“Dr. Schippert’s academic expertise, administrative experience in various settings, and commitment to the AAR for over a quarter-century make for an extraordinary combination,” writes the AAR’s President, Dr. Amir Hussain.

The American Academy of Religion (AAR) announced Tuesday that Kwan Um School of Zen teacher and professor, Dr. Claudia Schippert, has been appointed as its new Executive Director.

Dr. Schippert is a committed Buddhist practitioner in the Korean Zen tradition, serving as a Senior Dharma Teacher and founding abbot of the Orlando Zen Center since 2015. They are an associate professor of Humanities and Religious studies at the University of Central Florida, whose academic work focuses on queer theory and religion in America, including contemporary Buddhism, feminist and queer theories, social change, and queer pedagogy, exploring the intersections of queer theory with religion and popular culture.

Dr. Schippert is also working on a digital archive, which includes documents and artifacts related to the life, teachings, and legacy of the founder of the Kwan Um School of Zen, Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn. The Kwan Um school of Buddhist practice combines rituals common to both Korean Buddhism as well as the Rinzai school of Zen, adapted by Seung Sahn to the needs of Westerners. Seung Shan was also the founder of the Dharma Zen Center in Los Angeles prior to the formation of the Kwan Um School of Zen.

The AAR is a scholarly society dedicated to the academic study of religion, comprised of more than 5,000 members around the world. Their mission is  “to foster excellence in the academic study of religion and enhance the public understanding of religion.”

Dr. Amir Hussain, President of the AAR, announced Dr. Schippet’s appointment, saying:

We are privileged and delighted to be able to present Dr. Claudia Schippert as the next Executive Director of the American Academy of Religion. Their academic expertise, administrative experience in various settings, and commitment to the AAR for over a quarter-century make for an extraordinary combination. They are committed to strengthening the AAR, with all of the challenges in the present historical moment to the work of scholars and the public understanding of religion.