The graduate students at the Department of Religion are a diverse group of intellectuals. Many of them come into the program with bachelor's degrees in Religion or Religious Studies, but others have done their previous academic training in related disciplines, such as Philosophy or International Studies. In addition to their formal classroom time, graduate students at the Department often spend a great deal of their free time in social settings together, where they continue to learn from one another. Our small department of only between one and two dozens graduate students is an optimal environment for friendships to blossom out of a common interest in studying world religions.

Caroline Bark
B.A., University of Hawaii at Mānoa (2009, Religion)

Caroline is a first year grad student whose primary interest of study is religion’s place in education. She is exploring this topic by taking a variety of classes such as seminars on Indian and Hawaiian religions. Outside of the University, Caroline enjoys all aspects of Hawaiian life, which includes biking, swimming and making arts and crafts.

Adam Crabtree
B.A., Hendrix College in Arkansas (2004, Religion)

Adam is currently in Japan to further his study of Japanese religions. He is primarily interested in the historical development of Chan/Zen Buddhism, focusing on Buddhist-Daoist syncretism in China and its contribution to what is most widely recognized today as Zen Buddhism. Adam is also interested in Zen and its relationship to wider social, artistic and technological customs in Japan. He plans to continue his studies in religion as a doctoral candidate and would like to teach religion at the university level one day.

Maria Gellatly
B.A., University of Hawaii at Mānoa (2009)

Maria is a first year grad student who focuses on contemporary religious conflicts in India. She plans to explore various aspects of Indian religions in order to elaborate on how peace-based religions are often used to justify violent acts in contemporary society and is also studying Hindi as a language.

Cary Hitchcock
B.A., Brevard College (2006, Religious Studies)

Cary is studying Hinduism and Sanskrit. His current interests include classical Sanskrit literature and Hindu rituals and festival celebrations. Presently, Cary is conducting research on the Rathayatra for Lord Jagannath (a Hindu festival). The main goal of this research is to articulate the merging of ritual and festival and its significance to the practitioners. Other interests include, kavya literature (courtly Sanskrit poems), the interpretation of context within Sanskrit literature, and the purification rites of Brahmans. In the Fall of 2008, Cary will be organizing his Rathayatra fieldwork, and working closely with Professor Lee Siegel on the interpretation of Sanskrit poetry.

Dan Kashner
B.A., University of Memphis (2001, International Studies)

Dan studies Chinese religions and specializes in Daoism. His research interests include alchemy, divination, and correlative cosmology. He is currently abroad studying Chinese.

Kayla Keehu
B.A., University of Hawaii at Mānoa (2009, Religion)

Kayla is studying Indian religions and plans to focus on the Indian epics and their place in contemporary Hindu society and culture. She is also interested in rituals and the various forms of worship within Hindu traditions.

Holly Machacek
B.A., University of Hawai'i at Manoa (2007, Religion)

Holly studies Indian religions, particularly focusing on the Hindu way of life. Her interests include contemporary asceticism, mysticism, healing practices, and goddess worship. She intends to further her studies following the completion of this program.

Lara Magnabosco
B.A., Emory University (2009, East Asian Studies and Religion)

Lara is excited to continue her studies in Chinese Buddhism and family relationships, particularly those regarding the care of elders, at UHM. Beyond the classroom, her other interests include hiking and swimming.

Takashi Miura
B.A., University of Hawai’i at Mānoa (2008, Religion and Translation & Interpretation)

Takashi started his MA program in Fall 2008 with a focus on Japanese religions. He is especially interested in Japanese new religious movements, which offer a variety of intriguing topics such as charismatic leadership, healing rituals, active proselytization, and syncretistic doctrines. His current research concentrates on Jōrei, a spiritual purification method practiced in several Japanese new religions.

Martha E. Randolph
High School of Music and Art NYC; B.A. East/West Classical Studies (ancient history) (2008, Hawaii Pacific University)

Martha is an adult student with a professional background in theater/production management, acting and related entertainment industry technical areas. She was raised in NYC but lived a bi-coastal life until college and professional committments led to living and working in various countries. She speaks fluent German, passable French, a bit of Spanish and is currently studying Hindi here at UH. Her immediate intention is to teach at the high school or lower university level, or to work in an administrative or student advising capacity in an academic institution. She is an experienced magazine writer, and life student of new age philosophies and their relationship to ancient religious teachings.

Aaron Reich
B.A., University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, (2006, Psychology and Religion)

Aaron studies Chinese religions with a focus on Daoism. He is interested in the religious quality and implicit ritual disposition of traditional Chinese landscape painting, a topic that he plans to develop into an M.A. thesis. Aaron is also interested in Chinese languages, internal alchemy, and self-cultivation practices; the history and practice of martial arts in China; and the psychology of religious experience. He is a member of the Daoist Iconography Project developmental team and the webmaster for the Department of Religion. Aaron is on a leave of absence to study language in Taiwan.

Deeksha Sivakumar
B.A Linfield College (2007, Philosophy & Psychology)

Deeksha is currently studying Hinduism—Vernacular and Sanskritic mythology of South Indian deities. She is learning Hindi, Tamil and Sanskrit to pursue her interests in rituals and festivals in relationship to the societal and cultural ambience of Tamil traditions. She is interested in interpreting and working with Sanskrit texts of Siva and Shakti mythologies, vernacular bhakti poetry from 5th and 6th Century Tamil Kingdoms, conversing with her colleagues in hindi, post-colonialist writers of India, & yoga and tantric practices of worship and devotion.

Joshua Urich
B.A Northwestern University (2008)

Joshua Urich is pursuing an interest in Buddhism(s) in America. He is particularly interested in American converts to Buddhism, as opposed to first or second generation practitioners. Within this sphere, Joshua wishes to explore current contemplation practices, both in Buddhist communities and communities influenced by Buddhist meditation.