Courtney A. Stewart is a researcher and lecturer specializing in Islamic art history and the history of jewelry and gemstones. With 20 years of experience working in museums, Courtney currently serves as a Senior Research Associate at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Her work has been cited in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and on NPR. Courtney has taught graduate-level courses at the Bard Graduate Center and the University of Toronto. She holds a Ph.D. in art history and is an Accredited Senior Gemologist with a Graduate Gemologist (G.G.) credential from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Her research interests include the intersections of art and nature; the cultural significance of gemstones and jewelry; and rituals surrounding jewelry acquisition and wear.