Jennifer Collins-Elliott studies the history of early Christianity, focusing on the Western Mediterranean in the latter part of late antiquity (4th-6th centuries CE). Her primary area of interest is late antique Christian writings on and practices related to the body, gender, sexuality, and violence. Secondary areas of interest extend to asceticism, ancient medicine, and martyrdom. She is currently writing her dissertation, titled “‘Bespattered with the Mud of Another’s Lust’: Rape and Physical Embodiment in Christian Literature of the 4th-6th Centuries CE” through the Department of Religion at the Florida State University.

Jennifer has been teaching in the Religious Studies department since the fall of 2014. In that time, she has taught classes on the history of world religions, gender and religion, and most recently has developed a course on world religion and film. This class introduces students to six of the world’s religions through the study of film by exploring how religion has been used both as subject matter and as ideology that shapes film making itself.