Jillian Marcantonio will be hooded this May during Duke’s commencement to commemorate her achievement of earning the doctoral degree in Religious Studies. Her dissertation, “Embodying a Quiet but Pervasive Presence: The Holy Spirit in Late Ancient Liturgical Poetry,” was supervised by Professor J. Warren Smith, with Professors Jennifer Wright Knust, Laura Lieber, Brittany E. Wilson, and Derek Kreuger also serving on her committee.Marcantonio came to Duke by way of Princeton Theological Seminary, where she earned a Master of… read more about Jillian Marcantonio, Spring 2025 Graduate »
Doctoral candidate Yucheng Bai will graduate this May with the Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies. His dissertation “American City on a Chinese Hill: American Fundamentalism in Contemporary Chinese Christianity” was defended recently with his committee Xi Lian (chair), Grant Wacker, Chloë Starr, and Anna Sun attending.Bai has a Bachelor of Arts from University of Arizona, a Master of Arts from Columbia University, and a Master of Theological Studies from Duke Divinity School. Besides his native tongue of Mandarin… read more about Yucheng Bai, May 2025 Graduate »
Dr. David Leonhardt graduated with the doctorate in Religious Studies this past December and will have the opportunity to celebrate commencement in May. His dissertation committee for “Knowing Nicodemus: Understanding the Role of Nicodemus in the Gospel of John” was chaired by Prof. Mark Goodacre, and his additional committee members were Professors Amy-Jill Levine, Laura Lieber, Joel Marcus, and J. Ross Wagner. Prior to coming to Duke, Leonhardt earned the Bachelor of Arts from Western Kentucky University and the Master of… read more about Dr. David Leonhardt, December 2024 Graduate »
Expected recipient of the doctorate in Religious Studies in May 2025, Erica Ridderman hails from Indiana, where her Bachelor of Arts degree with highest distinction was completed (Indiana University). She completed the Master of Divinity at Duke Divinity School, earning the honor of Summa Cum Laude. Her major area in the Graduate Program in Religion is Christian Theological Studies, and minor areas are World Christianity and Decolonial Thinking. Her dissertation committee for When We Say ‘God is Love’: A Study on the… read more about "This is where the fun begins." (Anakin Skywalker) »
Dr. Joanna Homrighausen, one of Duke Graduate Program in Religion’s newest alumni, had her degree conferred Mother’s Day weekend 2024 after having successfully defended her dissertation “Writing Esther, Then and Now: The Materiality of the Megillah in Ritual, Memory, and Biblical Interpretation” several weeks ago. Her project, in the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament track, was co-advised by Laura Lieber and Ellen Davis, with Marc Brettler, David Morgan, and Marc Michael Epstein (Vassar College) serving on her committee. Joanna… read more about Homrighausen Graduates »
Dr. Susannah Hall Duerr graduated this past Mother’s Day weekend with her PhD in Religious Studies and the Certificate in College Teaching from Duke University. She earned the Master of Arts in Religious Studies at Duke in 2016. During her time as a master’s student, she organized a master’s conference. Once she began the doctoral degree, she initiated a mentorship program, pairing one master’s student with one doctoral student as a means of professional development for both parties. Duerr was awarded several different… read more about Susannah Duerr Earns the PhD »
Two PhD candidates in the Graduate Program in Religion have been selected to received the Teaching on Purpose Fellowship. Kaylie Page (l) and Claire Rostov will participate in this pedagogy program in spring semester of 2024 sponsored by the Kenan Institute for Ethics that will help prepare them to be effective in teaching undergraduates. They will have weekly workshops and assignments and there will be a financial award upon completion of the program. read more about Fellowship Awarded to Two GPR Students »
Four students of the Graduate Program in Religion have qualified as A.B.D., or "All But Dissertation." Candidates He Li, Ann Chapman Price, Brian Chu, and Kaylie Page have all completed their preliminary examinations, written a proposal that has been approved by a faculty committee of at least three members, and passed a review by the Committee on Dissertation Committees. We wish them well, and look forward their forthcoming dissertations. read more about Four New Candidates »
Dr. Erin Risch Zoutendam graduated in May 2023 with the Doctor of Philosophy from the Graduate Program in Religion at Duke University. Her concentration was in World Christianity, and Dr. Sujin Pak was the chair of her doctoral committee for her dissertation “Word and Presence: The Role of Scripture in the Formation and Reformation of Mystical Theology, 1200–1580.” Dr. Zoutendam’s previous degrees are a Bachelor of Arts (summa cum laude) from Hillsdale College, a Master of Theological Studies from Calvin… read more about Recognizing Dr. Erin Risch Zoutendam »
