Adam L Newman

Adam L Newman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Religion at the University of Illinois. He serves as Co-Director of Graduate Study in Religion and holds affiliate roles in the Program in Medieval Studies and the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. His research focuses on Hinduism, South Asian religious history, Sanskrit literature, Purāṇas, sacred space, and religious conceptions of the body. He received his Ph.D. (2019), M.A. (2009), and B.A. (2006) from the University of Virginia and University of California, Santa Barbara respectively.

Research interests include the interplay between sacred spaces, political structures, and bodily symbolism in medieval South Asia. He has conducted extensive fieldwork in Rajasthan, examining epigraphic records and ritual practices. His work bridges literary analysis with spatial and material culture studies.

• Awards: Fulbright—India (2015-2016)
• Grants: Fulbright-Nehru Research Grant (2015-2016), UVA Summer Research Grant (2015)

Teaching responsibilities include courses on Asian Mythology (REL104) and Hindu Epics (REL 495). His research trends emphasize spatial dimensions of religious expression and the socio-political roles of sacred narratives.