معرفی
Professor Carole M. Cusack is a distinguished scholar in Religious Studies at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She has been teaching in the Studies in Religion department since 1989, becoming a full-time staff member in 1996, and currently holds the position of Professor of Religious Studies. Her extensive academic career includes significant administrative roles such as Pro-Dean (Teaching and Learning) for 2013-2014, Director of Academic Support and Development, Associate Dean (Undergraduate), and Degree Director of the Bachelor of Arts.
Professor Cusack's educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Religious Studies and English Literature from the University of Sydney (1986), a PhD in Studies in Religion (1996), and a Master of Education (Educational Psychology) (2001). Her academic journey reflects a deep commitment to both religious scholarship and educational theory.
Her research spans a remarkably diverse range of religious phenomena, with particular expertise in medieval European religion, religious conversion, medieval and modern Paganism, contemporary religious trends, alternative spiritualities, and new religious movements. Professor Cusack has made significant contributions to the study of Western esotericism, European mythology, religion and new media, pilgrimage and tourism, witchcraft and magic, and contemporary Christianity. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges historical, sociological, and anthropological perspectives on religion.
Professor Cusack's extensive publication record reveals consistent engagement with both historical religious traditions and emerging spiritual movements. Her work demonstrates a particular interest in the intersection of religion with literature, media, and popular culture. She has published extensively on invented religions, religious conversion, and the adaptation of religious traditions in modern contexts. Her research shows a consistent pattern of exploring the boundaries between established religious traditions and alternative spiritualities, often with attention to how these phenomena are represented in media and popular culture.
- Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research Supervision (2010)
- CHASS Excellence in Research Higher Degree Supervision Award (2006)
- Faculty of Arts Excellence in Teaching Award (2004)
Professor Cusack has supervised numerous research postgraduates and Honours students across diverse topics including medieval religion, New Age studies, European mythology, religious conversion, religion and new media, Pagan Studies, pilgrimage and tourism, witchcraft and magic, new religious movements, contemporary Christianity, and civil religion. She has served on eleven journal editorial boards as of 2018, demonstrating her significant standing in the academic community. Her leadership extends to various university initiatives and professional associations, including the Australia and New Zealand Association for Medieval and Early Modern Studies, the Sydney Society for Scottish History, and the British Association for the Study of Religion.
Professor Cusack maintains active engagement with international scholarly networks, particularly with the University of Edinburgh where she has taken Special Studies Program Leave and taught on exchange. Her work with the Religious Studies Project as a Trustee and her regional directorship of the 'Australian Religions and Spiritual Traditions' Special Project for the World Religions and Spirituality Project demonstrate her commitment to collaborative, international scholarship in religious studies.
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