Dr. Rachel H. Pang is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Davidson College. She received her Ph.D. and M.A. degrees from the University of Virginia in the History of Religions, with a focus on Tibetan and Chinese religions. Her Hon. B.A. in English and Religion is from the University of Toronto.  

Dr. Pang’s research focuses on the non-sectarian movement in nineteenth century eastern Tibet, Buddhist life writing, Tibetan song and poetry, animal ethics, Buddhist nationalism, and the collected works of Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol (1781-1851).

Her book, Singer of the Land of Snows: Shabkar, Buddhism, and Tibetan National Identity (UVa Press, 2024) examines Shabkar’s role in the development of the idea of Tibet in the nineteenth century. Her research articles appear in a/b: Auto/biography Studies, Himalaya, Numen, Journal of Buddhist Ethics, Journal of Inter-Religious Studies, and Revue d'Etudes Tibétaines. An avid translator, she has also translated several of Shabkar’s poems that appear in anthologies of Tibetan Buddhist poetry and at Lotsawa House. Currently, Dr. Pang serves on the Buddhist Critical-Constructive Reflection Unit and Women in Religion steering committees at the American Academy of Religion.

At Davidson, Dr. Pang teaches courses on East Asian religions, Tibetan Buddhism, Chinese religions, Buddhism in America, and Buddhist nationalism.