Alex McKinley

Full Time Instructor

I research the religious traditions of Sri Lanka and their interactions across past and present, with a particular love for poetry translation. I teach about the religious traditions of every time and place in my THEO 107, Buddhism, Global Religious Ethics, and Demonology courses at Loyola. In my free time, I am an avid native gardener and political advocate for environmental sustainability.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Religion, Duke University
Master of Theological Studies, Harvard Divinity School
Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Grinnell College

Research Interests

Religious Pluralism, Pilgrimage, Poetry, Translation, Meditation

Professional Employment

American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies, Treasurer
Berwyn Tree Canopy Initiative, Volunteer

Publications/Research Listings

Mountain at a Center of the World: Pilgrimage and Pluralism in Sri Lanka (Columbia University Press, 2024)