Mugdha Yeolekar Department of Religious Studies 800, N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92831 Office: 657-278-4419 Cell: 480-789-1390 [email protected]
EDUCATION Ph.D. in Religious Studies, Arizona State University, 2014. Dissertation: “Gurucaritra Pārāyaṇ: Social Praxis of Religious Reading” (Committee Chair: Anne Feldhaus, Members: Alexander Henn and Julie Codell). M.A. in Political Science, University of British Columbia, Canada, 2005. M.A. in Political Science, University of Pune, India, 2002. B. A. in Political Science (Major), Philosophy and Logic (Minor), University of Pune, India, 2000. B.A. in Sanskrit, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, India, 2000.
EXTENDED STUDY Companions in Mission Program, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, USA., 2017-18. Jain Yoga Program, Three-Week Summer Program, International Institute of Jain Studies, New Delhi, India, 2017. Influences of Regional Literature on Sanskrit Writing in the Second Millennium, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel, 2005. PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS California State University at Fullerton, Religious Studies, Assistant Professor, Fall 2018-present.
Uberoi Teacher Training Institute, Instructor of Indian Religions, Summer 2018.
Loyola Marymount University, Theological Studies, Postdoctoral Faculty Fellow, 2015–present.
PUBLICATIONS Peer-Reviewed Articles • “Texts and Trees: Ritual Engagements with Audumbar Tree in the Dattatreya Sampradāya.” In Sustainable Societies: Interreligious, Interdisciplinary Responses, Springer Publication, USA (2019) • “Toddlers and Teas: Interreligious Play” (with Tracy Sayuki Tiemeier). In Interreligious Friendship. Palgrave (2015). • “Where Agency is Not Resistance: A Case of Women's Ritual Reading of Gurucaritra.” In Exemplar, The Journal of South Asian Studies. (Vol 2. 1, 2013): 59-71.
Book Reviews • Place/No-place in Urban Asian Religiosity, by Joanne Punzo Waghorne, ed. Asian Ethnology. Forthcoming. • Routledge Handbook of Gender in South Asia, by Leela Fernandes, ed. Asian Ethnology. Forthcoming. • A Place at the Multicultural Table, by Prema Kurien. The International Review of Modern Sociology. Available online at www.internationaljournals.org (Fall 2008):317-19.
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Works in Progress • “Teaching Diversity through Experiential Learning.” Article to be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal • “Reflections on Online Teaching in Religious Studies” Article to be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal
AWARDS AND HONORS 2019 IMPACT certificate for successful completion of FOUR workshops on high impact teaching, CSUF rd. 2010 Guest speaker at the 83 Marathi Literature Meeting held in Pune, India. 2008 Teaching Excellence Award, Graduate Professional Students’ Association, Arizona State University 2007 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Department of Religious Studies, Arizona State University 2002 Certified to teach at any university in India as a result of completing the national level test for lecturers (NET) 2003 Gold Medal for Excellency in academics at the post- graduate level by the University of Pune, India. 1998-2001 Maharashtra Government Merit Scholarship, India. 1997 First Place, State of Maharashtra at the higher secondary school examination.
GRANTS 2016 Lilly Conference Support, Center for Teaching Excellence, Loyola Marymount University. 2011 Dissertation Research and Writing Fellowship: Department of Religious Studies, Arizona State University. 2011 Dissertation Completion Emeriti Fellowship, Preparing Future Faculty Program at Arizona State University. 2011 International Dissertation Fellowship for conducting research in India by the American Academy of Religion 2010 Research Grant for conducting dissertation fieldwork in India from the Graduate Professional Students Association, Arizona State University. 2008 Department of Religious Studies Conference Travel Grant. 2008 Arizona State University Graduate Professional Students’ Association, Conference Travel Grant. 2006 Arizona State University Center for Asian Research, Conference Travel Grant.
CONFERENCES Papers Presented • “Creating Inclusive Classrooms Through Experiential Learning.” Nineteenth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations, Patras, Greece. Jun 2019. • “Teaching Diversity Through Experiential Learning.” Western Conference of Association of Asian Studies, Soka University, CA. Sep 2018. • “Reflections on Teaching Indian Religions to North American High School Teachers.” Uberoi Experts Meeting, Tampa. Sep 2018. • “Can the “vulnerable” be “powerful?”: Analyzing dynamics of power and vulnerability in a sixteen century Hindu text.” American Academy of Religion, Boston, MA. Nov 2017. • “Eco-theology in Hindu traditions.” Oberoi Foundation Conference, Denver, CO. Sep 2017. • “Some reflections on worship of trees in Hinduism.” the Conference on Sustainable Societies: Interreligious Interdisciplinary Responses, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA. May 2017.
