Robert W. Hefner

Robert W. Hefner is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology and the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. He serves as Director of the Center for the Study of Asia (BUSCA) and has long-standing affiliations with Boston University's Institute on Culture, Religion, and World Affairs (CURA), where he worked from 1986-2017.

• PhD, MA, BA in Anthropology from the University of Michigan

Hefner specializes in the anthropology of religion, ethics, and law, with particular expertise in Islamic studies, Southeast Asia, and comparative analyses of gender, citizenship, and modernity. His recent research focuses on pluralist coexistence in Muslim-majority societies and interfaith relations in France and the U.S.

Research Trends: His work spans Islamic ethics, political anthropology, Southeast Asian studies, and multicultural governance. Publications emphasize shariah law, gender plurality, democratic theory, and civic education in pluralistic societies.

• Carnegie Scholar in Islam (2007-2008)
• President of Association for Asian Studies (2009-2010)
• Lee Kong Chian Fellow (2008-2009)
• Henry Luce Foundation grant (2019-2021)

Hefner has directed over 24 research projects and organized 19 international conferences. His current film project with Gadjah Mada University explores plurality and citizenship in Indonesia.