معرفی
Melissa Kerin is a Professor of Art History at Washington and Lee University and serves as the Director of the Roger Mudd Center for Ethics. Her work bridges South Asian art, Tibetan Buddhist studies, and ethical considerations in cultural heritage. She has taught at W&L since 2011, with a promotion to Associate Professor in 2017 and subsequent elevation to Professor. Kerin's role at the Mudd Center, which she assumed in July 2024, emphasizes interdisciplinary ethical discourse, including themes like "How We Live and Die: Stories, Values and Communities."
Education:
- Bachelor of Arts in Women's Studies, Trinity College (Connecticut)
- Master of Theological Studies, Harvard Divinity School
- Ph.D. in History of Art, University of Pennsylvania
Research Interests:
Kerin explores intersections of art history, cultural memory, and ethics. Her scholarship focuses on Himalayan Buddhist art, shrine practices in India and Tibet, and the ethical implications of cultural heritage acquisition. She examines how art functions as a repository of social and sacred narratives, emphasizing the moral responsibilities tied to preservation and repatriation.
Scientific Awards:
- Edward C. Dimock Jr. Book Prize (2015) for Art and Devotion at a Buddhist Temple in the Indian Himalaya
- ACLS Fellowship (2014) and Howard Foundation Fellowship (2018) for her shrine-related research
- Multiple grants including NEH and Lenfest Summer Research awards
Grants and Collaborations:
Kerin has secured funding from organizations like the Robert Lehman Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her projects include the Tibetan Shrine Project and consulting for the Freer Gallery of Art. She organized the 2017 conference The Ethics of Acquiring Cultural Heritage Objects, fostering multidisciplinary dialogue.
