About Me
My name is Beiyin Deng (邓蓓茵 in Chinese, ဗေဒါ in Burmese), Ph.D. Candidate in Religious Studies at Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, U.S. I am interested in contemporary Buddhist material culture, state-religion relationship, and religion in public diplomacy in Southeast Asian and Chinese traditions.
Education
Ph.D. | Arizona State University | 2016–Present
Religious Studies
M.A. | New York University | 2011–2013
Religious Studies
B.A. | Fudan University | 2007-2011
Philosophy
Distinguished Academic Experience
SSRC InterAsia Academy 2021
Dissertation Project: “Buddhas Beyond Borders: Trading Marble Buddhist Images from Myanmar to China”
AAS-SSRC Virtual Dissertation Workshop 2021
Dissertation Project: “Buddhas Beyond Borders: Trading Marble Buddhist Images from Myanmar to China”
Academic Conference Presentations
Association for Asian Studies Virtual Annual Conference | 2021
Paper: “From ‘Burmese Marble’ to ‘Burmese White Jade’: Aesthetic Appreciation and the Transnational Marketing of Burmese Marble Buddhist Images to China
SEAP Graduate Student Conference | Cornell University | 2020
Paper: “From ‘Burmese Marble’ to ‘Burmese White Jade’: The Cultural Repertoires Behind the Transnational Trade of Marble Buddhist Images from Myanmar to China
Teaching Experience
Course Instructor | Religious Studies
- Religion, Culture, and Public Life | 2021 Summer
- Religion and Popular Culture | 2019 Summer
Teaching Assistant | Religious Studies | 2016 Fall — Present
- Buddhism;
- Religion and the Modern World;
- Ritual, Symbol, and Myth;
- American Religious Traditions;
- Religion and Globalization;
- Religion, Culture, and Public Life.
Dissertation Committee
Dr. Juliane Schober | Religious Studies | Chair
Dr. James Rush | History
Dr. Huaiyu Chen | Religious Studies
Comprehensive Exam Fields
Burmese Buddhism | Dr. Juliane Schober | Religious Studies
Chinese Diaspora in Southeast Asia, Inter-Asian Transborder Trades | Dr. James Rush | History
Chinese Buddhism | Dr. Huaiyu Chen | Religious Studies
Language Skills
Cantonese | Native Proficiency
Mandarin | Native Proficiency
English | Professional Work Proficiency
Burmese | Professional Work Proficiency
Professional Experience
QYER.com | Beijing, China | 07.2014-07.2016
Editor (Southeast Asian Region)
Religions for Peace Myanmar | Yangon, Myanmar | 02.2014-03.2014
Project Assistant
Religions for Peace USA | New York, US | 05.2013-01.2014
Project Coordinator