Spring 2024
Section 5234 of RELS6.66
History of Satan -- : Jan 17 - May 15 2024
Section 5878 of HUMAN26
Friendship -- : Jan 17 - May 15 2024
Fall 2023
Section 0987 of HUMAN8
Comparative Mythology -- : Aug 14 - Dec 08 2023
This is section has no regularly scheduled meetings.
Section 0989 of RELS6.66
History of Satan -- : Sep 11 - Dec 08 2023
This is a late start section that will meet in person at the day(s), time(s), and location listed. There will be additional course content delivered asynchronously online.
Section 2560 of HUMAN26
Friendship -- : Sep 07 - Dec 08 2023
This is a late start section that will meet in person at the day(s), time(s), and location listed. There will be additional course content delivered asynchronously online.
Fall 2023
Mondays:
11:00-11:45 SLO Coordinators (Zoom)
1:30-3:00 Religious Studies 6.66
3:00-4:00 Student Office Hour
Tuesdays:
*Off Campus
2:30-4:00 AFA Negotiation Team Meeting (Zoom) (1st & 3rd)
Wednesdays:
1:30-3:00 Religious Studies 6.66
3:00-5:00 Academic Senate (1st & 3rd) or AFA Executive Council (2nd & 4th)
Thursdays:
12:00-1:00 SLO Liaisons (Zoom)
1:00-2:00 Virtual Colleague Office Hour (Zoom)
4:00-6:00 Humanities 26
6:00-7:00 Student Office Hour
Fridays:
*Off Campus
11:45-1:15 AFA Negotiations Team Meeting (Zoom) (1st & 3rd)
You can also make a Zoom appointment with me.
Degrees
PhD - ABD Religious Studies (with an emphasis in Ancient Mediterranean Studies) University of California, Santa Barbara
MTS, New Testament & Early Christianity, Harvard University
BA, Religious Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara
Other education & training
- Certificate in Inclusive Pedagogy, American Academy of Religion
Faculty Positions
- 2013-present Associate Faculty, Santa Rosa Junior College
- 2012-2013 Adjunct Faculty, California Lutheran University
- 2010-2011 Teaching Associate, University of California, Santa Barbara
- 2005-2012 Teaching Assistant, University of California, Santa Barbara
Courses Taught at SRJC
- Religious Studies 1: Introduction to Religious Studies
- Religious Studies 2: World Religions
- Religious Studies 6.66: History of Satan
- Religious Studies 21: The Jewish Bible & the Birth of God
- Religious Studies 22: Jesus & the Invention of Christianity
- Religious Studies 32: Religion in America
- Humanities 4.1: Western Humanities: Arts, Ideas, & Values (Prehistory - Renaissance)
- Humanities 4.2: Western Humanities: Arts, Ideas, & Values (Renaissance - Present)
- Humanities 6: Humanities in the US
- Humanities 8: Comparative Mythology
- Humanities 14: Popular Culture in the US
Courses taught at other institutions
- Introduction to Christianity
- New Testament & Early Christianity
- Academic Writing
About Me
My pronouns are she/her/hers.
I was born and raised in Santa Rosa, where I watched too much Indiana Jones as a kid and went to Catholic high school. So, I developed an interest in really old things and religion. I think and teach about how people have experienced being human and the roles religion plays in the human experience.
I am a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts, holding both Silver and Gold Awards. I performed with the Northern California Renaissance Faire for 10 years (prior to starting graduate school). I like science fiction, historical fiction, crime procedurals, and fantasy (both traditional and urban/paranormal) novels, film, and television.
"The beauty of anti-racism is that you don't have to pretend to be free of racism to be an anti-racist. Anti-racism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including in yourself. And it's the only way forward." -author Ijeima Oluo
NOTE
- The best way to reach me is by email eschmidt@santarosa.edu
- You can make an appointment with me.
- Students enrolled in my classes: please email me with the name you go by & pronouns you use if they don't match your enrollment records, so I can use the correct ones at the first class meeting. Sensitive information will be kept confidential.
- Contact me ASAP if book costs for my courses exceed your budget. Budget should not limit your access to education. I can probably help.
- Students of all races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities/presentation, immigration status, and abilities/disabilities are welcome in my classes.
- The ACLU has a page with Know Your Rights information.
Research Interests
- "Religion" as a category or classification
- Religions in the Roman Empire (Greco-Roman traditions, Christianities, and Judaisms)
- Archaeology of Religion
- Theories of Space & Material Culture
- Religious Identity
- Ritual & Ritualization
- Politics of Religion and Empire
- Religion & Religions in the U.S.
- Construction of American identity
- Religion, racialization & the construction of whiteness
2017-present North American Association for the Study of Religion
2009-present American Academy of Religion
2009-present Society for Ancient Mediterranean Religions
2003-present Society of Biblical Literature
Publications
- 2017 “Secrecy, Stories, and Boundaries” In Fabricating Identities, ed. Russell T. McCutcheon (Sheffield: Equinox, 2017), 89-94
- 2010 “The Flavian Triumph and the Arch of Titus: The Jewish God in Flavian Rome.” UC Santa Barbara: Ancient Borderlands Research Focus Group.
