Experience

Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Research Fellow, Muslim Philanthropy Initiative

  • Jul 2022 - Present

  I am conducting research with the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative, specifically on Muslim philanthropy in the Latinx U.S., Latinx Americas, and the Caribbean. I am conducting research with the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative, specifically on Muslim philanthropy in the Latinx U.S., Latinx Americas, and the Caribbean.



Religion News Foundation

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Editor, ReligionLink

  • Dec 2021 - Present

  I write, edit, produce, and distribute source guides, story ideas, and reporting guides for ReligionLink, a resource for journalists reporting on religion. I write, edit, produce, and distribute source guides, story ideas, and reporting guides for ReligionLink, a resource for journalists reporting on religion.



Christianity Today

• United States
• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Contributing Writer

  • Dec 2019 - Present

  Write news stories on Christianity in Europe, with some coverage in the Middle East and Africa. Write news stories on Christianity in Europe, with some coverage in the Middle East and Africa.



University of Southern California

• United States
• Medical Practices
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Journalist Fellow and Researcher

  • May 2019 - Present

  What role does religion play in motivating exemplary individuals to commit their lives to humanitarian work? How does engaged spirituality sustain their work in the face of great challenges? These are the questions I help the University of Southern California’s (USC) Center for Religion and Civic Culture (CRCC) explore as a journalist-fellow reporting on, “Spiritual Exemplars: A Global Project on Engaged Spirituality.” What role does religion play in motivating exemplary individuals to commit their lives to humanitarian work? How does engaged spirituality sustain their work in the face of great challenges? These are the questions I help the University of Southern California’s (USC) Center for Religion and Civic Culture (CRCC) explore as a journalist-fellow reporting on, “Spiritual Exemplars: A Global Project on Engaged Spirituality.”


Religion News Service
• United States
• Online Media
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Freelance Reporter

  • Oct 2013 - Present


Publishers Weekly

• United States
• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Religion Book Reviewer

  • Oct 2011 - Present

  I read and review religion books for Publisher's Weekly and other publications such as Reading Religion for the American Academy of Religion. I have read and reviewed over 150 books in the last several years. I read and review religion books for Publisher's Weekly and other publications such as Reading Religion for the American Academy of Religion. I have read and reviewed over 150 books in the last several years.


International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID)
• Portugal
• International Affairs
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Journalist Consultant

  • Apr 2020 - Present

Sojourners
• United States
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Freelance Reporter

  • Sep 2014 - Present


Freelance

• Egypt
• Human Resources
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Freelance Newswriter, Commentator, and News Analyst

  • Jun 2011 - Present

  My bylines include work with The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Religion News Service, USA Today, The Guardian, Christianity Today, The Houston Chronicle, Salon, Newsweek, New Lines Magazine, The Conversation, Religion Unplugged, Interfaith America, AFAR Magazine, The Raw Story, The Times of India, Sojourners Magazine, The Daily Dot, Sightings from the University of Chicago, Deseret News National, Christian Century, US Catholic, RealClear Religion, Epicenter Magazine, The Living Church, The Gainesville Sun, The Lutheran (Australia), HUM Magazine, Indo-American News, The Olive Tree (New Zealand), The Lattice Journal & other publications. I have published articles in, or my work has been translated into, Arabic, Cantonese, Czech, Dutch, Estonian, French, German, Indonesian, Portuguese, Malay, Mandarin, Norwegian (Bokmål), Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish. Show less



Freie Universität Berlin

• Germany
• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Postdoctoral Researcher (Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter)

  • Mar 2020 - Mar 2022

  Research on Islam and Muslims of Latin American and the Caribbean, with a focus on transregional networks. Research on Islam and Muslims of Latin American and the Caribbean, with a focus on transregional networks.



Concordia College-New York

• United States
• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Adjunct Lecturer

  • Apr 2019 - Jan 2021

  I taught both „Introduction to Christianity“ and „Global Christianity“ to students in New York and in India through Concordia‘s Global Initiative program. I taught both „Introduction to Christianity“ and „Global Christianity“ to students in New York and in India through Concordia‘s Global Initiative program.


Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg
• Germany
• Higher Education
• 500 - 600 Employee
• Lecturer

  • Apr 2020 - Sep 2020


Religions for Peace International

• United States
• International Affairs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Staff Writer

  • Jul 2019 - Aug 2019

  Worked with the esteemed Declaration Committee and Secretary-General, Dr. William Vendley to draft the Religions for Peace 10th World Assembly Declaration in Lindau, Germany 20-23 August 2019. Worked with the esteemed Declaration Committee and Secretary-General, Dr. William Vendley to draft the Religions for Peace 10th World Assembly Declaration in Lindau, Germany 20-23 August 2019.



University of Florida

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Program Coordinator, UF Center for the Humanities & the Public Sphere

  • Feb 2018 - May 2019

  As Program Coordinator for the UF Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere I help to facilitate and promote the research programs of humanities scholars at UF, provide an intellectual space and a physical location within the University and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for critical and collaborative discussions of the humanities that reach across and beyond individual disciplines, and provide a place for outreach to the community in which we live and teach. I do this through digital communications (e-news, website, social media), program planning and preparation, and general support for the Center's staff and program participants. Show less

• Graduate Teaching Assistant

  • Jul 2014 - May 2018

  I am a religion scholar focusing on the ethnographic study of Religion in the Americas -- specifically Islam and Muslim communities in Latin America & the Caribbean and in the Latinx U.S.A. I also have an active interest in the intersections of globalization, cosmopolitanism, transnationalism, immigration, the study of Islamophobia Latinx religion, & global Islam. He seeks to enlarge religious literacy in a world that ever more makes the global, local; the local, global; the familiar, strange; and the strange, familiar. My research and academic work has also included American religion, pop culture and religion, religious theory, Caribbean religious traditions, and indigenous religious traditions. As a graduate student fellow with the Center for Global Islamic Studies at University of Florida and an Associate Research Member with the University of Waikato's Islamic Studies Group my academic work includes book reviews for top journals, book chapters on global Islam and pop culture, journal publications, and more. View my CV for more details or find other papers and projects at my Academia.edu profile.My teaching experience includes the following courses: +Introduction to Islam+American Religious History+Islam, Christianity, and Religious Diversity+Christian-Muslim Relations+Islam in the Americas+Religion & the News+Religion, Medicine, & Healing+Religion & Science+Introduction to World Religions+History and Practice of Christian Hermeneutics Show less



First Lutheran Church

• Religious Institutions
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Associate Pastor

  • Jun 2015 - May 2019

  As Associate Pastor I assist with pastoral duties such as preaching and teaching. I also help oversee and run our digital media programs (website, social media, etc.) and work with our team to develop strategies for education and community service. As Associate Pastor I assist with pastoral duties such as preaching and teaching. I also help oversee and run our digital media programs (website, social media, etc.) and work with our team to develop strategies for education and community service.



Houston Chronicle

• United States
• Newspaper Publishing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Belief Section Contributor

  • Sep 2011 - Jul 2014

  Wrote weekly reportage, commentary, and analysis covering religion in the U.S.'s fourth largest metro area. Wrote weekly reportage, commentary, and analysis covering religion in the U.S.'s fourth largest metro area.


Memorial Lutheran Church Katy
• Vicar

  • Apr 2011 - Jun 2014


CrossPoint Community Church

• United States
• Religious Institutions
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Adult Education Coordinator

  • Nov 2012 - May 2014

  The Adult Education Coordinator is one of the staff leaders who oversees the adult education process of CrossPoint. As such, the AGC creates and maintains systems and experiences that shape the spiritual development of adults from conversion to leadership. Key areas of responsibility include: overseeing and managing CrossPoint Leadership Institute (CLI); overseeing CrossPoint's ministry resident program; preaching and teaching on a regular basis; and helping to design/implement Missional Communities. Show less



LINC Houston, Inc

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Media & Communications Specialist

  • Sep 2011 - Dec 2012

  Working with our executive director I oversaw all our external communications including monthly newsletters, social media, news releases and media liaisons.

• Director of LINC Bible Institute

  • Sep 2010 - Nov 2012

  I am the head administrator of the LINC Bible Institute overseeing curriculum development, faculty and student recruitment and retention, facilities, networking, budget and the future direction and vision of the organization.