Dr. Katherine Burgett, affectionately known as “Kat,” graduated in December 2022 with the Doctor of Philosophy with a concentration in New Testament from Duke’s Graduate Program in Religion. Dr. J. Ross Wagner chaired the committee for her dissertation titled “In Slavery With God’s Children: The Law As Enslaved Agent in Galatians.” Burgett’s academic strength was evident even prior to her entering the PhD program, as she graduated summa cum laude from both the Bachelor of Arts at Westmont College and the Master of… read more about Celebrating Dr. Kat Burgett »
Friday, November 3, eleven PhD and ThD students gathered to hear from recent PhD alumni to discuss vocational paths after graduation, as part of a lunchtime "Teaching and Learning" seminar entitled "Alternate Vocational Paths: Testimonials from Recent Alumni." Dr. Kat Burgett, Dr. Cody David (via Zoom), and Dr. Nate Tilley (via Zoom) discussed how their doctoral studies at Duke led them to varying careers in a congregation, in consulting, and in the academy, respectively. The group discussed the transition out of a doctoral… read more about Recent Alumni Present at Duke »
Our congratulations go out to Dr. Aaron Ebert, a recent graduate of the Graduate Program in Religion who managed to complete his PhD in just five years - all while raising five children, along with chickens, pigs, and a cow on his farm! Ebert defended his dissertation in July 2023 for a September graduation. His project was entitled “The Second Sin: A Study of the Vice of Envy in the Thought of St. Augustine,” and Dr. J. Warren Smith chaired his committee, comprised of Drs. Thomas Pfau, Janet Soskice, Jed Atkins, and… read more about Aaron Ebert Earns the PhD »
Elizabeth “Libbie” Schrader Polczer successfully defended her dissertation on April 25, 2023 and her PhD degree and Certificate in College Teaching will be conferred in September 2023. Her specialty is Early Christianity, and her dissertation was entitled “’Those Who Love Me Will Keep My Word’: Narrative Variants in New Testament Gospel Stories.” Dr. Jennifer Knust chaired her committee, and other members of the committee included Drs. Mark Goodacre (Duke), William Johnson (Duke), Bart Ehrman (UNC-Chapel… read more about Dr. Elizabeth Schrader Polczer Lands Post »
Dr. Aaron Ebert, who graduated from the Graduate Program in Religion in September of this year, has been named a postdoctoral fellow with the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University. To read more about what he is doing, click here. read more about Ebert Named Postdoctoral Fellow »
Laura Robinson will be graduating with the PhD this May 2023 after successfully defending her dissertation “Mission, Jews, and Gentiles in the Gospel of Matthew” this spring, in which Professors Mark Goodacre and Joel Marcus were co-advisors. Robinson, an Indiana native, graduated with distinction with a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University, and received two master’s degrees from Wheaton College. She was awarded a J. B. Duke Fellowship for four years, an award aimed at helping attract and develop outstanding scholars at… read more about Robinson Slated for May Graduation »
Four faculty from Duke’s Trinity College of Arts & Sciences and three alumni have been named to this year’s cohort of Guggenheim Fellows. The honorees for 2023 include German Studies Professor Stefani Engelstein, Professor Lillian B. Pierce of Mathematics, Religious Studies Professor Leela Prasad, and Professor of Physics Christopher Walter. Duke alumni Lucy Corin, Jon-Sesrie Goff and Jennifer Graber were also recognized. Now in its 98th year, the Guggenheim Fellowships recognize exceptional mid-career… read more about Four Trinity Faculty and Three Alums Named 2023 Guggenheim Fellows »
Quite a number of Duke students and faculty will be presenting in the AAR/SBL annual conference to be held in Denver, Colorado November 19-22, 2022. The joint annual conference of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature is perhaps the most important conference of the year for those in the field of Religious Studies. More than 1,000 events—academic sessions, additional meetings, receptions, tours, and workshops—will be offered at this annual conference. Below are listed the… read more about Duke Invades Denver, Colorado for AAR/SBL Annual Conference »
