Meira Z. Kensky

As Advising Director, my job is to ensure that all students in the College of Arts and Sciences have access to excellent advising that can help them explore all the possibilities that UVA has to offer. I work with the Faculty, Fellows, and Deans to provide them with the training and resources they need to help students navigate UVA systems and processes efficiently in order to achieve their goals. Before coming to UVA, I served as Joseph E. McCabe Professor of Religion and Director of Advising at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA, where I worked closely with students and faculty in a small liberal arts environment. My goals are to bring that same hands-on advising experience to the College of Arts and Sciences and to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to find their academic home and passions. My own research is on narratives of post-mortem judgment, particularly depictions of divine courtrooms and tours of hell. My experience teaching and working in Religious Studies has provided me the opportunity to engage with ideas and people from diverse and varied cultural contexts and backgrounds, and I learn something new every day. I hope to bring my enthusiasm and experience for a life of learning, exploration, and discovery to all students as they weigh their options and find their path through the College.