Dr. Iva Patel has successfully defended her dissertation, "Taming the Mind: Cognitive Practices of Devotion in the Gujarati Works of Nishkulanand Swami, 1803-1848." Dr. Patel's dissertation committee members are: Dr. Frederick M. Smith (Religious Studies and Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures), Dr. Phillip Lutgendorf (UI Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures), Dr. Kristy Nabhan-Warren (Religious Studies and History), Jenna Supp-Montgomerie (Religious Studies and Communication Studies), Aron Aji (UI, Literary Translation).

Dr. Patel has also successfully defended her thesis for an MFA in Literary Translation titled, "Translating Religion: The Battle Allegory Nishkulanand Swami's Manganjan". Her MFA thesis was directed by her mentor Aron Aji and additionally guided by committee members Dr. Frederick Smith and Dr. Paul Dilley (Religious Studies and Classics)

This fall Dr. Patel begins a tenure track position in the Religion Department, Augsburg University, Minneapolis, Minnesota. We are so happy for you Iva!

Congratulations, Dr. Patel!