Academic Career & Background • Dr. Mikal Austin Radford is a professor in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada. • His route into academia was unconventional: he originally trained in journalism, spending around fifteen years covering local sports and politics as a reporter and photographer before returning to university to pursue his passion for the humanities. Education & Scholarly Focus • He completed his Honours B.A. and Master’s at Wilfrid Laurier University. His undergraduate thesis examined the Jain ritual of Sallekhana, and his Master’s work focused on early Christian traditions in India (& the Acts of Thomas). • Later, he pursued a Ph.D. in Religious Studies at McMaster University. His doctoral dissertation—Did the Tirthankaras Cross These Oceans? Boundaries, Frontiers and the Negotiation of Transnational Identity Within the Jaina Community of Toronto—explores how diasporic Jain communities form their religious identities. Research Interests & Projects • Radford’s research interests span media and religion, the use of religion as a political instrument, and Neolithic death rituals from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Indus Valley. • He authored the chapter “(Re) Creating Transnational Religious Identity within the Jaina Community of Toronto” in the Brill volume South Asians in the Diaspora (2004). • He was invited to contribute to Brill’s Encyclopaedia of Jainism, recognizing his expertise in transnational Jain identity and his standing within the field. Teaching & Influence • His courses at Sheridan include Philosophies of World Religions and Asian Spiritual Traditions, providing students with broad, interdisciplinary perspectives on religion and culture. • Student feedback underscores his engaging teaching style—one student described him as “very passionate about religion,” and praised how this passion shines through his course delivery. Current Role - Professor of Religion & Philosophy, Sheridan College Educational Path - B.A. & M.A. at Wilfrid Laurier University; Ph.D. at McMaster University Research Focus - Jain rituals & identity, diaspora studies, media and religion, Neolithic death rituals Notable Publication - Chapter in South Asians in the Diaspora; Contributor to Brill’s Encyclopaedia of Jainism
Writes about
Jinamanjari
Vol. 18 · No. 02
By Ashij Kumar, T. G. Kalghatgi, Mikal Austin Radford, M. A. Dhaky
Jinamanjari
Vol. 13 · No. 01
By K. R. Chandra, Mikal Austin Radford, T. V. G. Sastri