SRJC Professional Development Presentations
- 2022 Religious Studies & The Community College Student (co-presenter)
Conference Presentations
- 2014 "Shaping Jerusalem, Shaping Identity: Herod, the Flavians, and the Gospel of Mark." Westar Institute Spring 2014 Meeting: Archaeology: Rewriting Early Christian History, 21 March 2014.
- 2012 "Herod's Edifice Complex." Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, 18 November, 201
- 2011 "Ritual and Architecture in Flavian Rome: The Shaping of Imperial Image" UCSB Productive Geographies Interdisciplinary Humanities Center Graduate Conference, 29 April 2011
- 2010 "Presence and Absence: Flavian Propaganda and the Destruction of the Jewish Temple." Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, 23 November 2010
- 2010 "The Flavian Triumph and the Arch of Titus: The Jewish God in Rome." UCSB Ancient Borderlands International Graduate Student Conference: Beyond Borders: Ancient Societies and their Conceptual Frontiers, 16 April 2010
- 2007 "The Res Gestae Divi Augusti as Monument." Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, 17 November 2007
Websites about Your Rights & Living in the U.S.
- Know Your Rights The ACLU's informational page with details about civil rights (Police or ICE stops, Search warrants, Protests, Religious freedom, etc)
- Covered California (ACA) Health insurance via Affordable Care Act in California. Find out what you qualify for!
- Register to Vote in California CA Secretary of Sate online voter registration form.
- The Pew Research Center U.S. Religious Landscape Study Survey of Americans about religious affiliations, beliefs, practices, and social & political views.
Websites about Student-ing
- Tips For Recent High School Graduates Attending College Advice & info presentation for new college students by SRJC's own Prof. Rafael Vázquez Guzmán.
- SRCJ Dream Center Information about & help for going to college as an undocumented student resident.
- SRJC Student Health Services Healthcare Services & Psychological Services for SRJC Students.
- Transferring to CSU California State University System: Information for applying as a transfer student.
- Transferring to UC University of California: Information for applying as a transfer student.
- How to Get the Most Out of Studying Stephen Linn Chew has 5 short videos on studying efficiently.
Websites Pertaining to Religious Studies
- What is the Academic Study of Religion? 2 page overview (pdf) of the academic study of religion by Dr. Russell T. McCutcheon.
- Why study Religion? Overview of why you should study religion, produced by the American Academy of Religion.
- Bible and Religions of the Ancient Near East Collective Research group for study of biblical & ancient Near Eastern literatures and cultures in the 21st c.
- The American Academy of Religion American professional society for scholars of religion.
- The Society of Biblical Literature Professional society for scholars of Biblical literature and Biblical worlds.
- Society for Ancient Mediterranean Religions Professional interdisciplinary society for scholars of religions in the ancient Mediterranean.
- The Westar Institute An institute fostering scholarship & sharing scholarship with the public. Meets in SR every Spring!
- Early Christian Writings Public domain translations, links, and bibliographies for Christian writings 1st-4th centuries.
- Early Jewish Writings Public domain translations, links, and bibliographies for Jewish Writings to the 1st century CE.
- Bible Odyssey A peer-reviewed site for Biblical scholarship by members of the Society of Biblical Literature.
- Ancient Jew Review The Ancient Jew Review is a non-profit web journal devoted to the study of Ancient Judaism.
- Religion Dispatches Journalistic blog about religion, politics, & culture. Edited & authored by scholars & journalists.
Podcasts & YouTube Channels about Religion
- The Religious Studies Project Weekly podcasts about the study of religion & log of RS opportunities
- Religion for Breakfast & Religion for Breakfast You tube channel Dr. Andrew Mark Henry's blog & channel dedicated to the academic study of religion.
- Keeping it 101: A Killjoy's Introduction to Religion An intro to religion podcast hosted by Dr. Ilyse Morgenstein Fuerst & Dr. Megan Goodwin
- NT Pod Dr. Mark Goodacre's Podcast. Brief podcasts about academic study of the New Testament.
- Straight, White, American Jesus Dr. Bradley Onishi & Dr. Dan Miller's podcast about religion & politics in America - esp. about evangelicalism.
- Philip Harland's Podcast Dr. Harland's podcast series range in topics related to ethnicities & identities in the ancient Mediterranean world .
- Feminists Talk Religion Affiliated with Feminist Studies in Religion (journal), feminist & historically marginalized scholars discuss religion & religious studies.
Other Podcasts I like
- Gastropod A podcast about food through the lens of history & science.
- LeVar Burton Reads Host of Reading Rainbow & Star Trek TNG star reads grown up short stories he likes. It's Reading Rainbow for adults!
- Maintenance Phase Wellness & weight loss, debunked & decoded.
- Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter OB/GYN & pain medicine physician busts lies & myths about heath while helping you understand how your body works.
- NPR's Code Switch Hosted by journalists of color, this podcast tackles race with empathy & humor - politics, pop culture, history, food, and more.