I'm intrigued by the dynamics of religious groups and their transformative potential in the world. My research delves into the evolving landscape of religious communities across the United States, with a particular focus on fostering capacity among faith-based and governmental organizations and leaders worldwide. My aim is to enable greater impact through strategic partnerships and insightful evaluation.
Since July 2023, I've been affiliated with the Center for the Study of Religion and Culture at the University of Notre Dame, contributing to a multi-institutional effort to map and analyze congregational life in Chicago's diverse neighborhoods.
Previously, I served as the inaugural executive director of the Martin Marty Center for the Public Understanding of Religion at the University of Chicago's Divinity School. At the Marty Center, we facilitated scholarly research on religions and translated academic insights for diverse audiences. Our collaborative endeavors with communities, governments, and organizations addressed pressing issues unearthed by our research.
During my tenure as the executive director of the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California, which was recognized as a Pew Center of Excellence, I spearheaded initiatives that shed light on the intricate roles of religion in the public sphere. Notable projects included serving as the measurement, evaluation, and learning partner for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation's program supporting Catholic Sisters' work and leading a research and journalist collaboration on engaged spirituality.
My commitment to enhancing understanding of religions extends to collaborating with journalists to produce materials that deepen their knowledge. Notably, I led the creation of public sermons aired on KPCC in Los Angeles and WBEZ in Chicago, reflecting on the societal impacts of significant events like the pandemic lockdown.
In addition to my academic pursuits, I've dedicated myself to empowering religious groups in disaster preparedness and response. Collaborating with USC CREATE and the National Disaster Interfaiths Network, we developed educational materials and training programs, including a course on religious literacy and competency in disasters available on FEMA platforms and a religious literacy app.
I've also been actively engaged in community development efforts, co-founding initiatives like the Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, which supports faith-based organizations in transforming underserved neighborhoods.
One of my proudest achievements is co-founding the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute, which fosters leadership among emerging Muslim leaders across the United States. This initiative has evolved into a national fellowship program with a robust alumni network, contributing to various societal issues.
I have spent a decade working with the United States Institute of Peace to design and implement peacebuilding programs, especially focusing on growing youth leadership capacity.
I have served on several community and non-profit boards that work at the intersection of religion, pluralism, and the public square including- NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change (mjnewground.org) and LA Voice (lavoicepico.org), Religion Dispatches (religiondispatches.org), The Guibord Center: Religion Inside Out (theguibordcenter.org), and Jewish World Watch (jewishworldwatch.org), where I chaired the Solar Cooker Project that brought solar cookers to Darfuri Refugees living in northern Chadian refugee camps. Currently, I am on the advisory board for the Crossroads Project (crossroads.princeton.edu funded by the Luce Foundation) at Princeton University and on a working group for innovating humanities programs with the American Council of Learned Societies.
In 2014, I became a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations (cfr.org) and in 2019 I joined the CFR Religion Advisory Committee. I have been a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy (pacificcouncil.org) since 2008. In 2016, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti appointed me to a two year term as a member of his interfaith collaborative advisory body, and I was reappointed in 2018. I have also been a Truman National Security Project fellow, German Marshall Fund Memorial Marshall Fellow, World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (www.weforum.org/communities/young-global-leaders), and USC Safe Communities Institute fellow (priceschool.usc.edu/programs/sci/homegrown-violent-extremism-studies-program/). In 2019, I was elected to a three year term of the council for the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (sssreligion.org/). In 2021, NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change awarded me their Trailblazer award for my work building bridges of understanding between communities in conflict. Most recently, I received the GLOW Award from CityLight International Assembly in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago, June 2023.
I hold a diverse educational background, including a BA in Religion and History from USC, an MA in Judaic Studies from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and executive programs in Counter-Terrorism and Global Leadership from USC and Harvard Kennedy School, respectively.
Since July 2023, I've been affiliated with the Center for the Study of Religion and Culture at the University of Notre Dame, contributing to a multi-institutional effort to map and analyze congregational life in Chicago's diverse neighborhoods.
Previously, I served as the inaugural executive director of the Martin Marty Center for the Public Understanding of Religion at the University of Chicago's Divinity School. At the Marty Center, we facilitated scholarly research on religions and translated academic insights for diverse audiences. Our collaborative endeavors with communities, governments, and organizations addressed pressing issues unearthed by our research.
During my tenure as the executive director of the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California, which was recognized as a Pew Center of Excellence, I spearheaded initiatives that shed light on the intricate roles of religion in the public sphere. Notable projects included serving as the measurement, evaluation, and learning partner for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation's program supporting Catholic Sisters' work and leading a research and journalist collaboration on engaged spirituality.
My commitment to enhancing understanding of religions extends to collaborating with journalists to produce materials that deepen their knowledge. Notably, I led the creation of public sermons aired on KPCC in Los Angeles and WBEZ in Chicago, reflecting on the societal impacts of significant events like the pandemic lockdown.
In addition to my academic pursuits, I've dedicated myself to empowering religious groups in disaster preparedness and response. Collaborating with USC CREATE and the National Disaster Interfaiths Network, we developed educational materials and training programs, including a course on religious literacy and competency in disasters available on FEMA platforms and a religious literacy app.
I've also been actively engaged in community development efforts, co-founding initiatives like the Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, which supports faith-based organizations in transforming underserved neighborhoods.
One of my proudest achievements is co-founding the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute, which fosters leadership among emerging Muslim leaders across the United States. This initiative has evolved into a national fellowship program with a robust alumni network, contributing to various societal issues.
I have spent a decade working with the United States Institute of Peace to design and implement peacebuilding programs, especially focusing on growing youth leadership capacity.
I have served on several community and non-profit boards that work at the intersection of religion, pluralism, and the public square including- NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change (mjnewground.org) and LA Voice (lavoicepico.org), Religion Dispatches (religiondispatches.org), The Guibord Center: Religion Inside Out (theguibordcenter.org), and Jewish World Watch (jewishworldwatch.org), where I chaired the Solar Cooker Project that brought solar cookers to Darfuri Refugees living in northern Chadian refugee camps. Currently, I am on the advisory board for the Crossroads Project (crossroads.princeton.edu funded by the Luce Foundation) at Princeton University and on a working group for innovating humanities programs with the American Council of Learned Societies.
In 2014, I became a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations (cfr.org) and in 2019 I joined the CFR Religion Advisory Committee. I have been a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy (pacificcouncil.org) since 2008. In 2016, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti appointed me to a two year term as a member of his interfaith collaborative advisory body, and I was reappointed in 2018. I have also been a Truman National Security Project fellow, German Marshall Fund Memorial Marshall Fellow, World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (www.weforum.org/communities/young-global-leaders), and USC Safe Communities Institute fellow (priceschool.usc.edu/programs/sci/homegrown-violent-extremism-studies-program/). In 2019, I was elected to a three year term of the council for the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (sssreligion.org/). In 2021, NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change awarded me their Trailblazer award for my work building bridges of understanding between communities in conflict. Most recently, I received the GLOW Award from CityLight International Assembly in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago, June 2023.
I hold a diverse educational background, including a BA in Religion and History from USC, an MA in Judaic Studies from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and executive programs in Counter-Terrorism and Global Leadership from USC and Harvard Kennedy School, respectively.
