Janel Bakker

I serve as an Academic Advising Dean for students in the College at UVA. In this role, I enjoy supporting students as they explore their passions and make valuable contributions to society. My teaching and research are interdisciplinary, drawing from the social sciences as well as the humanities. I love to help students make connections between lived experience and classroom learning through site visits and field research. I teach broadly in the field of religion and culture, focusing on topics such as faith-based community engagement, restorative justice, and the links between western colonialism and contemporary religious activism.