Michael O. Emerson, Ph.D.

Professor
Co-Director, Kinder Institute for Urban Research 

Department of Sociology, MS-28
Rice University
6100 S. Main Street
Houston, TX 77005-1892

Office: 402  Lovett
Tel. (713)348- 4448
Fax (713)348-5296
Email: moe@rice.edu

Curriculum Vitae:     Emerson CV 8/2011 

Courses

Fall 2012:      SOCI 424/524 Race and Ethnicity Seminar 
                       SOCI 469 Community Bridges Training 

Areas of Interest

• Race and Ethnic Relations
  
• Religion
  
• Urban Sociology
  

Biography

Michael Emerson (Ph.D., Sociology, 1991, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) teaches courses in race and ethnic relations, religion, urban sociology, poverty and justice, and research methods. His main research interests lie in these areas as well. Emerson has focused most closely on the role of race in shaping social action in the United States, recently by focusing on health, residential segregation, and on the institution of religion.

Considered one of the leading scholars on race and religion, his work in this area began with Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America (Oxford University Press, 2000), which was named the 2001 Distinguished Book of the Year by the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion.

In addition to several other books on the topic, in 2006, People of the Dream: Multiracial Congregations in the United States was published by Princeton University Press. This award-winning book serves as a seminal work on multiracial religious congregations.

Emerson currently is directing the Panel Study of American Religion and Ethnicity (PS-ARE). Funded by the Lilly Endowment, this study is following the same 2600 people over the course of their lives. The first round of interviews was completed in 2006, and the second wave is will be available in 2012. With oversamples of African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos and over two hundred questions on religion, this study provides one of the nation's richest data sets for understanding religious life within racial and ethnic communities.

Emerson’s research focuses also on urban growth, development, inequality, and urban life. Michael Emerson is co-director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research. For more information on the institute, visit the KINDER site.

Recent Publications (since 2010)

BOOKS

Shelton, Jason, and Michael O. Emerson. In Press (expected publication: 2012). Black and White in Christian America: Confronting the Legacy of Discrimination in the Shaping of African American Religious Faith. New York: NYU Press.

Emerson, Michael O., and George Yancey. 2010. Transcending Racial Barriers: A Mutual Obligations Approach. New York: Oxford University Press.

Emerson, Michael O., Susan Monahan, and William Mirola. 2010. Religion Matters: What Sociology Teaches Us about Religion in our World. Allyn & Bacon.

Anthony B. Pinn, Caroline F. Levander, and Michael O. Emerson, eds. 2010. Teaching and Studying the Americas: Cultural Influences from Colonialism to the Present. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Susan Monahan, William Mirola, and Michael O. Emerson (editors). 2010, Sociology of Religion: A Reader (2nd Edition). Allyn & Baco

ARTICLES

Lewis, Valerie, Michael O. Emerson, and Stephen Klineberg. “Who We’ll Live With: Racial Composition Preferences of Whites, Blacks, and Latinos.” Social Forces 89(4): 1385-1408.

Emerson, Michael O. 2010. “A Major Motion Picture: Studying and Teaching the Americas.” Pp. 77-92 in Teaching and Studying the Americas: Cultural Influences from Colonialism to the Present, edited by Byrd et al. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Levander, Caroline F., Anthony B. Pinn, and Michael O. Emerson. 2010. “Introduction.” Pp. 1-9 in Teaching and Studying the Americas: Cultural Influences from Colonialism to the Present, edited by Byrd et al. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Shelton, Jason, and Michael O. Emerson. 2010. “Extending the Debate over Nationalism versus Integration: How Cultural Commitments and Assimilation Trajectories Influence Beliefs about Black Power.” Journal of African American Studies 14(3):312-336.

Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America
Michael O. Emerson, Christian Smith

United by Faith: The Multiracial Congregation as an Answer to the Problem of Race
Curtiss Paul DeYoung, Karen Chai Kim, Michael O. Emerson, George Yancey

 
Sociology of Religion : A Reader
Susanne C. Monahan, Michael O. Emerson, William A. Mirola
New addition out—see bottom of this page

Against all Odds: The Struggle for Racial Integration in Religious Organizations
Brad Christerson, Michael O. Emerson, Korie L. Edwards

People of the Dream: Multiracial Congregations in the United States
Michael O. Emerson

-2007 Oliver Cromwell Cox Award, for book or article published in past two years that makes a distinguished and significant contribution to the elimination of racism, Racial and Ethnic Minorities Section of the American Sociological Association. -Named one of Choice’s “Outstanding Academic Titles” for 2006

 Christian Smith and Michael O. Emerson, with Patricia Snell. 2008. Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don't Give Away More Money. Oxford University Press.
Why is it that Christians in the world’s most affluent nation give away so little of their income to charity? This sociological study, based on surveys, interviews, and experiments, attempts to answer why. And then, as Publisher’s Weekly writes, “a stirring conclusion lays down the gauntlet for change."

Michael O. Emerson, Susanne C. Monahan, and William A. Mirola. 2010. Religion Matters: What Sociology Teaches Us About Religion in Our World. Prentice Hall.
A new text centered on key questions in the sociological study of religion, meant to engage conversation, and stir debate. Can be used alone or with Sociology of Religion: A Reader. Visit http://www.pearsonhighered.com/product?ISBN=0205628001

Michael O. Emerson and George Yancey. 2010. Transcending Racial Barriers: Toward a Mutual Obligation Approach. Oxford University Press.
After assessing the current solutions to racial inequality and division, this book offers an alternative solution that attempts to draw on the best of other solutions, recognize group interest, and the need for large-scale acceptance.
 

2nd Edition coming in time for Spring 2011 courses:
* In the Second Edition, 36 of the 46 readings are new
* New sections: Religious Violence, Religion in a Globalized World
* Readings on role religion plays in international terrorism, religious peacemakers, and why religion is sometimes used for violence
* Section Three expanded to include Immigration and Religion
                                 * All sections feature at least two new reading

To order, see: http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/product/Sociology-of-Religion-A-Reader/9780205710829.page