Adam DeSchriver

Adam DeSchriver is a PhD student in the departments of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (Classical Near East) and Religious Studies (Islamic Studies). He researches and writes about the social, intellectual, and religious histories of the late ancient and medieval Middle East, with specific attention to the beginnings of Islam in the seventh century and the Arabic historiographical tradition that represented those beginnings in writing starting in the eighth and ninth centuries. These twin interests—history and historiography—animate his writing and thinking as he aims to probe not only “what happened,” but also how writing about historical events contributes to, and at times obfuscates, our understanding of the past. In answering these questions, Adam employs historical and philological methods, reading texts in Arabic, Syriac, Greek, Hebrew, Old South Arabian, and, starting this fall, Geʿez. His forthcoming publications include “Locating Theory in the Work of Jonathan Z. Smith (1938-2017): An Overview” (Religious Studies Review) and a chapter on portrayals of pre-Islamic religious practices and al-taḥannuth in an edited volume on monotheism in medieval Islamic thought.

Adam holds MA degrees from the University of Chicago (Divinity/Religious Studies) and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, magna cum laude) where he was a Fulbright fellow. He earned a BA from the University of Rochester (Religious Studies, hons., magna cum laude with highest distinction) and a BM from the Eastman School of Music (Applied Music, Clarinet, with distinction). With his NELC colleague, Ramina Hajisadeghi, Adam serves as co-organizer of the NELC department roundtable series for the 2025-2026 year. He also works in close collaboration with Medieval Studies colleague, John Habib, History colleague, Benjamin Wightman, and Yale Beinecke Curator, Michelle Al-Ferzly, as co-organizer of the Yale Arabic Scribal Cultures Working Group.

In addition to his research, Adam supports his graduate student peers at Yale as a fellow in the Graduate Writing Lab, where he offers individual writing consultations and teaches workshops on academic writing. Outside of Yale, Adam serves as a contributing editor for the Journal of the History of Ideas Blog, which brings together a wide array of scholars working on intellectual history. Beyond academic life, Adam maintains his connection to the classical music world by working as assistant director of the Maine Chamber Music Seminar, a summer festival held each June for college and post-graduate classical musicians. His favorite study break activities include playing tennis and squash as well as walking through East Rock Park—all best enjoyed with friends and close colleagues.