Lori Meeks

Lori Meeks is an Associate Professor of Religion and East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Southern California (USC), affiliated with the USC School of Religion. Her research explores the intersection of gender, religion, and social history in premodern Japan, with a focus on women's roles in Buddhist monasticism, textual traditions, and cultural practices. She holds a B.A. in Religion from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in East Asian Religions from Princeton University.

Her scholarly interests include:

• Women, gender, and religious authority in East Asia
• Buddhist monastic traditions and their social impact
• Historical analysis of Japanese literature and cultural narratives
• Gendered ideologies in religious texts and popular practices

Meeks' publications consistently address themes of female agency in religious contexts, evolving monastic practices, and the transmission of Buddhist ideologies across medieval East Asia. Her recent work examines ritual authenticity, female divinity, and the sociocultural dimensions of Buddhist texts.

Awards and Honors:

• John Whitney Hall Book Prize (2012)
• American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship (2011)
• Mellon Graduate Mentoring Award (2015-2016)
• USC EMSI Faculty Fellowship (2013)
• USC Teaching Award (2005-2006)

She has held significant administrative roles including Director of the USC School of Religion (2014-2017) and Director of Undergraduate Studies for Religion (2011-2013). Meeks contributes to academic leadership through editorial positions with journals including Buddhist Studies Review and Oxford Bibliographies Online.