I am thrilled to be 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 interests are at the intersection of healthcare practices, ethical self-formation, and theories of care. My dissertation 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 also deeply 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 identity and 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.