The Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict

Congratulations are in order for this year’s Undergraduate Research Fellows at the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict. The center’s undergraduate research program provides students with an opportunity to take a special seminar with the Center’s director, Linell Cady, and participate on research projects with ASU faculty. By engaging in this kind of cross-disciplinary, cross-regional work, students gain a much richer understanding of the complex dynamics of religion and conflict as well as important experience in the research process. This year, CSRC’s fellows are working on the following projects:

- Lauren Sandground, a Justice Studies major, is assisting Eugene Clay from the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies on “Race, Religion, and Pacifism in Russia and the American West.”

- Alexandra E. Cannell, a Communications major, is working on “Religion and the Split of Sudan into two Countries,” with Abdullahi Gallab, an Assistant Professor of African and African-American Studies.

- Samuel J. Cahill , a Global Studies major, is working with Mirna Lattouf from the School of Letters and Sciences on the project “Arab Spring, Religion and Women in the Arab World.”

- Mauro Whiteman (Journalism) is aiding Cecilia Menjivar, Cowden Distinguished Professor in the School of Social and Family Dynamics, on “Immigration Reform and the Role of Immigrant Churches.”

- Jonathan Reyes, an English Literature major, is aiding Souad Ali, an Associate Professor of Arabic Literature and Middle East/Islamic Studies, on “Sufism and Democracy: Deep Roots for Modern Practices in Senegal.”

- Dr. Yasmin Saikia, the Hardt-Nickachos Chair in Peace Studies and a Professor of History, is being assisted by Emily Fritcke, an English Literature major, on “Pakistani Children Learning Peace and Violence.”

- Cristian Cirjan, a Biomedical Engineering major, is assisting David Siroky, Assistant Professor of Political Science, with a project titled “After Secession: The Dynamics of Conflict and the Predicaments of Peace.”

- Brittany Morris (Communications) and Megan Best (Biological Sciences and Anthropology) are working on “Finding Allies in the War of Words” with Mark Woodward, an Associate Professor of Religious Studies

- Quinton Scribner, who is majoring in European History and Political Science, is working on “From Promotion to Restriction: The Republican Party on Immigration: 1860 to 1900,” with Brian Gratton, a professor of history.

During the course of the Fellows Program, students also meet with leading scholars and practitioners brought to campus by the Center.

“I particularly enjoyed being able to talk with authors about their work when they came class,” commented one student who participated in the program last year. “Those opportunities to interact with the scholars were incredibly interesting and a rare opportunity for undergraduate students.”

Students selected to participate in the program are also eligible for a scholarship made possible by the Friends of the Center. Gifts from members of the community have enabled the Center to increase the size of the scholarships over the past few years and help to support the visits of scholars and practitioners who meet with the Fellows.

To learn more about the Undergraduate Research Fellows Program and how to apply, visit the education page or click here. To find out how you can support the Undergraduate Fellows Program, click on Friends of the Center.