معرفی
Maria E. Doerfler is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Yale University specializing in Ancient Christianity and the religious landscapes of Early Mediterranean and West Asian regions during Late Antiquity. Previously, she served as Assistant Professor of Christianity in Late Antiquity at Duke Divinity School and directed the Duke/UNC Center for Late Ancient Studies.
Her educational background includes:
- Ph.D. in Early Christianity from Duke University
- J.D. from UCLA
- B.A. in Political Science from Princeton University
Dr. Doerfler's research examines how personal or communal crises shape the interpretation of authoritative texts—including law, philosophy, and scripture—in the second through sixth centuries CE. She investigates Roman law reception in Christian contexts, gender dynamics in ascetic communities, and Syriac funerary hymnography as windows into emotional and ethical practices of Late Antiquity.
Her publications include the award-winning monograph 'Jephthah’s Daughter, Sarah’s Son: The Death of Children in Late Antiquity' (2020), exploring child mortality through exegetical lenses. Current work analyzes intersections of legal writing and sacred history formation, alongside Syriac funerary traditions as socio-historical records.
Her accolades include:
- American Academy of Religion’s Best First Book in the History of Religions Prize (2020)
While specific advising details are unavailable, her research trajectory demonstrates significant mentorship through directing the Duke/UNC Center for Late Ancient Studies and shaping emerging scholarship in Late Antiquity studies.
