Emma “Scout” Wood earned a BA in English Literature and a BA in Philosophy from the University of Central Florida in 2023. Their undergraduate thesis, entitled “Wild Wild Country: Netflix, Orientalism, and the Guru,” bridges media studies with secondary religious scholarship regarding the reception of Asian religions in America. Scout’s research interests include religion in American media/popular culture, New Religious Movements, and religion/NRM’s in the American South. She is passionate about written expression, education, and teaching, and intends to earn her Certificate in College Teaching while at CU. Scout aspires to pursue her PhD and to teach in the Humanities for as long as possible until she is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve and must reckon with her past. In their free time, Scout enjoys basking (in moments and in sunshine), discussing early 2000’s emo lore, and collecting figurines of houses.