J. Lorand Matory

J. Lorand Matory is the Lawrence Richardson Distinguished Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Duke University, affiliated with the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. His roles include Professor in Cultural Anthropology and African & African American Studies. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (1991), an M.A. (1986), and a B.A. from Harvard University (1982).

His research focuses on the anthropology of religion, ethnicity, education, and social theory, with emphasis on African and African-inspired religions across the Atlantic. Notable areas include spirit possession, transnationalism, and hierarchies of race, gender, and politics. He explores how diasporic cultures dialog with Africa, challenging assumptions of cultural 'survival' and advocating for dynamic transnational frameworks.

His publications include influential works like The Fetish Revisited (2018) and Black Atlantic Religion (2009). Recent articles address racial hierarchies, Marx's theories, and Afro-Atlantic religious practices. His work bridges anthropology with sociology, history, and critical theory.

Awards include the J. I. Staley Prize (2022), American Ethnological Society Senior Book Prize (2020), and the Alexander von Humboldt Prize (2013). His teaching spans courses on first-gen college students, Afro-Atlantic religions, and the sociology of universities. He also engages in public scholarship, including podcasts and films like Zombies Are Real (2016).

Grants include funding from the National Science Foundation (2014–2016) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (2012–2013). His research and advocacy address issues like affirmative action, racial justice, and the legacy of slavery in modern societies.