Rachel Elizabeth Harding

Rachel Elizabeth Harding is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado Denver. She specializes in religions of the Afro-Atlantic diaspora, examining intersections between spirituality, creativity, and social justice activism. A Cave Canem Fellow, she holds a PhD in History from University of Colorado Boulder, an MFA in Creative Writing from Brown University, and a BA in Religious Studies from Brown.

Her research explores African diasporic religious traditions, cultural preservation, and activism through interdisciplinary lenses including:

• Afro-Brazilian Candomblé practices and environmental ethics
• African American spirituals and literary mysticism
• Artistic expression in diasporic communities
• Womanist perspectives on spirituality and social justice

Her publications demonstrate consistent focus on Afro-Atlantic religious resilience, artistic expression as resistance, and womanist interpretations of spirituality across historical and contemporary contexts. Recent works analyze diasporic art, sacred material culture, and ecological dimensions of Afro-Brazilian traditions.

Awards & Honors:

• Cave Canem Fellowship for poetry and literary excellence

Dr. Harding co-directs the Veterans of Hope Project, an initiative documenting spiritual approaches to social justice activism. She teaches courses including Introduction to Ethnic Studies, African Diaspora, Indigenous Studies, and Shamanic Traditions.