include a book on the Scottish Darien Scheme and a study of northern New England during the Revolutionary War's aftermath. His archival research spans institutions like the Huntington Library and Colonial Williamsburg. Recent publications include analyses of Scottish anti-popery campaigns and transnational Covenanter communities. Gallagher advocates for “critical empathy” in teaching , aiming to connect historical analysis with modern societal challenges. He also serves on the board of the Northeast Conference on British Studies and contributes to public history through media engagement. As a volunteer puppy raiser with Guiding Eyes for the Blind, he brings service dog puppies to campus for training.

• American Colonial and Revolutionary Era History
• Transnational History
• History of Christianity Post-Reformation
• +6 more

D. Christian Lammerts is Associate Professor in the Department of Religion at Rutgers University, with affiliate appointments in the Department of History, the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, and the South Asian Studies Program. He is also the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Religion and has previously taught at the National University of Singapore and served as a visiting professor at Yangon University. His research focuses on the intersection of Buddhism and law in premodern and early modern Southeast Asia, particularly in Burma. His work centers on dhammasattha , the classical Buddhist legal literature of mainland Southeast Asia, which shaped legal traditions from the 13th to the 19th century. He has made significant contributions to the study of Theravāda Buddhist jurisprudence, Burmese and Pali manuscripts, epigraphy, and the historical development of legal systems under Buddhist influence. Lammerts’ scholarship reveals deep engagement with textual, legal, and religious history, drawing on primary sources in Burmese and Pali. His major work, Buddhist Law in Burma: A History of Dhammasattha Texts and Jurisprudence, 1250–1850 , is a foundational text in the field. As editor of the journal Buddhism, Law & Society , he continues to shape interdisciplinary discourse on religion and legal traditions. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), and a B.A. from Williams College. While no specific awards are listed, his editorial role and publications indicate recognition in his scholarly community. He advises graduate students as Director of Graduate Studies, though individual advisees are not named in the provided texts. There is no mention of external grants or research funding in the available material. Lammerts is affiliated with multiple interdisciplinary programs and contributes to the academic infrastructure of Buddhist and Southeast Asian studies at Rutgers. His work bridges religious studies, legal history, and area studies, positioning him as a key figure in the study of Buddhist legal traditions in Southeast Asia.

• Buddhist Law
• Legal History
• Theravāda Buddhism
• +7 more

Karin Maag is a Professor and Director of the H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies at Calvin University, one of the world's foremost collections of works on or by John Calvin. She has directed the Center since 1997 and serves as adjunct faculty at Calvin Theological Seminary, teaching church history and research methods while co-directing the ThM program. Her academic interests focus on Early modern education , Training of ministers in the sixteenth century , and Relations between civil and ecclesiastical authorities in early modern cities . Her research centers on 16th-century Geneva, exploring how reformers and ordinary people sought to understand faithful Christian living during religious turmoil. Maag's recent publications include Worshiping with the Reformers (2021), a chapter on the Genevan Academy (2020), and a co-edited volume from the International Calvin Congress (2020). Her work demonstrates consistent focus on Reformation-era education, worship practices, and institutional development. Scientific Honors: Honorary Doctorate from Theological University of Utrecht (December 2024) Maag currently serves as president of the International Calvin Congress, having successfully hosted their 13th quadrennial conference in Grand Rapids in July 2023. She will host the Calvin Studies Society biennial conference in April 2024. She also teaches for the Calvin Academy for Lifelong Learning and the senior enrichment program at Aquinas College, and serves as editor and book review editor of the Calvin Theological Journal. Her current research includes translating Max Engammare's book on preaching in the Swiss Reformation from French into English, continuing her commitment to making important Reformation scholarship accessible to English-speaking audiences.

• Reformation History
• Early Modern Education
• Church History
• +5 more

Dr. T. Christopher Hoklotubbe is an Assistant Professor of Religion at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. He is also an ACM/Andrew H. Mellon Faculty Fellow and a contributing faculty member of NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community. Previously, he was a Louisville Institute Postdoctoral Fellow. Dr. Hoklotubbe's academic journey includes: Th.D. in New Testament and Early Christianity from Harvard University Divinity School M.Div. from Harvard University Divinity School Post-Baccalaureate in Classics from UCLA B.A. in Religion, summa cum laude, from UCLA Dr. Hoklotubbe's research focuses on the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality in the Christian Tradition, with particular expertise in New Testament studies, Native American spiritualities, and the Pastoral Epistles. His work bridges ancient religious texts with contemporary social issues, offering fresh perspectives on how early Christian communities navigated complex cultural landscapes. As a Choctaw scholar, he brings unique insights to biblical interpretation through Indigenous lenses. His notable publication "Civilized Piety: The Rhetoric of PIETAS in the Pastoral Epistles and the Roman Empire" (Baylor University Press, 2017) examines how early Christian communities strategically employed Roman concepts of piety to establish their place within the Roman Empire. His recent work explores how early Christian writers navigated ethnic hierarchies and representations of "the other" in texts like Titus, connecting ancient discourses with modern postcolonial theory. Dr. Hoklotubbe has received recognition through several prestigious fellowships: ACM/Andrew H. Mellon Faculty Fellow Louisville Institute Postdoctoral Fellow As an educator, Dr. Hoklotubbe teaches a diverse range of courses including New Testament studies, Roman Religion, Native American Spiritualities, World Religions, and Religion and American Politics. He is known for creatively connecting course material to contemporary culture, often drawing parallels with Disney animations, Marvel movies, and children's programming. He also co-leads interdisciplinary off-campus courses exploring pilgrimage in Spain, ancient cultures in Greece and Turkey, and North American Indigenous history and art. Dr. Hoklotubbe, originally from Southern California, lives in Mount Vernon, Iowa with his wife Stephanie and their two daughters, Claire and Emily.

• New Testament and Early Christianity
• Native American Spiritualities
• Race Gender and Sexuality in the Christian Tradition
• +8 more

Dr. David Westfall is an Associate Professor of Theology at Dordt University , where he has taught courses on biblical literature, interpretation, and languages since Fall 2019. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. in New Testament from the University of St Andrews, an M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a B.A. in Classical Studies & Greek from Calvin College. Research Focus: Biblical theology, substitutionary atonement, participation in Christ, Second Temple traditions, and linguistic analysis of scripture. Key Contributions: Explores connections between Exodus and Pauline theology (forthcoming 2022), and examines martyrdom themes in Matthew’s Gospel (2020).

• Biblical Theology
• Atonement
• Pauline Studies
• +6 more

Vernon W. Cisney is Chair and Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Gettysburg College . His academic focus spans 19th–21st century Continental philosophy, with major contributions to Deleuze and Derrida studies, philosophy of film/literature, and biopolitical theory. He co-edited seminal works like Biopower: Foucault and Beyond and authored Deleuze and Derrida: Difference and the Power of the Negative . Education: PhD (Purdue University, 2012), MA (University of Memphis, 2006), BA (Eastern Illinois University, 2004), AA (Lake Land College, 2000) His research interrogates themes of difference, identity, philosophical methodology, and intersections of ontology, agency, and aesthetics. Recent projects include analyses of David Foster Wallace's religious themes and explorations of Deleuze's literary philosophy. Publications appear in Deleuze and Guattari Studies and edited volumes on cinema and literature. Current works in progress include a monograph tracing Deleuze's philosophical arc and a study of Deleuze's relationship to literature. His teaching includes courses on Kafka, Postmodern Christian philosophers, and philosophical analyses of films like Infinite Jest and Joker .

• Continental Philosophy
• Philosophy of Film and Literature
• Philosophy of Religion
• +3 more