The Pluralism Project at Harvard University

Research Associate

Emilia is a Master of Theological Studies student at Harvard Divinity School focusing on religion in South Asia. As an undergraduate at Smith College, she studied abroad in India. She has returned to India subsequently to study Hindu-Vaishnava devotional traditions in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Emilia's intellectual interests include ritual and performance theory, women's ritual practice, and Hindu devotional poetry and performance. At the Pluralism Project Emilia will be supporting the Jain Summer Studies Program, acting as a liaison between the Jain community and the academy.

Research Associate

Geoff is a Master of Theological Studies student at Harvard Divinity School, focusing on Tibetan Buddhism. Raised in Texas, he received a B.A. in Buddhist studies from Hampshire College. Prior to his arrival at Harvard, he studied for several years at a Tibetan Monastery in Nepal. Geoff's interests in Buddhism vary widely, but he has developed a particular affection for recent Tibetan religious history. At the Pluralism Project, Geoff's work includes researching Buddhism and writing international portraits.

Research Associate

Will graduated with a B.A. from Kenyon College, where he majored in Philosophy and minored in Religious Studies. He also spent a year abroad studying different forms of Buddhism in Japan. After graduation, Will lived in Thailand for almost two years, teaching in the English Department of Chiang Mai University and pursuing his interest in Buddhism. Upon returning to the U.S., he began to work as a grant writer and development associate for Thanks-Giving Square, a non-profit organization in Dallas, Texas dedicated to programs of interfaith education and cooperation. At the Pluralism Project, Will will assist with general research, focusing especially on the case studies initiative and Buddhism in Boston.

Research Associate

Mariah is a Master of Divinity Student at Harvard Divinity School, and is a candidate for ordination in the United Methodist Church. Originally from Owatonna, Minnesota, she eared a B.A. from the University of Minnesota (2003) with majors in Journalism, Spanish and Political Science. Before coming to Harvard, she worked for the Council for Worker Education in Queens, New York and as the Cultural Liaison for Columbia Heights Public Schools in Minnesota. Her research interests include diaspora and migration studies as well as helping Christian religious leaders learn to talk about pluralism within their congregations and in their greater communities. At the Pluralism Project, Mariah will contribute to the case studies and women's initiatives.

Research Associate

Kendra is a Master of Divinity student at Harvard Divinity School focusing on Christianity. Kendra grew up in North Carolina where she also attended Wake Forest University, where she earned a B.A. in Biology and Religion (2007). While at Wake Forest, she conducted a summer of research in Italy focusing on the art produced by medieval monasticism and also had the opportunity to travel to India and work with the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's group) in hospices throughout Calcutta. This experience, and her work with the Interfaith Council at Wake Forest, made religious pluralism a personal and important issue to Kendra. At the Pluralism Project, Kendra will provide assistance with staff email and World Religions in Boston.

Research Associate

Nathaniel Katz is a Master of Divinity student at Harvard Divinity School. Nathaniel is originally from New Jersey and received his bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California School of International Relations in 2002. Prior to his studies at HDS, Nathaniel spent three years on the staff of Southern California Public Radio, which operates 89.3 KPCC-FM, Southern California's only 24-hour public radio news and information service. He hopes to pursue a ministry of interfaith conflict resolution and post-conflict reconciliation. At the Pluralism Project, Nathaniel will contribute to the case studies initiative and provide assistance with press outreach.

Research Associate

Erin is a Master of Theological Studies student interested in the relationship between art, text and theology. Originally from Los Angeles, she received her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley with a double major in English and Art History (2004). After studying abroad in Rome, she returned to San Francisco and worked as a graphic designer for UC Berkeley's School of Public Health. At the Pluralism Project, Erin works on Religious Diversity News and profiles organizations that work on issues of arts and activism.

Research Associate

Chris is a Master of Theological Studies student at Harvard Divinity School focusing on ethics and public policy. He received a B.A. in Religious Studies from California State University, Long Beach. Besides studying the diverse religious communities of Los Angeles, he was employed by the Department of Health and Human Services, where he conducted ethnographic research on localized sexual trends related to the spread of HIV. His current research interests include cultural analysis and cosmopolitan ethics. At the Pluralism Project, Chris works on Religious Diversity News and will contribute to the case studies initiative.

Research Associate

Kimberly is a Master of Theological Studies student at Harvard Divinity School, focusing on Religion, Ethics and Politics. Originally from Connecticut, she received her B.A. from Connecticut College with a double major in Religious Studies and Government. She is particularly interested in the intersection of religion, law and politics. At the Pluralism Project, she will focus on the case studies and city hall initiatives.

Research Associate

Derek is a Master of Theological Studies student at Harvard Divinity School, focusing on Theravada Buddhism. He received a B.A. in Political Science from Washington State University. Before coming to work at the Pluralism Project, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ratchaburi, Thailand working in the education sector. Derek's interests in Buddhism are primarily with the practice of meditation, Buddhist social movements, and the role of ritual in the Theravada tradition. At the Pluralism Project, he will assist in documenting the changing landscape of Buddhism in America and developing international portraits of pluralism.

Research Associate

Sabrina is a junior at Harvard College, where she is earning her B.A. in Social Anthropology with a focus on the anthropology of contemporary American religion. She is originally from Pullman, Washington. At the Pluralism Project, Sabrina will provide web assistance and profile interfaith student organizations.