A professor of anthology would probably do better at ritual magic. It goes with a studious nature to have collected knowledge and be able to use it, possibly uncovering an old grimoire.

Loa possession is a real thing in vodou, voodoo, vodun beliefs. There's some interesting reading on it. It's called being mounted. You could go for someone studious, but they would also be a pretty sincere follower of whoever their mount is, unless maybe they were "tricked" during another ceremony.