Nicole Willock

Nicole Willock serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies within Old Dominion University's College of Arts & Letters, where her scholarship bridges Tibetan Buddhist studies, secularism, and Central Eurasian cultural history with emphasis on socialist China.

Her academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in Religious Studies & Central Eurasian Studies (2011) and M.A. in Eurasian Studies (2003) from Indiana University, complemented by a B.A. in Chinese Studies (1994) from the Australian National University.

Willock's research examines the interplay between religious institutions and political systems in Tibet, particularly focusing on Buddhist intellectual resilience during China's socialist period. She investigates the revival of tulku lineages, secular-religious discourse negotiation, and cultural preservation strategies through historical and ethnographic lenses, revealing how Tibetan scholars navigated ideological pressures while sustaining spiritual traditions.

Analysis of her publications since 2009 shows consistent thematic focus on Tibetan Buddhist adaptation under state socialism, with increasing attention to literary historiography and institutional revival. Her work synthesizes religious studies, political history, and cultural anthropology to document Tibetan intellectual continuity amidst radical societal transformation.

Her distinguished recognition includes:

• 2017 Research Fellowship in Buddhist Studies (Ho Family Foundation/ACLS)
• Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship (2008)
• Multiple FLAS fellowships for Tibetan language study (2002-2005)
• Columbia University Library Research Award (2012)
• Wabash Center teaching-research integration grants (2015-2016)

Willock has secured substantial research funding including the Fulbright-Hays fellowship for fieldwork in Tibet/China and repeated FLAS awards enabling advanced Tibetan language training across multiple institutions, supporting her primary research on Tibetan Buddhist textual traditions and modern institutional history.