Michael Nichols
Why did you choose Northwestern?
I choose Northwestern in order to work with the stellar faculty who were there at the time: George Bond and Stuart Sarbacker in Buddhist Studies and Sarah McFarland Taylor in Theory and Method of Religious Studies.
How would you describe your research and/or work to a non-academic audience? What was it then and/or what it is now?
I've stayed with the same overarching research interest and question: how do religious narratives (i.e., myths) change over time to reflect contemporary concerns and issues?
Tell us who or what inspired your research and/or work.
My research was initially inspired by a lifelong love of stories, then my various mentors over the years have provided the spark and encouragement to keep going. This includes Liz Wilson, my faculty adviser at Miami University (where I did my Masters degree), and also my closest mentors at Northwestern during my doctoral study: George Bond, Stuart Sarbacker, and Sarah McFarland Taylor.
What are you most proud of in your career to date?
I am most proud of my record of teaching and publication. In the former, I was named "Teacher of the Year" at a former institution and in the latter I have published over a dozen peer-reviewed articles and two books.
Tell us about a current achievement or something you're working on that excites you.
One very exciting current achievement is the release of my second book: "Religion and Myth in the Marvel Cinematic Universe," published by McFarland Books. The book is available through the publisher and also Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Religion-Myth-Marvel-Cinematic-Universe/dp/1476681597