Jason Bruner

Jason Bruner is a Professor in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies at Arizona State University, specializing in Religious Studies. He serves as Director of the Desert Humanities Initiative and is a Senior Global Futures Scholar. His additional affiliations include the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics, the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict (where he serves as interim director in Spring 2024), and the Humanities for the Environment Global Network.

Dr. Bruner earned his Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2013, following an M.T.S. from Weston Jesuit School of Theology (2008) and a B.A. from Gardner-Webb University (2005). His academic journey has led to a distinguished career at ASU, where he has served as Faculty Head of Religious Studies (2021-2023) and Associate Head of Undergraduate Studies (2018-2021).

His research spans the history and anthropology of Christianity, with particular focus on Sub-Saharan Africa and the United States. Bruner explores lived religion, health, violence, and globalization through both traditional academic scholarship and creative approaches incorporating photography and creative nonfiction. His work examines how religious beliefs and practices manifest in everyday life, particularly in contexts of migration, colonialism, and environmental challenges in the Desert Southwest. The visual and literary arts are integral to his scholarly practice, allowing him to document and interpret religious phenomena in innovative ways.

Bruner's publications reveal a scholar deeply engaged with questions of religious violence, conversion, and the global dimensions of Christianity. His work spans historical analysis of the East African Revival to contemporary examinations of American Christian perceptions of global persecution. He has developed a distinctive interdisciplinary approach that bridges religious studies, anthropology, history, and creative expression, often collaborating with colleagues from diverse fields including genocide studies, medical anthropology, and environmental humanities.

• Zebulon Pearce Distinguished Teaching Award in Humanities (2022-2023)

Dr. Bruner has secured significant research funding including grants from the Louisville Institute, Arizona Humanities Council, and ASU's Benson Fund. His current projects include 'Mapping Randolph,' a digital historical map of Randolph, AZ, and a place-based online course on Boyce Thompson Arboretum. He collaborates extensively with colleagues across disciplines, particularly in genocide studies, environmental humanities, and religious conflict resolution, often serving as Principal Investigator for multi-investigator projects.

As Director of the Desert Humanities Initiative, Bruner leads a team exploring the intersection of environmental challenges and humanistic inquiry in arid regions. His work connects academic scholarship with community engagement through photography workshops, documentary projects, and public humanities initiatives focused on the unique cultural and ecological landscape of the American Southwest. His leadership extends to multiple university committees addressing curriculum development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the future of humanities education.