Rebekah Stuive

English master's student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field

I am quite a curious person, and I love to learn and ask questions. My current research stems out of an insatiable curiosity to uncover both what exactly is going on with Evangelicalism in America, and what role literature plays in it. The incredible conversations I've been so lucky to have with friends, peers, and professors alike have encouraged even more curiosity and work as inspiration for me to continue my studies.

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

I went to SFU for much of my undergrad and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. The English department has many incredible faculty members who spark my curiosity and help me engage with literature in new and fascinating ways, and a wonderful graduate student body who help to inspire rigorous academic inquiry.

How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?

My current research examines Christian academia's relationship with Christian fiction to think about how Christian reading—both in terms of how they read and what they read—impacts how they think, talk, and write as academics. Thus far, I've focused on CS Lewis studies and the quasi-hagiographical way much of the field talks about Lewis to think about what academic output that considers itself "methodologically Christian" can look like, and to think about how historically constructed modes of Christian reading have influenced scholarship. I'm also absolutely fascinated by theories of sacrality and lived religion, and my research asks questions about whether we can consider faith and fiction to be mutually constitutive, and likewise whether evangelical fiction can be both propagator and creator of faith.

What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?

Evangelicalism, Reading Practices

How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?

My courses, TA-ships, and RA-ships have contributed significantly to the breadth of my academic life, allowing me to explore new facets of research, teaching, and learning.

Have you been the recipient of any major or donor-funded awards? If so, please tell us which ones and a little about how the awards have impacted your studies and/or research

I am honoured to be a recipient of the SSHRC-CGSM award

If you could dedicate your research to anyone (past, present and/or future), who would that be and why?

Maya Schwartz

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