Dr. Arvind-Pal S. Mandair
Arvind-Pal S. Mandair is the Tara Singh and Balwant Kaur Chattha, Gurbax Singh and Kirpal Kaur Brar Professor of Sikh Studies, and a Professor in the department of Asian Languages and Cultures.
His research and teaching interests are highly interdisciplinary. Grounded in Sikh and South Asia studies, his current research cuts across various fields of study including: World Philosophies, Decolonial studies, Religion, Political theory, Translation and the study of Consciousness and Spirituality. He is the author of many books. Dr. Mandair is also chief editor of the leading journal in Sikh studies, and co-editor of two new book series. For details please visit the following websites:
Dr. Pinderjeet Kaur Gill
Dr. Gill is LSA Collegiate Lecturer specializing in teaching of Punjabi and Hindi languages and has been at the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, since 2005. She earned her Ph.D. from Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjab, India in 1997.
In 2021, Dr. Pinderjeet Kaur Gill was conferred with a Collegiate Lecturership, the highest honor bestowed upon lecturers at the university. In 2021, Dr. Gill was one of only three people selected from over a thousand lecturers on campus. She will carry this title, which recognizes her unflagging dedication to both her students and the Department, for the rest of her career.
Also in 2021, Dr. Gill received the University Golden Apple Award, a most prestigious award which recognizes outstanding teaching and is the university’s only teaching award bestowed by students.
PhD Program
The Department of Asian Languages and Cultures has an active Ph.D program. The following students are either currently studying with, or have previously studied with and graduated from ALC under the supervision of Professor Arvind-Pal S. Mandair:
Randeep Hothi (Linguistic Anthropology/Media Networks/Sikh studies)
Puninder Singh Jaitla (Anthropology/Sikh studies)
Jasleen Singh (American Cultures/Gender/Sikhism)
Conner Vanderbeek (Ethnomusicology/Punjabi Music, Culture, Identity)
Avina Kohli (From September 2021)
Dr. Harjeet S. Grewal (graduated 2017 - now teaching at University of Calgary).
Dr. Nirinjan Khalsa (graduated 2014 - now teaching at Loyola Marymount University)
Dr. Jeremy Saul Rufin (graduated 2013 - now teaching at Mahidol University, Thailand)
