Overview
I am an Assistant Research Professor the Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research and the Duke Global Health Institute. I am an expert on the health of religious clergy, the changing shape of churches in North American society, and the implications of these trends for the professional training of ministers.
More recently, my research has begun to branch out internationally. I am doing research on clergy in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and studying the mental health of sexual and gender minorities around the world.
Methodologically, I am skilled in the collection and analysis of survey data, including longitudinal and social network data.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Associate Research Professor of Global Health
·
2025 - Present
Duke Global Health Institute,
University Institutes and Centers
Assistant Research Professor of Sociology
·
2022 - Present
Sociology,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Recent Publications
An Exploration of the Mediators and Moderators of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Among Clergy: Secondary Analysis of Data From the Selah Trial, a Preference-Based Randomized Wait-List-Controlled Trial
Journal Article International Journal of Stress Management · March 20, 2025 We conducted a secondary analysis of the Selah trial, a preference-based, partially randomized, wait-list-controlled trial, to evaluate mediators and effect modifiers of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention. Participants were United Met ... Full text CiteThe Selah trial: A preference-based partially randomized waitlist control study of three stress management interventions.
Conference Translational behavioral medicine · January 2025 Chronic stress undermines psychological and physiological health. We tested three remotely delivered stress management interventions among clergy, accounting for intervention preferences. United Methodist clergy in North Carolina enrolled in a partially ra ... Full text CitePhysical activity and diet pattern do not mitigate C-reactive protein increases associated with oral contraceptive use.
Journal Article PloS one · January 2025 The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of body mass index (BMI), physical activity (PA) level, dietary inflammatory index (DII), and oral contractive (OC) use on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and to determine if elevated CRP values refle ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Preaching Politics: Examining the Prevalence and Correlates of Political Rhetoric in the Sermons of United Methodist Clergy
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Society for the Scientific Study of Religion · 2023 - 2024Evaluating Clergy Mental Health and Attitudes Towards Mental Health in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Religious Research Association · 2018 - 2021Flourishing mental health in caregivers: A mixed methods study of religion and virtuous practices across four countries and religious traditions
ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by St. Louis University · 2016 - 2018View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Duke University ·
2015
Ph.D.