About
Joseph Roso is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Ambrose University, specializing in the practices and political activities of religious congregations and leaders. His work examines how religious institutions adapt to 21st-century challenges, including technological integration and political polarization. Roso holds a PhD from Duke University, where he also completed his MA, and a BA from Vanderbilt University, all in Sociology. He teaches courses on quantitative methods, multivariate statistics, and sociological principles. His research focuses on congregational adaptation, clergy activism, and the intersection of religion and politics.
Education:
- PhD in Sociology, Duke University
- MA in Sociology, Duke University
- BA in Sociology, Vanderbilt University
Roso's research interests center on religious organizations' responses to societal changes, including technology adoption (e.g., streaming services pre-pandemic), political polarization impacts, and clergy-lay dynamics. His recent studies highlight tensions between religious leaders and their congregants on political issues, as well as institutional disaffiliation trends in denominations like the United Methodist Church.
His articles analyze topics ranging from evangelical rhetoric on immigration to clergy political activism, leveraging data from the National Survey of Religious Leaders. He has contributed to debates on congregational technological readiness and worship practice evolution.
Labs/Teams: Collaborates with projects like the National Congregations Study and National Survey of Religious Leaders, emphasizing large-scale survey methodologies to map religious institutional trends.
