It’s September and McMaster’s campus is bustling, as students move into dorms, explore campus, and every now and then wander into University Hall! I find their excitement infectious, even as I lament the end of another summer. Despite the slower pace of the summer months, it has been a fruitful time for current and former members of our department whose accomplishments you can learn about below!
Check out McMaster’s recent profiles of three of our undergraduate alumni: Jamie Lee (2015), Jordyn Tower (2019), and Delany Satheeswaran (2020). It’s great to see our alumni thriving in so many different ways!
https://socialsciences.careers.mcmaster.ca/alumni-career-profiles/
Adele Reinhartz (PhD 1983), Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Ottawa, recently published an article on Mircea Eliade, “Should Eliade Be Canceled? A Response to Bruce Lincoln’s Secrets, Lies, and Consequences,” in History of Religions.
Yongshan He (MA 2011, University of Toronto PhD, 2024), Assistant Professor of Religion at the University of Winnipeg, recently contributed an article entitled “In-class Micro Experiential Activities for Buddhism Courses” to a special issue of The Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies which focused on teaching Buddhism in Canada.
Congratulations to Matthew Walsh (PhD 2016) on being appointed to the Payzant Chair of Biblical Studies at Acadia Divinity College!
Chris Jensen (PhD 2019), Associate Professor of Religion at Carleton University, recently edited a special issue of The Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies which focused on teaching Buddhism in Canada. You can read his editor’s introduction here: “Buddhist Studies Pedagogy in Contemporary Canada—A Snapshot of the State of the Field”
Max Kennel’s (PhD 2021) book, Ontologies of Violence: Deconstruction, Pacifism, and Displacement, is the subject of an online symposium hosted by Syndicate. You can read the thorough interactions with the book and Max’s responses to those interactions.
Check out Michael Gabizon’s (PhD 2022) recent article, “Stay Together for the Kids: Paul on Mixed Unions and Their Children in 1 Cor 7:12–16” in A Hebrew of Hebrews: Exploring Pauline Theology Within and Beyond Judaism.
Congratulations to Lan Li (PhD 2024) on being appointed co-editor for The Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies!
Congratulations to Fady Mekhael (PhD 2024) on being appointed research fellow at McMaster Divinity College for the 2026–2027 academic year!
Marc Lagace (PhD 2025) recently published a profile for the World Religions and Spirituality Project on the Science of Identity Foundation.
James Benn recently contributed an article entitled “Reflections on Teaching Graduate Seminars in Buddhism and East Asian Religions at McMaster University” to a special issue of The Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies which focused on teaching Buddhism in Canada.
Congratulations to current MA student Ryan Brown on being awarded a Tanaka Fund Grant! This grant will allow Ryan to continue conducting an ethnographic study of the pilgrimage to Ikeyama Shrine, a mountain Shintō shrine in rural Muroto, Kōchi Prefecture, where rain prayer rituals are central to local religious life.
Shayne Clarke presented “On an Unnoticed Tibetan Sūtra Translation from Chinese: The ’Phags pa tshul khrims nyams pa’i rnam par smin pa lci yang bstan pa’i mdo and its Chinese Source (犯戒罪報輕重經)” at the International Symposium: The Forefront of Buddhist Vinaya Studies” hosted by Otani University, July 29, 2026 and “Preliminary Observations on a Tibetan Verse Anthology: Bsod nams rin chen’s Las kyi me long,” at Workshop: Texts surrounding the Vinayapiṭaka hosted by the University of Tokyo on August 21, 2026.
Congratulations to Anne Crosby, who successfully defended her dissertation, “Spirit Writing and Technological Innovation at Taiwan’s Beigang Wude Gong,” on August 5. Congratulations, *Dr.* Crosby!
Congratulations to Eileen Schuller on the publication of her book (co-written with Carol Newsom), The Thanksgiving Scroll in the Oxford Commentary on the Dead Sea Scrolls!
Current PhD student Pema Sherpa recently presented “Reconstruction of the Biography of Mtsho sna na (Tsonawa) Shes rab bzang po (Sherap Zangpo)” at International Association of Tibetan Studies.
And finally, I want to extend a warm welcome to Dr. Rine Vieth (McGill PhD), who joined the Department of Religious Studies on a Contractually Limited Appointment as assistant professor beginning on August 1! You can learn more about Rine’s work on their website: https://rinevieth.com/
Again, we encourage you to submit updates, whether academic accomplishments or significant personal news, so that we can share it with the entire McMaster Religious Studies community, both past and present. Updates should be sent to the following email: MacReligiousStudies@gmail.com
Matt Thiessen Chair, Department of Religious Studies
Chair's Newsletter, Departmental News