Teaching

I teach introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses in the Department of Religious Studies at Brown University, focusing especially on the religious histories and cultures of the United States. My introductory courses serve as gateways into the academic study of religion, inviting students to explore features of American society such as the extravaganza of Christmas and the popularity of spirituality. More advanced courses examine the paradoxes of religious freedom in American history, the religious ideas and orientations that animate capitalism, and the ways that economic structures shape religious media and mediation.

My classes are open to both Brown and RISD students, and graduate students can enroll in my advanced courses.

In 2022, I was honored to receive the John Rowe Workman Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Humanities, which is one of Brown University’s highest awards for teaching in the humanities.

Selected courses

Advising

As the Director of Undergraduate Studies for Religious Studies (2015-2022), I oversaw the undergraduate curriculum in Religious Studies, advised concentrators, and advocated for the study of religion and the humanities more broadly. Please contact me if you would like to learn more about the study of religion at Brown—whether or not you are a potential undergraduate concentrator.

If you are a potential graduate student interested in studying American religions at Brown, feel free to reach out. You can apply either to the program in Religion and Critical Thought, or more directly to work with me and other colleagues who study religious life in the Americas. Contact me for more information.

In 2019, I was proud to receive recognition for my teaching and advising from the graduating undergraduate class, which selected me as a recipient of the Barrett Hazeltine Senior Citation for Excellence in Teaching, Guidance, and Support.Â