Rabia Gregory

Rabia Gregory is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Missouri, specializing in the history of Christianity in Medieval and Early Modern Europe through interdisciplinary lenses of book history, material culture, and gender theory. Her scholarship bridges historical religious practices with contemporary digital culture, examining how theological concepts permeate modern media while transforming historical religious expression.

Her academic credentials include:

• A.B. in Religion and Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Duke University (2000)
• M.A. in Religious Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2004)
• Ph.D. in Religious Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2007)

Gregory's research centers on Medieval Christianity, Religious Material Culture, and Gender and Religion, with significant contributions to understanding the 'bride of Christ' metaphor's evolution from elite religious communities to widespread lay practice. Her work innovatively connects historical religious materiality to modern phenomena like video game worldbuilding, revealing persistent patterns in how humans construct sacred meaning through physical and digital objects. Current projects explore how affordable paper transformed European Christianity and document religious diversity in Missouri through community-engaged scholarship.

Her publications demonstrate a consistent trajectory from medieval manuscript studies to contemporary religious expression, with increasing focus on interdisciplinary methodologies that merge historical analysis with digital humanities. This evolution reflects broader academic trends while maintaining rigorous attention to material religious practices across eras.

Gregory's scholarly recognition includes:

• NEH Summer Stipend (2023) and Folger Shakespeare Library Fellowship (2022-23)
• Multiple Provost Research Leaves and UM System Presidential Engagement Fellowship
• Significant grant funding for Missouri-focused projects on religious diversity and health
• Award-winning editorial work on the 'Christianities Before Modernity' book series

She actively shapes academic discourse through committee service including the Honors Humanities Sequence review, while securing major funding for community-engaged projects like 'Confluences' that examine religion's role in public health and cultural diversity. Her co-edited book series critically interrogates premodern Christianity's chronological and geographical boundaries, fostering innovative scholarly conversations.

Though no formal laboratory structure exists, Gregory cultivates intellectual community through editorial leadership, multi-campus course initiatives, and collaborative research projects that connect university scholarship with Missouri's diverse religious landscapes.