Common Ground for the Common Good

Religion and Public Life Center

Todd Ferguson
Todd Ferguson, Director

Religion is a central way that people make meaning of their experiences, and is fundamental to other important identities, spaping experiences of race and attitudes towards politics and science. Whether or not you are personally religious, it is impossible to ignore religion's importance in the social world.

The Boniuk Institute's Religion and Public Life Center uses research to help people understand each other, foster dialogue, break down stereotypes, and work together more effectively for the common good.

Community Engagement

The RPLC continues to use research on religion in public life to facilitate informed and therefore more productive discussions of issues related to religion and public life through its innovative outreach initiatives.

Research

Since its inception in 2010, the RPLC has conducted groundbreaking research on religion in the public sphere that advances understanding, resolves conflict, and strengthens civil society.

RPLC Alumni Scholars

Di Di Headshot
Di Di

Assistant Professor of Sociology, Santa Clara University


Daniel Bolger
Daniel Bolger

Assistant Professor of Sociology, Southern Methodist University


Esther Chan
Esther Chan

Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Jacqui Frost
Jacqui Frost

Assistant Professor of Sociology, Purdue University


David Johnson
David Johnson

Assistant Professor of Higher Education, Georgia State University


Simranjit Steel
Simranjit Steel

Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Memphis

Oneya Okuwobi
Oneya Okuwobi

Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Cincinnati


Jared Peifer
Jared Peifer

Associate Professor of Management, Franklin & Marshall College


Pamela Prickett
Pamela Prickett

Associate Professor of Sociology, Pomona College

Christopher P Scheitle
Christopher Scheitle

Professor of Sociology, West Virginia University


Robert Thompson
Robert Thompson

Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Alabama in Huntsville


Cleve V Tinsley IV
Cleve Tinsley

Assistant Professor of History and Political Science, Virginia Union University

Mailing Address

Boniuk Institute
6100 Main Street, MS350
Houston, TX 77005
boniukinstitute@rice.edu
rplc.rice.edu

Press Inquiries

Avery Franklin 
Senior Media Relations Specialist 
averyrf@rice.edu