Institute Announcements

James Y. Chao and Sonja Gee Join the BI Advisory Board

Members of the Boniuk Institute External Advisory Board have an interest in religious pluralism that is far-ranging and global. Board members serve as a resource to the Institute in the formulation of its goals, direction, and objectives, and provide considerable expertise on matters including issues of communications, public affairs, community affairs, and philanthropy.

It is therefore with great pleasure, that we welcome James Y. Chao and Sonja Gee to the Boniuk Institute family as new members of our External Advisory Board. Mr. Chao is the Senior Chairman of the Board of Westlake Corporation, an international company headquartered in Houston. Ms. Gee currently serves as the President &CEO of Memorial Assistance Ministries, one of Houston's largest community-based social service organizations. Welcome to you both!

Meet the other members of BI's External Advisory Board

2025-2026 BI Graduate Scholar Bianca Mabute-Louie

Each year, through a competitive process, the Boniuk Institute engages a graduate student as a Graduate Scholar to participate in a range of both scholarly research and outreach endeavors. Scholars will participate in the Institute's Reading Religion Salon, Scholars Meetings, act as a content scholar at the annual Religious Literacy Series and participate in Institute research projects. Scholars also receive intense training in qualitative/ interpretive data analysis and writing for academic publications.

The 2025-2026 Boniuk Institute Graduate Scholar is Bianca Mabute-Louie, a doctoral candidate in the Sociology department at Rice University. Her research examines how religious socialization shapes the racial attitudes and political engagement of Asian Americans.

Learn more about how BI works to develop future scholars

BI Releases New Book "Working for Better"

The Boniuk Institute has released a new book, Working for Better: A New Approach to Faith at Work, a data-driven work based on its Lilly Endowment, Inc.-funded "Faith at Work: An Empirical Study" project. Working for Better offers a timely guide for Christians navigating the modern faith-at-work landscape and its growing pluralism. Drawing from over twenty years of research and personal insights, Working for Better presents a groundbreaking exploration of how Christians might address faith in professional setting without compromising beliefs or alienating others. Focus groups, thousands of surveys, and interviews with hundreds of American workers identify key tensions in the faith-at-work movement. Compelling stories and practical applications address the need for Christian workers and leaders to adapt to cultural shifts. Chapters conclude with though-provoking questions for individual reflection or group discussion. Intended for workers, workplace leaders, or religious leaders, Working for Better equips readers with tools for integrating faith with their professional life.

Read more or purchase a copy of Working for Better

BI-RPLC Alumni Are Making Their Mark

Esmeralda Sanchez-Salazar, a former fellow of the RPLC has been appointed Assistant Professor of Sociology at William and Mary College.

Jauhara Ferguson, former BI Graduate scholar, joins the ranks of Claremont McKenna this fall as an Assistant Professor of Religion.

Brenton Kalinowski, former BI graduate scholar, begins his first year as a postdoctoral fellow at Indiana University Bloomington.

The BI-RPLC family congratulates Dr. Sanchez-Salazar, Dr. Ferguson, and Dr. Kalinowski on their exciting new appointments and looks forward to their ongoing contributions to the field!

BI Affiliates Recognized by the American Sociological Association

Honorable Mentions and Awards at the 2025 American Sociological Association Meeting

• Michael O. Emerson received an Honorable Mention for the Distinguished Book Award for The Religion of Whiteness: How Racism Distorts Christian Faith (with Glenn E. Bracey, Villanova University)
• Jacqui Frost earned the Distinguished Article Award for "Ritualizing Nonreligion: Cultivating Rational Rituals in Secular Spaces."
• Bianca Mabute-Louie was awarded a Korie Little Research Grant
• Moses Biney and Zikang Hou received Student Travel Grants

We are proud to see our scholars and partners recognized for their work advancing the study of religious pluralism, public life, and social justice!