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• “Can the “vulnerable” be “powerful?”: Analyzing dynamics of power and vulnerability in a sixteen century Hindu text.” South Asian Studies Association Conference, Claremont, CA. Mar 2017. • “Gurucaritra Pārāyaṇ: Ek Bahuāyāmī Ākalan.” Bhandarkar Institute of Oriental Research, Pune, India. Jul 2016. • “Religion and home-making: Some reflections on the practice of Gurucaritra Pārāyaṇ in Pune.” Religion and Home-making Conference, Chennai, India. Jul 2016. • “This is not a book, it is a pothī”: analyzing material elements in ritual reading in Hinduism.” Channeling Grace through Art Conference, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA. Jan 2015. • “Texts and Trees; Ritual Engagements with Audumbar in the Dattātreya Sampradāya.” Seizing An Alternative: Ecological Civilization Conference, Claremont, CA. Jun 2015. • “The Social Practice of Religious Text in Contemporary Pune.” Western Conference of American Association of Asian Studies, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. Oct 2014 • “Women Reading a Forbidden Hindu Scripture: Gender Equality or Alternative Agency?” International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS 8), Macao, China. Jun 2013. st • “The Dynamics Between Gurucaritra and Ritual Practices in the Dattatreya Tradition.” 41 Annual South Asia Conference at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI. Oct 2012. • “Suffering can be borne, injustice cannot be: Exploring ‘Secular’ and ‘Sacred’ in the film Kunku.” “Sacred and Secular Conference,” Department of English, University of Southampton, United Kingdom. Sep 2008. • “Historicizing “history” in Phule and Ambedkar: Two Non-Brahman Leaders in Maharashtra.” Western Conference of American Association of Asian Studies, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT. Sep 2007. • “Malibu Hindu Temple: a case of recreation and retention of the immigrant religion.” International Association for History of Religions conference, Bangkok, Thailand. May 2007. • (With Dr. Anne Feldhaus) “Ratnamala Stotra: Influences of Regional Languages on Sanskrit Writing in nd the 2 Millennium.” Sanskrit Scholars’’ Workshop at Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel, Jul 2005. • “Gujarat Carnage: A Unique Case of Regional Consciousness or a Trendsetter in Indian Politics?” “International symposium on regional consciousness in India.” Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. 2004. • “Gujarat; a laboratory of the constructed identity of Hindutva?” Canadian Association of South Asian scholars, University of Dalhousie, Nova Scotia, Canada. Jun 2003.
Panels Organized • Towards Understanding Lateral Leadership: Reflections on medieval texts in Hinduism, Christianity and Sikhism, American Academy of Religion, Boston, MA. 2017 • A public talk by Prof. Alexander Henn on Hindu- Catholic Encounters in Goa. Spring 2017. • A public talk by Prof. Vinay Lal on Gandhi and non-violence. Fall 2015. • Co-organizer, Graduate Student Conference, Center for Asian Research and Department of Religious Studies, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. Oct 2008
Other Participation • Participant in the Companions in Mission Program, Loyola Marymount University, 2017-18 • Attended the University Ethics Conference (a three-day conference on evidence-based teaching) at Boston, MA. Apr 2017.
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• Attended the Lilly Conference (a three-day conference on evidence-based teaching) at Anaheim, CA. Feb 2017. • Participant in the Intercultural Pedagogy Workshop, Loyola Marymount University. 2016-17. • Participant in Postdoctoral Fellows Seminar, Loyola Marymount University. 2015-2017.
CAMPUS TALKS • “Reflections from Hindu World: Introduction to Intercultural Communication.” Pepperdine University, 28 September 2017. • “Gurucaritra Parayan: Social Praxis of Religious Reading.” The Yadunandan Center for India Studies, California State University, Long Beach, 20 October 2016.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE Introduction to Buddhism (1 section ONLIE 2019), CSUF Introduction of Asian Religions (1 section ONLINE 2018), CSUF Religions of the World (2 sections, 2018-19), CSUF God and the Human Experience (1 section, 2017), Loyola Marymount University. Women and Religion (1 sections, 2017), Loyola Marymount University. Comparative Theology (10 sections, 2015-7), Loyola Marymount University. Religion and (Non)Violence (3 sections, 2015–17), Loyola Marymount University. World Religions in Los Angeles (6 sections, 2012–15), Loyola Marymount University. Introduction to Hinduism (2 sections, 2014), Chapman University. Living Religions of the World (2 sections, 2014), Chapman University. Ritual, Symbol, and Myth (4 sections, 2012-14), Arizona State University. Introduction to Hinduism (Internet Class 2 sections, 2008-2010), Arizona State University. Ritual, Symbol, and Myth (Internet Class, 4 sections, 2008-2010), Arizona State University. ASU 101- Experience ASU (1 section, 2007) Arizona State University. Introductory Sanskrit (2 sections, 2006-07) Arizona State University. Advanced Sanskrit (2 sections, 2006-07) Arizona State University. Introductory Hindi (1 section, 2006) Arizona State University. Teaching Assistant for Traditional Asia (4 sections, 2004-05), University of British Columbia, Canada.
