Ann-Kathrin Bretfeld-Wolf serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Language, Art and Culture at Diakonova University College, where she is a core member of the Research Group for Religion, Beliefs and Ethics (RLE). Her primary responsibilities include teaching Religion, Worldview and Ethics (RLE) across multiple bachelor's programs, with specific course-responsibility for BMSRL1023 and BMSRL2023 during the 2024-2025 academic year while also instructing BKNSRL2023, BHSRL2023, and BDBUL1002. She further contributes to the BA program in Early Childhood Teacher Education with an Emphasis on Multicultural Understanding as the coordinator for Society, Religion, Worldview and Ethics (SRLE) courses. Educational Background: PhD in Religious Studies, NTNU Trondheim, 2023 MA in Religious Studies, Ruhr University Bochum, 2012 BA in Religious Studies and German Language & Literature, Ruhr University Bochum, 2010 Research Focus: Bretfeld-Wolf's scholarship critically examines South Asian religious history through narrative analysis and postcolonial frameworks, with concentrated expertise in Buddhist textual traditions. Her work investigates how religious stories—particularly Buddha Gotama's life narrative—undergo cross-cultural adaptation in Norwegian kindergarten settings and children's literature, highlighting power dynamics in multicultural education. She also explores historical intersections between religion and print culture in colonial Sri Lanka and contemporary civil society roles of Thai-Buddhist centers. Publication Trends: Her scholarly output reveals a cohesive trajectory across Buddhist studies in South/Southeast Asia, emphasizing narrative adaptation as a lens for understanding religious agency. Key themes include decolonizing religious historiography (evident in her Pāli textual research), resistance to missionary influence through print media, and Buddhist contributions to civil society. The recurring focus on Norway's multicultural educational landscape demonstrates applied relevance of historical/religious analysis to modern pedagogical challenges. Scientific Awards: No awards, fellowships, or medals are documented in the source materials. Advising and Grants: While actively teaching undergraduate courses, no evidence of graduate student supervision (PhD/Master's) or externally funded research grants appears in the provided texts. Her dissemination activities include academic lectures on Buddhist narrative adaptation in early childhood education, suggesting knowledge mobilization priorities. Research Infrastructure: She operates within Diakonova's Research Group for Religion, Beliefs and Ethics (RLE), which provides the organizational context for her investigations into religious ethics, worldview pluralism, and multicultural pedagogy in Norwegian educational institutions.









