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About Minjung
Minjung Noh is a religious studies scholar whose work spans Korean religions, comparative ethnic and gender studies, and transnational Christianity. She is currently assistant professor in the Department of Religion, Culture & Society at Lehigh University and has held previous positions at Drew Theological School (Louisville Institute Postdoctoral Fellow in Transnational Christianity and Gender Studies, 2021-2023), Wartburg College (Visiting Assistant Professor of World Religions, 2019-2020), and Temple University (Instructor of record, 2016-2021). Her research has been published in Journal of Korean Religions, Journal of Ecumenical Studies, and Religion, State & Society. Her current book project, “Transnational Salvations: Korean Evangelical Missionaries in Haiti,” is the first monograph to investigate the multidirectional religious dynamics between South Korea, the USA, and Haiti through the lens of the evangelical missionary network established among these three nation-states. She serves on AAR’s Academic Labor and Contingent Faculty Committee.
What is your area of expertise or field of study?
I am a religious studies scholar with a transnational and interdisciplinary approach, specializing in the confluences of religious cultures across South Korea, Haiti, and the United States. My areas of expertise include Korean religions, the history of Haitian Protestant Christianity, comparative ethnic and gender studies, and transnational Christianity.
Why did you get involved with AAR, and how is your work aligned?
I attended my first AAR Annual Meeting in 2016 and presented in the North American Religions Unit. I found many wonderful friends and colleagues at the annual meeting and have returned every year since. I have served on the steering committee of the Feminist Theory and Religious Reflection Unit, and I am currently co-chair of the Academic Labor and Contingent Faculty Committee. I am also a co-chair of the Society of Asian and Comparative Philosophy (SACP), one of AAR’s Related Scholarly Organizations (RSO). In addition to sharing my research in various units, my committee involvement reflects my commitment to feminist and labor activism within religious studies and academia more broadly as an international, queer woman scholar of color.
What is your favorite AAR member benefit, and how has it helped your career?
Participating in the Annual Meeting has been one of the most formative learning experiences of my PhD years. I learned how scholars think and present their research, how academic institutions shape the field of religious studies, and how to build professional relationships. Attending sessions outside of my field, joining business meetings of units I’m interested in, and organizing panels have all been invaluable. Receptions have also been a great space for networking.
What is one piece of advice you’d give to a first-time Annual Meeting attendee?
I recommend attending sessions outside your field, sitting in on business meetings of units you are curious about, volunteering to help organize panels, and taking advantage of the food and conversations at receptions.
What book is on your nightstand that you’re reading or intend to read in the future?
I have a pile of books by my nightstand, but I am currently reading Ocean Vuong’s two poetry collections, Time Is a Mother and Night Sky with Exit Wounds. I am also looking forward to reading his upcoming novel, The Emperor of Gladness.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I make ethnographic and documentary films for fun, which now overlaps with my academic work. As a 2025 Fellow at the Association for Public Religion and Intellectual Life (APRIL), I have more opportunities to create moving image collections. I also enjoy running and have recently gotten into Pilates!