Tiffany Puett

I am the founding Director of the Institute for Diversity and Civic Life, where I write, teach, develop curriculum, and lead workshops on religious diversity, inclusion and equity, social justice, and ethics.

I hold a PhD in North American religions from the University of Waterloo and a master’s degree in ethics from Boston University. As a scholar of American religions, my work has analyzed pluralism, multiculturalism, and the ongoing formation of religion in a liberal democratic society. This includes the intersections of religion with citizenship, immigration, law, and education as well as issues of identity and the politics of representation.

Through my work at IDCL, my research has focused on religious and cultural diversity in Texas. Recent projects have included research on anti-Muslim bias in Texas, representations of religion in Texas state social studies standards and textbooks, and what the study of religion in Texas can tell us about Texas as a geographic, social, and cultural place. I also work on pedagogies and approaches for teaching about religions, diversity, and inclusion as professional development education as well as qualitative research guidelines for public digital humanities projects.

I’m also an adjunct faculty member at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary where I teach classes on ethnography and qualitative research methods. I previously directed educational programs on lived religions, peace-building, and social change at a New York-based interfaith organization. I live in Austin, TX with my husband and two children.

Location: Austin, TX

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanypuett