Undergraduate Scholars Program

2023-2024 Boniuk Institute Undergraduate Scholars
The Boniuk Institute is pleased to announce our 2023-2024 Undergraduate Scholars. Scholars learn about and contribute to large-scale interdisciplinary research related to religion, religious tolerance, pluralism and discrimination, social inequality, race, gender, science, health, and the body.


Undergraduate Scholars work under the supervision of Dr. Rachel Schneider, Associate Director of Academic Programs for the Boniuk Institute and Director of the Religion and Public Life Program, as well as Dr. Kerby Goff, Associate Director of Research for the Boniuk Institute. Students assist with data collection, analysis, and research administration related to several social science projects, including those exploring the intersections of work and faith, the implications of COVID-10 and systemic racism and how religious organizations are responding, religious discrimination and harassment in society and in the workplace, and how religious diversity benefits or causes conflict in society. Scholars additionally assist with reviews of academic literature, online data collection, collection and processing of qualitative data, and support of article and book writing efforts. Scholars also contribute to and participate in the Boniuk Institute's Reading Religion Graduate Salon, weekly RPLP Scholars Meetings, and other Boniuk Institute and RPLP events, where they have an opportunity to engage with a wide variety of guests and scholars. 

Meet the 2023-2024 Boniuk Institute Undergraduate Scholars:
Adrienne Bradley Kennedi Macklin Aditi Velgekar William Wang 
Adrienne Bradley
Sociology, History, and Cinema & Media Studies
 
Kennedi Macklin
History, Social Policy Analysis, and African & African American Studies
 
Aditi Velgekar
Psychology and Neuroscience
 
William Wang
Political Science and Economics
 
Adrienne Bradley is a sophomore at Rice University in the Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences studying Sociology, History, and Cinema and Media Studies. She has a range of interdisciplinary interests, including the intersection between media and the public, how external influences shape mental health, the impact of religion on the LGBTQ+ identity, and the reflection of public life in music and art. Post-graduation, she hopes to go on to earn her Masters degree and continue pursuing sociological studies in academia.
 
Kennedi Macklin is a Junior at Rice University in the Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences studying History, Social Policy Analysis, and African and African American Studies. She has a range of interdisciplinary interests including 20th century political history, housing and education policy, and the impact of religion on government policy. Post-graduation, she hopes to attend law school or pursue a masters in Policy Studies.
 
Aditi Velgekar is a junior at Rice University in the School of Social Sciences majoring in Psychology and minoring in Neuroscience. She has various interdisciplinary interests, including the social determinants of health, the impacts of socio-cultural and educational aspects on public health, and the impacts and interactions of different religions on a global scale. Post-graduation, she hopes to go on to medical school and continue to develop her sociological and religious lens to better understand patients and patient populations.
 
William Wang is a sophomore at Rice University in the School of Social Sciences, studying political science and economics. He is interested in researching the effects of public policies on religious organizations and quantitative analysis of religious demographics. Post-graduation, he hopes to either attend law school or enter into finance.