The Boniuk Institute is proud to announce that Dr. John Inazu will receive the 2026 Boniuk Institute Senior Scholar Award this coming April.
This prestigious award honors scholars whose work has made significant and sustained contributions to public understanding of religion and religious pluralism. “This award honors transformative voices shaping religion in public life,” says Elaine Howard Ecklund, Director of the Boniuk Institute. Past recipients include leading scholars such as Tariq Modood and Marla Frederick, whose research and public engagement have shaped national and international conversations about religion and civic life.
Dr. Inazu, the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis, exemplifies these ideals through his groundbreaking interdisciplinary work. “Inazu models principled, public scholarship on law, religion, and pluralism,” notes Ecklund.
His books—Confident Pluralism and Learning to Disagree—advance a compelling vision for how communities can engage across difference while upholding mutual respect and civil dialogue. Inazu’s work is widely cited in both academic and public spheres, offering critical insights at a time when our democratic and civic institutions are increasingly strained. “His work deepens public understanding of religion and civic pluralism,” Ecklund adds.
The Boniuk Institute is honored to recognize Dr. Inazu’s contributions to building a more informed, inclusive, and engaged public discourse on religion.