Gwendolyn Gillson

Gwendolyn Gillson serves as Associate Professor of Asian Studies within the Department of History, Philosophy, Political Science, and Religion at Illinois College. Her interdisciplinary scholarship intersects anthropology of religion, East Asian studies, and gender studies, primarily investigating how Japanese women creatively adapt Buddhist practices to address social isolation in contemporary urban Japan.

Her educational background includes:

• B.A. in Religion from Gustavus Adolphus College
• M.L.I.S. in Archives from the University of Oklahoma
• M.A. and Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of Iowa

Dr. Gillson's research centers on how Japanese women engage with Buddhism to navigate the social isolation resulting from urbanization and globalization. She introduces the concept of "feeling Buddhism," which emphasizes emotional and sensorial aspects of Buddhist practice, and explores the formation of transnational networks among Buddhist women. Her work challenges the perception of Japanese Buddhism as solely funerary by revealing its active role in community building and emotional support.

Her recent publications reflect a dual focus on contemporary Japanese Buddhist practices and innovative teaching methodologies. In religious studies, she examines ritual, gender, and affect in Japanese Buddhism, while in pedagogy, she addresses crisis management and reflective practices in online education. This interdisciplinary approach underscores her commitment to both scholarly research and effective teaching.

Her notable recognitions include:

• Fulbright Commission Fellowship (Japan-United States) for fieldwork in Japan
• Alice Lampe Heidel and John B. Heidel Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching (2016)
• Rev. Louis P. Penningroth Award for excellence in teaching and mentoring (2015)

Dr. Gillson has secured research funding through the Fulbright Commission for her ethnographic fieldwork in Japan. In her teaching, she employs ethnographic and biographical approaches to foster students' understanding of diverse religious practices and to develop their information literacy. Her mentorship extends to guiding students in research projects that analyze new religious movements and digital humanities techniques.

While not explicitly affiliated with a specific research lab, her work involves collaboration with scholars in Japan, including her time as a Visiting Researcher at Bukkyo University in Kyoto, and she contributes to academic communities through editorial roles such as Section Editor for "The Basics: Buddhism."