This past weekend, several faculty members and one former student presented research and networked with colleagues at the Southeastern Commission for the Study of Religion (SECSOR) Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. Andie Alexander, a recent grad and office worker extraordinaire, presented a paper entitled “Shifting the Focus: Understanding the Teller Behind the Tale” for a Method and Theory in the Study of Religion undergraduate research panel. Dr. Finnegan presented a paper entitled “The Digital Discourses of Muslim Environmentalist,” which tracked […]
Tag: Merinda Simmons
ar·ti·facts: A Surprising Source
Prof. Simmons joins the ar·ti·facts series to tell us a little about a gift she received. The story has a surprising twist. Take a look… ar·ti·facts: A Surprising Source with Prof. Simmons from UA Religious Studies. […]
Backstory: Prof. Merinda Simmons
“Backstory” is a series that asks the REL Faculty to tell us a little bit about themselves, to explore how they became interested in the academic study of religion and their own specialty, elaborating on their current work both within and outside the University. Where are you from? Tampa, FL. I grew up celebrating what I took to be my “Southern heritage” of strong coffee, palm trees, and red beans and rice. When I moved to Alabama after a stint […]
“Grad Tales” Kicks Off
Last night we kicked off a new speakers series: “There and Back Again: Grad Tales.” We’re inviting back some former REL majors, who have graduated and gone on to some interesting careers. Coz if you think that the study of religion is all about being religious, then you’ve likely never thought it might be a great preparation for being a high school teacher, a lawyer, a doctor, or maybe even starting your own business. Sure, some of them went on […]
A Few Moments with Monica Miller
Dr. Monica Miller, of Lehigh University, recently delivered the inaugural Day Lecture — an annual lecture in memory of one of our graduates, and generously established this year by his family and friends. Our own Dr. Merinda Simmons sat down and talked with Dr. Miller about her work and the field of the study of religion. A video of Dr. Miller’s lecture will also be posted soon…. A Few Moments with Monica Miller from UA Religious Studies. […]
Race and Displacement
Race and Displacement, co-edited by our own Prof. Simmons and Prof. Marouan (formerly of REL and now of Gender & Race Studies), has just been published. It is based on a conference held at UA several years ago. As the University of Alabama Press’s site describes it: “it captures a timely set of discussions about the roles of race in displacement, forced migrations, nation and nationhood, and the way continuous movements of people challenge fixed racial definitions. The multifaceted approach […]