
It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dr. Michael Ium, a cherished colleague, scholar, and friend to many in our academic community.
Michael was born and raised in Toronto, the child of South Korean immigrants. He went on to complete degrees at the University of Toronto (B.Sc.), Maitripa College (M.A.), and the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Department of Religious Studies (M.A., Ph.D.). A historian of religion, his research focused on the religions of Tibet and South Asia, with particular attention to the early history of the Geluk tradition in Tibet.
In addition to advancing the academic study of Buddhism in Canada, Michael was deeply interested in what makes the Canadian Buddhist context unique—whether Canada’s multicultural framework or Buddhism’s theological engagement with other religious communities.
Michael held the distinction of being the first postdoctoral fellow jointly appointed in the Department for the Study of Religion and the Ho Centre for Buddhist Studies at the University of Toronto, where he quickly became a vibrant and deeply valued presence. In 2024, he began a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute for Cultural and Intellectual History of Asia at the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), where he was part of the European Research Council–funded project TibSchol: The Dawn of Tibetan Buddhist Scholasticism.
He also served as co-editor of the Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies, contributing both his scholarly insight and collegial generosity to the field.
Michael’s warmth, enthusiasm, and scholarly dedication left a lasting impression on all who had the privilege of working with him. He will be profoundly missed—for his intellectual contributions and for the spirit of collegiality and kindness he brought to our community. Professor Rory Lindsay has been in contact with those close to Michael, and we will provide an update on plans for a memorial as they become available. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who are mourning this sudden and heartbreaking loss.