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
2018 Early Career Award: Society for Community Research and Action
2012 Louisville Institute Project Grants for Researchers. Understanding Social Networks and Social Capital in Religious Congregations. N. Todd, Principal Investigator. $25,000 funded.
Education
Theology, M.A., Fuller Theological Seminary
Psychology, M.A., Fuller Theological Seminary
Ph.D, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
B.A., University of Oklahoma
Additional Campus Affiliations
Professor, Psychology
Professor, Gender and Women's Studies
Recent Publications
Watanabe, S., & Todd, N. R. (2026). One Trajectory Does Not Fit All: Understanding Religious Deidentification with Longitudinal Patterns of Religious Doubt and Engagement. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 36(1), 133-149. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2025.2521564
Cowand, A., Bresin, K., Todd, N. R., & Mekawi, Y. (2025). Presenting a strengths-based ecological model for promoting well-being among LGBTQ+ adults. New Ideas in Psychology, 79, Article 101178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2025.101178
Nguyễn, D. M., Lotspeich-Yadao, M. C., & Todd, N. R. (2025). Geographic Distribution of LGBT Affirming Christian Churches and Same-Sex Households by US County. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jssr.70017
Nguyễn, D. M., La, R., Blackburn, A. M., & Todd, N. R. (2025). Mental Health Care Access and Utilization Across Sexual and Racial Identity. Journal of Bisexuality. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2025.2604486
Todd, N. R., Nguyêñ, D. M., Blackburn, A. M., & La, R. (2025). Associations Between State Policies and Sexual Minority Mental Health Disparities. Translational Issues in Psychological Science, 11(1), 90-106. https://doi.org/10.1037/tps0000431