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 Scholars

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.

During 2008-09, the CSWR had two Senior Visiting Scholars. Jan Sokol, from the Czech Republic,  was at HDS for the fall term, and he and Ronald Thiemann, who nominated him, taught the course Religion, Ethics, and Human Rights. In the spring, Chilkuri Vasantha Rao, from Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad, India, and John Carman, his nominator, taught the course "Christian-Hindu Interaction in Some South Indian Villages."

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.

The CSWR has three ad hoc fellows for all or part of the 2009-10 academic year. They are: 

• Stephen J. Reno, Chancellor Emeritus, University of New Hampshire; sponsored by Professor Mark Edwards: developing a religion major in a public university setting;
• Rajesh Pradhan, post-doctorate from MIT; supported by Professor Diana Eck: the role of sadhus in politics in India;
• Spring term only: Timothy Dobe, Assistant Professor of South Asian Studies, Grinnell College, supported by Professor Anne Monius: faqirs and comparative approaches to sainthood in Punjab.

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