Jeffrey Wickes

Jeffrey Wickes is an Associate Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, where he also serves as the Robert M. Conway Director of the Medieval Institute. His scholarly work focuses on the interplay between Syriac literature, theology, and liturgy within late antique Christianity, with particular attention to questions of genre, religion, and theological expression.

Dr. Wickes received his BA from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, MA from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, another MA from the University of Notre Dame, and his PhD from the University of Notre Dame. Prior to joining Notre Dame, he spent nine years at Saint Louis University, bringing substantial teaching and research experience to his current position.

His research centers on Late Antique Christianity, especially Syriac literature and theology, ritual studies, and the relationship between poetry and theology. Wickes approaches these topics through close readings of Syriac texts, examining how religious ideas were expressed in poetic form and performed in various contexts. His work challenges traditional assumptions about the liturgical performance of early Christian texts, arguing for a more nuanced understanding of where and how religious literature functioned in late antique society.

Wickes' publications reveal a consistent scholarly trajectory focused on Syriac Christianity, particularly the works of Ephrem the Syrian. His scholarship demonstrates an interdisciplinary approach that bridges literary theory, ritual studies, and theological analysis to understand early Christian texts in their performative contexts. Recent work has expanded to include hagiographical poetry and broader questions of religious identity, gender, and sensory experience in early Christian communities.

• National Endowment for the Humanities grant
• Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection grant
• Mellon Foundation grant
• Dolores Zorhab Liebmann Fund grant

As an educator, Wickes teaches advanced courses on Eastern Christian hymnody, sensory approaches to religion, music and religious identity, and surveys of early Christianity. His teaching reflects his interdisciplinary approach, connecting historical texts with contemporary theoretical frameworks in religious studies while training students in the specialized research tools necessary for advanced work in early Christian studies.