Jonathan Homrighausen was so moved when he first saw The Saint John's Bible as a student docent in Santa Clara University’s archives and special collections, he wrote his own book about it. And then another. A modern illuminated manuscript, with the last page completed in 2011, this Bible was created by a team of scribes and illustrators commissioned by Saint John’s Abbey and University. Homrighausen's first book about The Saint John’s Bible focused on its illustrations, but he wanted… read more about When Modern Calligraphy Is Paired with Ancient Scripture »
Our congratulations go out to Dr. Nathan Hershberger, who graduated with the PhD in Religious Studies in September! Dr. Hershberger came to Duke University equipped with a Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Mennonite University and a Master of Arts from University of Virginia. At Duke, Hershberger’s major field was Christian Theological Studies, and minor fields were Islamic Studies and Political Theory. His dissertation “Tending Scripture’s Wounds: Suffering, Moral Formation, and the Bible” was supervised by Dr. Luke Bretherton… read more about Hershberger Graduates in September »
We celebrate with our alumnus Dr. Nathan Tilley, who graduated in September with the PhD in Religious Studies. His dissertation “Human Perfection in the Thought of Bābai the Great: Tradition and Development in East Syrian Theology” was directed by Dr. J. Warren Smith, and Professors Christopher Beeley, Robin Darling Young (Catholic University of America), and Luke Bretherton served on his dissertation committee in July. Tilley earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master… read more about Tilley Graduates in September »
PhD candidate Susannah Duerr has secured funding with The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation for a dissertation fellowship in Buddhist studies. You can read more about her award here. read more about Susannah Duerr Secures Fellowship »
Dr. Rebecca Mendelson, who graduated in 2020 from The Graduate Program in Religion, took a position as Japanese studies librarian at the University of Pennsylvania. Read about her work there in this article published in Penn Today. read more about Dr. Rebecca Mendelson Settles in as Penn Librarian »
Dr. Ian Mills, who graduated in December from the Graduate Program in Religion, is eligible for the May hooding and commencement ceremony at Duke University. Mills was one of the few applicants chosen for the Graduate Program in Religion who came to us directly following his undergraduate degree, a B.A. from the University of Minnesota. During his time at Duke, Mills published three peer-reviewed journal articles, two book chapters and two book reviews. He had extensive teaching experience as well, acting as a teaching… read more about Ian Mills Eligible for May Commencement »
Our candidate for the PhD, Zexi (Jesse) Sun, will graduate this May along with two others in the Graduate Program in Religion. Sun’s dissertation “War, Revolution and Chinese Protestant Intellectuals: A Twentieth-Century Odyssey” was advised by Dr. Xi Lian. Sun holds a B. A. with Honors from Calvin College, M.A. from Stanford University, and M.T.S. from Calvin Theological Seminary. Sun has written and published extensively during his five short years in the program, with five peer reviewed articles… read more about Zexi (Jesse) Sun Prepares to Graduate »
Grazina Bielousova, PhD candidate in Religion, Aesthetics and Society, successfully defended her dissertation March 31, 2022. She wrote on the topic “The Making of Savage Europe: Religious Difference and The Idea of Eastern Europe” and her committee was co-chaired by Dr. J. Kameron Carter and Dr. Joseph Winters. Her PhD from Duke University will be conferred in May, 2022. She has been awarded the Certificate in College Teaching from Duke University and the Coaching Skills for Learner-Centered… read more about Grazina Bielousova Graduating in May »
Cody David will be graduating with his PhD in May, 2022 after just five years in the Graduate Program in Religion studying Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. His academic career has been marked by excellence – valedictorian at Ave Maria University and very high grade-point averages at both the University of Notre Dame (Master of Theological Studies) and Duke University. His awards include the Saint Thomas Aquinas Award for Balance and Eutrapalia, the Classics Department Award at Ave Maria University and the 2020… read more about Cody David Set to Graduate »
Three GPR students have successfully defended their dissertation, and are set for a May 2022 graduation. Candidates Cody David, Jesse (Zexi) Sun, and Grazina Bielousova will be invited to attend a hooding ceremony on May 7, among other Duke commencement activities on the weekend of May 6-8. Cody David's dissertation committee for "The Economics of Redemption and Retribution in Isaiah 40-66" was chaired by Dr. Marc Brettler. The defense was held over Zoom on March 22, 2022. Cody has been part of the… read more about Congratulations to Spring 2022 Defenders »
