Rebecca Mendelson

Rebecca manages Penn Libraries’ Japanese and Korean Collections, continuing the development of Penn's distinctive collections in these areas. She provides research and teaching support for the Japanese and Korean studies communities, helping undergraduate and graduate students navigate the world of Japanese and Korean studies resources at and beyond Penn, providing research methods training in these areas, and working closely with faculty and graduate students to shape the collections in support of this--and the next--generation's research.

Prior to coming to Penn Libraries, Rebecca earned a Ph.D. at Duke University in Religious Studies in 2020. Her scholarly research focuses on modern Japanese Buddhism, and she is developing a manuscript based on her doctoral dissertation, which was entitled "Fierce Practice, Courageous Spirit, and Spiritual Cultivation: The Rise of Lay Rinzai Zen in Modern Japan." Her research, writing, and language training have been supported by the Fulbright Program, the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies, and the Nippon Foundation. Other research interests include Japanese colonial history and religion, Buddhist transnationalism, and gender in East Asian religions.