معرفی
Rita Lester is a Professor of Religion at Nebraska Wesleyan University, serving as Chair of the Philosophy and Religion Department and Chair of the Arts & Humanities Division. She holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University, an MTS from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and a BA from Graceland University. Her work bridges religious studies pedagogy, feminist theology, and social justice issues, particularly focusing on religion's intersection with race, gender, and law. She coordinates multiple interdisciplinary initiatives including the Archway Curriculum and Gender & Sexuality Studies programs.
Dr. Lester's research emphasizes decolonizing religious studies through pedagogical innovation and challenging traditional 'world religions' paradigms. Recent contributions include chapters in Teaching the Study of Religion (2024) and Exploring the Transdisciplinary Ecology of Scholarship (expected 2025). She actively reviews for prominent journals like the American Academy of Religion's Reading Religion, producing incisive critiques of contemporary religious studies literature.
- Awards: Carnegie Foundation Professor of the Year (2012), NWU Faculty Scholar Award (2023), and multiple teaching excellence recognitions
- Service: Advisory Council member for North American Association for the Study of Religion, Fulbright advisor, and academic standards committee chair
- Engagement: Collaborates with students on projects like podcast productions analyzing religious time constructs and Asian community centers
Her work extends beyond academia through community partnerships addressing racism and religious literacy, reflecting her commitment to making scholarship socially impactful.
