I am pursuing a Ph.D. at Rice University, which I began in Fall 2022. My student page, which in turn points to this webpage, can be found here. I am a fourth-year student preparing for my comprehensive examinations in October, and I see my work focusing in three areas:

Religion, Medicine, and Care. My research commitments concern the relationship of ethics, self, and care in the development of the modern individual. Specifically, my dissertation works at the intersection of healthcare practices, ethical self-formation, and theories of care. I will focus on the practice of pastoral/spiritual care, specifically in hospital chaplaincy contexts. The question that continues to press me is this question: “what is it that happens when the power of pastoral care is practiced (imposed?) upon the patient?” and I choose each of the words in the question carefully.

Comparative Religion. I am a comparativist by experience and training, working for many years in interreligious dialogue. I hold a deep interest in the history of religion(s), particularly the history of religion(s) in America. I have interests in the public understanding of religion as well as increasing religious literacy in communities.

Energizing the Humanities. In our STEM world, I more and more see the need for a robust and active place for the humanities. They are not secondary, a luxury, or irrelevant. I am invested in the power of education. No matter where I have been in my career, the role of teacher and guide has been at the core of my vocation. I see the need for the continued focus on the importance of the humanities, and I want my scholarship and my teaching to contribute to forwarding the humanities in the 21st century.