Dr. Vadim Putzu

Department

Languages Cultures and Religions

Role: Faculty
Campus: Springfield

Postal mail

Missouri State University
Languages Cultures and Religions
901 S. National Ave.
Springfield, MO 65897

Details

Education

  • PhD, Jewish Thought, 2015, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion – Cincinnati

  • MA, Comparative History of Religions, 2005, University of Lausanne – Switzerland
  • BA, Philosophy, 2002, University of Turin – Italy

Teaching

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Bible

  • Judaism
  • Between Faith and Reason: Topics in Jewish Philosophy
  • Divine Invasions: Religion and Science Fiction
  • From Ezekiel to Madonna: Jewish Mysticism
  • Intoxicating Religions: Wine and Beer in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
  • A Booted History of Judaism (STFD Program in Italy)
  • The History, Religions, and Politics of Israel (STFD Program in Israel)

Research and professional interests

  • Kabbalah
  • Jewish and Western Esotericism
  • Philosophy
  • Religion and alcohol
  • Religion and Science Fiction

Awards and honors

  • Visiting Research Fellowship, The Haifa Center for Mediterranean History, University of Haifa, Israel, 2022
  • Visiting Fellowship, Department of Philosophy and Education, University of Turin, Italy, 2021-2022
  • Award for Excellence in Study Away Programming, Cultural Competence category, Missouri State University, 2018
  • International Travel Award, Missouri State University, 2017
  • Study Away Exploratory Fund, Missouri State University, 2016
  • Presidential Fellowship, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, 2009
  • Doctoral Fellowship for research in Israel, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2008-2009
  • The Jacob Ziskind Memorial Fellowship, School of Graduate Studies, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, 2006-2008
  • Ralph Irwin and Julia Winter Cohen Fellowship, School of Graduate Studies, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, 2004-2006
  • Fondazione Collegio San Carlo Grant, Scuola Internazionale di Alti Studi Scienze della Cultura, Modena, Italy, 2002-2003
  • Primo Levi Foundation Prize for outstanding undergraduate thesis in Jewish Studies, Fondazione di Cultura Ebraica “Primo Levi”, Florence, Italy, 2003