Beth M. Admiraal, Ph.D.

Biography

Beth Admiraal, Ph.D., is professor and Political Science Department Chair at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Her B.A. is from Calvin College and Ph.D. is from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. After serving as book-review editor for Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe for several years, she is now the co-editor of the journal. She has published numerous articles and given presentations on religion, national identity and politics, primarily applied to the post-Soviet region. In spare moments, she runs, though never very fast.

Education

• B.A., Political Science and English, Calvin College
• M.S., Political Science, University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)
• Ph.D., Political Science, University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)

Publications and Presentations

• "Religion and Russia's Invasion of Ukraine," Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe: Vol. 42 : Iss. 2, Article 3, 2022.
• Book Review: "The Unknown Europe: How Eastern Europe Got That Way, by James R. Payton Jr.," Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe Vol. 42 : Iss. 9 , Article 7, 2022.
• Book Review, Orthodox and Greek Catholics in Transylvania (1867-1916): Convergences and Divergences, Macarie Dragoi, St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, Yonkers, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2014. Published in Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe, August 2021.
• Editor and Forward, special edition for the journal Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe, titled Thirty Years after Ceaușescu: Reports and Reflections on Religion in Romania, Vol. 39, Iss. 7 December 2019.
• "The Intertwining of Religion and Nation: The Russian Administration’s Approach to Religious Life and National Identity," Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe: Vol. 39 : Iss. 4, June 2019.
• “Class and Marriage in 19th C. Russia” (March 26, 2024). Talkback after the King’s theatre production of Checkhov’s “A Marriage Proposal” March 26, 2024.
• Keynote speaker, “Religious Freedom and Democracy” sponsored by the US State Department, Albanian Embassy and hosted by the University of Beder, Tirana, Albania, September 15-17, 2021.
• Post-Election Day Forum: “What just happened and why?” Panelist, King's College, November 5, 2020.
• “Who’s a Citizen and Why? Constitutional, Historical, and Comparative Perspectives,” Panelist, King’s College, sponsored by the McGowan Center for Ethics and Public Life, September 17, 2019.

Awards and Designations

• Herve LeBlanc Distinguished Service Professor (2020-2025)
• Recipient of Times Leader Women Inspired – Shaping the Region (2024)
• Summer Research Grant, Research on Evangelicals and Putin (Awarded Summer 2024)
• Grant from the State of Pennsylvania for twelve students and a faculty member to attend “Inside Washington Seminar,” The Washington Center, Washington, D.C., January 3-11, 2023
• Residency Research Grant, University of Babes-Bolyai, Cluj, Romania (Awarded Summer 2018 for research in Spring 2019)