Jessica A. Boon

Jessica A. Boon is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with adjunct appointments in History and Women’s and Gender Studies. She specializes in medieval and Renaissance Catholicism, focusing on Spanish mysticism, Passion spirituality, and the intersections of gender, race, and disability in religious texts. Her work examines embodiment through medical, emotional, and material frameworks in premodern contexts.

Education
Ph.D. in Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania (2004)
B.A. in Humanities, Yale University (1998)

Research Focus
Boon investigates the physiological and cognitive dimensions of mystical experience in medieval Iberia, particularly through Castilian 'recollection' mysticism. Her current project analyzes Passion meditation as a tool for Spanish imperial identity formation, exploring pain, gender, and religious-racial dynamics. She emphasizes Christianity's interactions with Judaism, Islam, and global religions in her courses.

Awards and Honors

• Bishko Prize (2008, 2021) for best articles in Iberian history
• Medieval Feminist Scholarship Article Prize (2019)
• ACLS Ryskamp Fellowship (2015)
• Javits Fellowship (1998)
• Multiple UNC awards for teaching and research (2013–2024)

Teaching
Courses include Religion and Medicine, Medieval Christian Cultures, Race/Sexuality/Disability in Christianity, and graduate seminars on theory and bodyminds.