Over the last two decades, teaching and scholarship have been consistent parts of my life. Certainly during graduate school, they were central to my time and identity. After graduation, I retained strong connections to the academy while also becoming a leader within the world of UU scholars. From presenting papers to organizing conferences, teaching, and helping to lead and change scholary groups, I seek to both broaden my own understanding of religious life as well as to contribute to the conversation of emerging thought.
I have come to understand reading, writing, and intellectual reflection as core spiritual practices. In my weekly and annual schedule, I prioritize study time and attending conferences. Such study directly and indirectly informs my preaching and other aspects of my ministry.
Screenshot of the UU Scholars and Friends panel, American Academy of Religion, November 2021. Clockwise: Dr. Dan McKanan, Harvard Divinity School; Dr. Elias Ortega, President Meadville Lombard Theological School; Myself, UU Studies Network; Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, President Starr King School for the Ministry.
My scholarly interests focus on the ideas and images of home in U.S. religious and political discourse. In support of this work, I research ideas of belonging, U.S. history, and critical studies of race, gender, and sexuality.