Dr. Jesse Smith

Dr. Smith received his PhD in sociology and demography from Penn State University in 2023. Prior to his graduate training in sociology, Dr. Smith obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work. He spent several years in south-central Indiana working in the fields of mental health, addictions treatment, and child services. 

Dr. Smith’s research interests are diverse, focusing on such topics as religious nationalism, moral development, and the transmission of faith between generations. His work has been published in journals such as Sociology of Religion, Journal of Marriage and Family, Socius, and Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion