TESS STARMAN

I am a PhD Candidate in sociology at Howard University. I interrogate the systems of power which uphold the construction of race, gender, and sexuality. I investigate the created inequalities of these constructs and their maintenance within Christianity and U.S. politics. I study Christian deconstruction and disaffiliation, progressive Christian attitudes, and religion's impact on political attitudes and engagement. 

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My dissertation, "A Corrupted Faith: The Role of Power in the Process of Christian Disaffiliation and the Rise of the Religious Nones" centers the lived experiences of diverse ex-Christians, examining their process of Christian deconstruction and identity formation after religion. 

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I employ both quantitative and qualitative methodologies in my work. For quantitative work, I primarily use moderated mediation regression analysis techniques (Hayes, 2022), structural-equation modeling, and causal inference with longitudinal data. For qualitative work, I often lean on narrative approaches of lived experiences through in-depth interviewing and focus groups techniques. 

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As a scholar, I am committed to a critical praxis. To me, this means addressing the reality of power and systemic inequality in design, analysis, discussion, and implication of all of my research. This also means ensuring that all of my scholarship is public scholarship, with a commitment to asking meaningful questions and making those answers accessible and available. 

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Part of my commitment as a scholar is passionate and thoughtful teaching. I design my courses in a way that empowers students to be engaged in their own learning, crafting projects, materials, and conversations that are relevant to their passions and the social world around them. My priorities in the classroom are challenging assumptions, empowering learners, and ensuring accessibility and applicability of content.