SERVICE Disciplinary Service 2015-present Steering Committee Member, Women and Religion Committee, American Academy of Religion. 2019 Spring 2019 Ambassador for Open Educational Resources at CSUF 2017 Reflections from Hindu World for Introduction to Intercultural Communication, Pepperdine University. 2017 Respondent, Hindu-Catholic Dialogue annual meeting, “Hindu perspectives on Hindu-Catholic encounters in Goa, India.” 2016 Respondent, Hindu-Catholic Dialogue annual meeting, “Creating a “common home”: Perspectives on Hindu Eco-theology.” 2016, 2017 Presenter, Milken Institute, Reflections on Hindu cosmology and architecture during a tour to the Malibu Hindu Temple in Los Angeles. 2016 Panelist, Sacred Earth, University of Southern California. 2015 Presenter, “Teach India Program for California History Teachers,” California State University, Long Beach, CA. 2014 Keynote Speaker at the Fish Interfaith Center, Diwali in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism
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Chapman University, CA. 2004 Discussant, Roundtable discussion "Trashing of the library: caste and religious dimensions of the attack" on the Bhandarkar Institute at Pune, India, Center for the conflict resolution at the Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. 2007 Grant Reviewer, Arizona State University Graduate Professional Students’ Association Research Grant Competition.
College-level Service 2019-20 Member of Committee on Equity and Diversity for Humanities and Social Sciences Division 2019 Instructor, California Global Education Project, CSUF Departmental Service 2018 Created and submitted a new course proposal for Jain Studies to Curriculog 2017 Speaker, Theology and Human Rights Panel, Department of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University. 2017 Respondent, Spiritual Warriors: (non) Violence in the Sikh and Jain Traditions Conference, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. 2016 Speaker, Change Your Heart, Department of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. 2008 Facilitator, Methods and Theory Group, Department of Religious Studies, Arizona State University.
Service to community-at-large 2019 Guest Speaker on South Asian religious traditions at Pacific Unitarian Church, Palos Verdes, LA 2019 Organizing Committee Member, PuLa Deshapande Event by Maharashtra Mandal Los Angeles 2018 Cooked at Downtown Women’s Center in Los Angeles 2018 Guest Speaker on Key features of Hindu traditions at the Rotary Club, Santa Clarita 2017 Guest speaker on Text and religious practices in Hindu traditions, Senior Citizens Community in Simi Valley 2017 Reflections from Hindu World for Introduction to Intercultural Communication, Pepperdine University. 2016, 2017 Presenter, Milken Institute, Reflections on Hindu cosmology and architecture during a tour to the Malibu Hindu Temple in Los Angeles. 2016 Panelist, Sacred Earth, University of Southern California. 2013-15 Editorial Board Member, Smaranika, Brihan Maharashtra Mandal Convention in Los Angeles. 2014 Keynote Speaker at the Fish Interfaith Center, Diwali in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism Chapman University, CA.
LANGUAGES English, Marathi, Hindi highly proficient in reading, writing, and speaking. Sanskrit proficient in reading, writing, and speaking. Konkani proficient in reading and writing. Kannada basic reading ability. German, French basic reading ability.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS American Academy of Religion American Association of Asian Studies
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REFERENCES Anne Feladhaus Professor of Religious Studies, Arizona State University 480-965-5778 [email protected] 975 S. Myrtle Ave, P.O.Box 874302, Tempe, AZ 85287-4302
Alexander Henn Professor of Religious Studies, Arizona State University [email protected] 975 S. Myrtle Ave, P.O.Box 874302, Tempe, AZ 85287-4302
Jonathan Rothchild Associate Professor of Theological Studies Associate Dean, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, Loyola Marymount University 310-338-1716 [email protected] University Hall 4600, One LMU Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Tracy Tiemeier Associate Professor of Theological Studies Undergraduate Director of Theological Studies Loyola Marymount University [email protected] 310-568-6234 University Hall, One LMU Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90045
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