Baylor Religion Survey Researcher Biographies
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On Sept. 20, 2011, Baylor University released the latest findings from Wave III of the Baylor Religion Survey, one of the most extensive surveys ever conducted on the religious practices, attitudes, beliefs and values of the American public. For more information about the survey findings, go to baylorreligionsurvey.research.baylor.edu.
Below are the biographical information on the lead researchers on the project from Baylor's Department of Sociology and Hankamer School of Business:
Dr. Kevin D. Dougherty is Associate Professor of Sociology and a research fellow at the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University. His research focuses on American religion, specifically religious organizations. Topics explored in his research include leadership, affiliation patterns, racial and ethnic composition, participation, growth, and decline. His published work appears in leading academic journals such as Social Problems and the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, and has been featured in popular media such as USA Today and National Public Radio. Currently, he is a principal investigator with Mitchell Neubert and Jerry Park on the National Study of Religion and Entrepreneurial Behavior funded by the National Science Foundation.
Dr. Paul Froese is an Associate Professor of Sociology and a research fellow in the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University. He is the lead author of America's Four Gods: What we say about God and what that says about us (Oxford University Press). His first book The Plot to Kill God: Findings from the Soviet Experiment in Secularization (University of California Press) won the distinguished book award from the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. He has also published widely in the field of sociology with articles appearing in journals such as Social Forces, Political Research Quarterly, Review of Religious Research, Religion, State and Society, and the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. In addition, he writes more popular pieces about religion, ideology, and politics in outlets such as USA Today and the Huffington Post.
Dr. F. Carson Mencken is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Baylor Religion Survey. His current research focuses on civic engagement patterns among the highly religious. His expertise is in the field of survey research and statistical methods. He has published more than 40 articles in professional journals and collaborated on several books. His research has been featured in a wide variety of media outlets, including USA TODAY, Huffington Post, Voice of America and Coast-to-Coast AM.
Dr. Mitchell J. Neubert is an Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business and The Chavanne Chair of Christian Ethics in Business. Mitch's teaching and research focus on equipping leaders to lead individuals, teams and organizations in a virtuous manner that results in positive change. He is the lead investigator on a multi-year National Science Foundation grant for the National Study of Religion and Entrepreneurial Behavior. He has co-authored a cutting-edge Principles of Management textbook focused on exploring innovative ways to manage that positively influence multiple forms of well-being for multiple stakeholders. He also has published in prestigious academic journals including Human Relations, Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Business Venturing, Leadership Quarterly and Personnel Psychology.
Dr. Jerry Z. Park is Associate Professor of Sociology and a research fellow at the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University. His research focuses on American religion, race relations and culture. His research includes religious attitudes among scientists, racial inequality explanations and religion, civic participation and volunteering, and Asian American religions and cultural identities. He has published in leading academic journals such as Social Forces and the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, and has been featured in popular media such as USA TODAY. Currently, he is a principal investigator with Mitchell Neubert and Kevin Dougherty on the National Study of Religion and Entrepreneurial Behavior funded by the National Science Foundation.
Andrew L. Whitehead is a researcher in the Department of Sociology at Baylor University and a research fellow in the Institute for the Studies of Religion. He specializes in religion, organizations, and sexuality and gender. His published work appears in journals such as the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Social Science Quarterly and Sociology of Religion. His ongoing research investigates the intersection of religion and attitudes toward homosexuality and examines responses to lesbians and gays at both the individual and organizational levels.
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