Kevin Kain

Kevin Kain is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Humanities at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, within the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. He teaches courses such as Foundations of Western Culture I and II, Introduction to the Humanities, and The Eurasian Frontier, often in online formats.

His primary research focuses on the cultural and religious history of Russia, particularly the visual, print, and spiritual cultures of Russian Orthodoxy. He specializes in the life and legacy of Patriarch Nikon, the development of the Moscow Patriarchate, and the construction of sacred spaces such as the New Jerusalem Monastery. His work bridges history, art, religion, and digital humanities.

Kain’s recent publications include co-editing and contributing to the two-volume Russia's Early Modern Orthodox Patriarchate (2020–2021), along with numerous articles in journals such as Canadian-American Slavic Studies and Cahiers du monde russe. His publications reflect strong interdisciplinary trends, combining visual analysis, archival research, and cultural theory, with recurring themes in Orthodox hierotopy, monasticism, and Soviet antireligious propaganda.

He has received significant recognition, including the 2021 UW-Green Bay Founders Award for Excellence in Scholarship. His research has been supported by major grants such as the European Research Council Grant "Orthodoxies and Politics," the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Kennan Institute, and the Fulbright-Hays Fellowship.

• 2021 UW-Green Bay Founders Award for Excellence in Scholarship

Kain has advised various collaborative digital projects, including a virtual heritage installation for the Museum of Russian Icons and contributions to online exhibits at the Hillwood Estate and Moscow State University. He has not listed formal advisees, but his collaborative work suggests mentorship in digital scholarship. He is currently serving as a Researcher on a $1.45 million European Research Council project, indicating active grant leadership.

He is involved in digital scholarship through collaborations with institutions such as the Museum of Russian Icons, the Hillwood Estate, and the Virtual Open Research Laboratory (VORL) at the University of Illinois. These projects focus on visualizing Russian religious culture through digital galleries and virtual exhibitions.