Visiting Scholars

Two types of visiting scholars make an important contribution to widening the circle of the CSWR. Appointments to the positions of senior visiting scholar and ad hoc fellow are made only through sponsorship by Harvard faculty; there is no general fellowship program. 

CSWR Senior Visiting Scholar

In fulfilling its mission, the CSWR is keen to support Harvard faculty whose work will complement its global focus on religion, while bringing together scholars from within and outside the University to work collaboratively at the Center. The CSWR Senior Visiting Scholar is nominated by religion faculty at Harvard. The visiting scholar is expected to collaborate with the nominating faculty member in research and teaching, and will teach one course a semester, preferably in conjunction with his or her faculty nominator. The CSWR Senior Visiting Scholar continues the CSWR tradition of bringing world religion scholars to Harvard Divinity School, but in a way consistent with the Center's emphasis on integrating its work with that of Harvard faculty. The program also promotes faculty and institutional relationships between Harvard and universities in other countries, as strong preference is given to scholars from outside the United States. Selection is a competitive process and not open to general application.

The CSWR Senior Visiting Scholar for spring 2008 is Andrew O. Igenoza, Professor, Religious Studies Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Nigeria. He and Jacob K. Olupona, who nominated him, are co-teaching the HDS course Christianity, Identity, and Civil Society in Africa.

Ad Hoc Fellows

The CSWR occasionally appoints ad hoc fellows, when a scholar is sponsored by a Harvard faculty member and the Executive Council believes that his or her presence will enrich the life of the CSWR.

For the 2007-08 academic year, the CSWR has three ad hoc fellows: 

• Thomas Selover, Associate Professor, Cheongshim Graduate School of Theology (Korea), supported by Tu Weiming: research on the Analects of Confucius and how the text is used today (fall term only); 
• Koji Suga, Research Associate, Kokugakuin University (Japan), supported by Helen Hardacre: the relationship between religious symbolism and nationalism in modern society, also study of Shinto shrines (fall term only); and 
• Sabine Wagner, Research Associate, University of Heidelberg (Germany), supported by HDS theology faculty, particularly Francis Schüssler Fiorenza: Ratzinger's Mariology from an ecumenical and intercultural perspective.

Ad hoc fellows do not have offices or support staff at the CSWR. Please contact them directly through their home institutions.