Ronald A. Lukens-Bull is a professor of anthropology and religious studies at the University of North Florida. Under the 2018 US Fulbright Scholar Grant, Ronald’s research project is on “Multicultural Nationalism as Piety: Nahdatul Ulama Youth and the Value of a Diverse State.” The research examines the historical development of the value of pluralism in Nahdatul Ulama’s youth organization. He hopes the analysis of an Islamic young men’s organization dedicated to peace, democracy, and religious pluralism helps to contribute to understanding how to create mutual understanding and peace.

Ronald holds a PhD in social-cultural anthropology from Arizona State University. He is the editor-in-chief of “Contemporary Islam: Dynamics of Muslim Life Journal.” His published books are among others, “Pendidikan Tinggi Islam di Indonesia: di Persimpangan Jalan” (translation of “Islamic Higher Education in Indonesia”), “Islamic Higher Education in Indonesia: Continuity and Conflict, “A Peaceful Jihad: Negotiating Identity and Modernity in Muslim Java.”

This is Ronald’s third Fulbright award. In 2008-2009, he was Fulbright Senior Scholar in Islamic studies hosted by State Islamic Institute of North Sumatra, Indonesia, and Fulbright Senior Specialist in Southeast Asian Islam with Walailak University, Thailand in 2005.

During this period of research, Ronald is affiliated with State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga.