Ana María Bidegain

Ana María Bidegain is a Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Florida International University (FIU), where she also serves as the Program Director for Research at the Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC). She has held significant academic positions across Latin America and the United States, including founding the History Department at the University of Los Andes and establishing Religious Studies at the National University of Colombia. Prior to joining FIU, she was a Visiting Professor at Harvard's Women's Studies in Religion Program, underscoring her international scholarly recognition.

Research Interests: Dr. Bidegain's scholarship centers on the intersection of religion, society, and politics in Latin American history. She has pioneered research on women in Latin American Christianity and the religious experiences of Latin American and Caribbean migrants. Her work emphasizes gender, transnational spirituality, and religious diversity, particularly within Catholicism. She has contributed to major reference works such as the Cambridge Christian Dictionary and the History of the World Christian Movement.

The trends in her recent publications reflect a sustained focus on gender and religion, with recurring themes of female agency, martyrdom, and empowerment in ecclesial contexts. Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary sociological and theological inquiry, especially in diasporic communities. She has also led research on Colombian immigration to the U.S., producing policy-relevant studies.

Scientific Contributions and Leadership:

• Editor, Presencia Colombiana en Estados Unidos (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Relations, 2008)
• Editor, Historia del Cristianismo en Colombia and Globalización y Diversidad Religiosa en Colombia (2005)
• Member, Editorial Board of Cambridge Christian Dictionary
• Editorial Member, History of the World Christian Movement (Orbis Books)
• Director, Social Sciences Research Center, National University of Colombia (2003–2004)

Advising and Grants: Dr. Bidegain has secured multidisciplinary funding from the Colombian State Department for research on Colombian immigration to the U.S. She has coordinated the Colombian Migration Research Network at FIU and played a central role in advancing the Colombian Studies Institute. While specific advisees are not listed, her editorial and program leadership roles indicate mentorship and academic guidance at an institutional level.

Labs and Research Teams: She is actively involved with the Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC) at FIU, where she leads research initiatives. She has participated in numerous international research teams across South America, Europe, and the U.S., focusing on religion, migration, and gender.