Research Interests
Our research focuses on how religion and Whiteness shape individual and group engagement with social justice. In one area of research, we examine the ways in which religious settings such as congregations promote social justice engagement. We further explore how White students understand and emotionally respond to racism and White privilege with implications for how to engage White students in racial justice action.
Research Description
Our research focuses on how religion and Whiteness shape individual and group engagement with social justice. In one area of research, we examine the ways in which religious settings such as congregations promote social justice engagement. We further explore how White students understand and emotionally respond to racism and White privilege with implications for how to engage White students in racial justice action.
Education
- Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- M.A., Theology, from Fuller Theological Seminary
- M.A., Psychology, from Fuller Theological Seminary
- B.A., from the University of Oklahoma
Grants
2012 Louisville Institute Project Grants for Researchers. Understanding Social Networks and Social Capital in Religious Congregations. N. Todd, Principal Investigator. $25,000 funded.
Awards and Honors
2018 Early Career Award: Society for Community Research and Action
Recent Publications
Cadenas, G. A., Cisneros, J., Spanierman, L. B., Yi, J., & Todd, N. R. (Accepted/In press). Detrimental Effects of Color-Blind Racial Attitudes in Preparing a Culturally Responsive Teaching Workforce for Immigrants. Journal of Career Development. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845320903380
Mekawi, Y., Todd, N. R., Yi, J., & Blevins, E. J. (2020). Distinguishing "I don't see color" from "Racism is a thing of the past": Psychological correlates of avoiding race and denying racism. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 67(3), 288-302. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000427
Todd, N. R., Blevins, E. J., & Yi, J. (2020). A Social Network Analysis of Friendship and Spiritual Support in a Religious Congregation. American journal of community psychology, 65(1-2), 107-124. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12359
Todd, N. R., Yi, J., Blevins, E. J., McConnell, E. A., Mekawi, Y., & Boeh Bergmann, B. A. (2020). Christian and Political Conservatism Predict Opposition to Sexual and Gender Minority Rights through Support for Christian Hegemony. American journal of community psychology, 66(1-2), 24-38. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12420
Yi, J., Todd, N. R., & Mekawi, Y. (2020). Racial Colorblindness and Confidence in and Likelihood of Action to Address Prejudice. American journal of community psychology, 65(3-4), 407-422. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12409
