This year Dr. Linda Kawentel (Notre Dame) and I were co-recipients of the Constant H. Jacquet Research Award from the Religious Research Association (thanks so much!). I just accepted a position with them to be on their awards committee for the next three years. Looking forward to promoting (and funding) applied research on religion.

Thanks, RRA!

I just got back from Baltimore late last night and had a very good session with the bishops and some observers (including Dr. Michael Galligan-Stierle, president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities). Dr. Brian Starks, Hans Plate (Vinea Research) and I presented on the findings from the recent campus ministry survey. I was very happy to see so many interested in this important young adult ministry.

To celebrate, we shared bread, wine and more at a local restaurant. Pictured above are Crystal Sullivan (University of Dayton), Hilary Draftz (FOCUS), Mary Deeley (Northwestern University), Brian, Bishop Cheri (New Orleans), Barbara McCrabb (USCCB), Hans, Rosie Chinea-Shawver (University of Southern California) and me.

Dr. Jim Cavendish of the University of South Florida, as President-Elect of the Association for the Sociology of Religion, just tapped me to join the membership committee. It was fun to work with Jim as Registration Coordinator when he was Executive Officer, and now I’m so pleased to continue to staff the organization in this new role. Can’t wait to see it grow!

Hope to see you in New York in 2019!