Siddhesh Mukerji

My research explores how Buddhist thinker-activists conceptualize and respond to social problems (especially structural oppression). This exploration includes potential contributions of Buddhism—as a diverse set of methodologies for understanding and responding to suffering—to social work (e.g., a cosmology of interconnectedness, embodied methods for transforming internalized oppression) and social justice challenges facing Buddhism (e.g., its historical/ongoing roles in supporting patriarchy). Currently, one of my main projects is a book on Zen Buddhist social action in the United States. My other main project, for which I was selected for a US Fulbright Scholar award in 2024, examines how Navayana Buddhist social workers in India interpret Buddhism as a framework for their efforts. I love serving as an educator and am highly committed to critical pedagogical perspectives that understand education as a process of personal liberation and community/societal transformation. I was honored to receive the University of Vermont's Graduate Student Senate Excellence in Teaching Award in 2022. I have taught at university level in five countries, and I am constantly learning from and inspired by the students with whom I work. Relatedly, I welcome requests to serve as a supervisor for PhD students whose work aligns with any of the research interests below.

international social workcritical social workBuddhist social work/socially engaged Buddhismcritical pedagogies