معرفی
Dr. Merin Xavier is an Assistant Professor in the School of Religion at Queen's University, cross-appointed to the Department of Gender Studies within the Faculty of Arts and Science. Her research focuses on contemporary global Islam, Sufism, and its transmission through migration, diaspora, and popular culture, with regional emphases on North America (U.S. and Canada) and South Asia (Sri Lanka). She examines sacred spaces, rituals, gender dynamics, and memory in Sufi practices.
Education:
- Ph.D. in Religion and Culture (2015), Wilfrid Laurier University
- M.A. in Humanities (2010), York University
- B.Ed. in Religious Studies (2009), York University
- B.A.H. in Religious Studies (2009), York University
Research Interests: Dr. Xavier explores how Sufism adapts to new regions through migration and diaspora, analyzing spaces like shrines, rituals, and cultural practices. Her work intersects with gender studies, anti-Sufism, and transnational networks. Current projects include Sufism in Toronto and Sri Lankan shrines amid rising anti-Sufism.
Publications: Her key works include Sacred Spaces and Transnational Networks in American Sufism (2018) and Contemporary Sufism (2017, co-authored). Her recent monograph Dervishes of the North (2023) is the first study on Canadian Sufism.
Advising: She supervises MA (RELS) and PhD (Cultural Studies) students in Sufism, migration, and related areas. No grants or labs are explicitly mentioned in the provided texts.
