Annual DANAM Conference 2026

Dear Colleagues,

The Dharma Academy of North America (DĀNAM) invites you to consider submitting a proposal for the annual meeting to be held concurrently (November 20-21, 2026) with the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion in Denver, Colorado.

DANAM 2026 Theme: Imagination & Intention:

Thinking about Future through Story, Philosophy & the Social/Spiritual Reforms

The DĀNAM Steering Committee is planning three separate panels of four papers each on Imagination & Intention with a focus on story, philosophy, or social/spiritual reforms. The fourth panel will be focused on a book review. The content can be from philosophy, theology, psychology, anthropology, mythology, and the arts, engaging with the theme at various levels of being, such as material, mental, bodily, social-political, cosmological, and spiritual. The committee encourages the representation of all four Dharma Traditions, when possible.

Panel Slots:

November 20, 2026: 

Session 1: 11:00 AM-12:30 PM

Session 2: 2:00 PM-3:30 PM

Session 3: 3:40-5:15 PM

Session 4: 5:30-6: 45-Keynote Session and Reception

Keynote Speaker: Professor Judith Simmer- Brown

"Reimagining our Sacred Stories: Present and Future." (Tentative title)

November 21, 2026:

Session 5: 9:00 AM-10:30 AM

Book Review Panel

We welcome complete panel proposals, as well as individual paper proposals for peer review.

CFP Deadline: April 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM (PST)

Conference Format: All in person, face to face 

Note: Scholars with accepted papers in the area of Hindu Studies will have the opportunity to apply for the newly established Adarsh Deepak Hindu Scholarship. Please see details below:

In honor of Dr. Deepak’s lifelong dedication to advancing scholarly dialogue, DANAM proudly announces the Adarsh Deepak Hindu Scholarship. This award seeks to support the integration of contemplative insights with academic research in Hindu Studies. Eligible applicants include academic scholars, particularly doctoral students and early-career scholars, actively engaged in the study of Hindu traditions.

Recipients will receive travel support to attend the 2026 DANAM Conference in Denver, ranging from $500 to $1,000 as needed. The Selection Committee will award 2–3 scholarships to papers that best reflect the goals of the DANAM Call for Paper.

Please send your proposals and any queries to:

• Veena Howard, Steering Committee Chair, 

vehoward@csufresno.edu

• Stephanie Corigliano, Steering Committee Vice Chair,

stephanie.corigliano@humboldt.edu

Veena R.  Howard, Ph.D.The Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowship, India (2025)Professor and Chair, Department of PhilosophyEndowed Chair in Jain and Hindu DharmaDirector, M.K. Gandhi Center: Inner Peace and SarvodayaCalifornia State University, Fresno 2380 E. Keats Ave. M/S MB 105Fresno, California 93740

vehoward@csufresno.edu

Howard's Zoom Room:  https://fresnostate.zoom.us/j/89718147465